For Immediate Release: 5/17/07

Naples, FL – The Shelter for Abused Women & Children is seeking volunteers to support the nonprofit’s activities throughout the summer.

According to Shelter Volunteer & Resource Coordinator Jackie Young, “Volunteers are the backbone of our organization, they make it possible for us to serve more than 4,000 women and children victims of domestic violence face-to-face every year, as well as support our efforts that allow us to touch the lives of more than 19,400 persons annually.” Volunteer opportunities with the Shelter for Abused Women & Children include, but are not limited to:

• Thriving Thrifters: retailing, pricing, organizing and sorting merchandise for resale at Options Thrift Shoppe
• Customer Service Specialists: Greeting shoppers and donors at Options, assisting with donor paperwork
• Administrative and Special Projects: assisting the administrative staff with daily operations and projects
• “Hola Immokalee!”: help answer phones, assist with child care and office duties in our Immokalee office
• “The New You” Committee: Professional hairdressers, chiropractors and massage therapists donate their services to program participants, helping them find their “new you.”
• Kiddie Care Club: assist with child care duties while adults participate in support groups, seminars, etc.
• Pick-up/Delivery Volunteers: pick-up/deliver donations (Options, Shelter & Immokalee office)
• Hotline Counselors: answer the 24-hour crisis line, provide support, peer empowerment and resources to individuals in crisis (requires specialized training)

For more information on volunteering at Options Thrift Shoppe, or to arrange for free pick-up of furniture donations, please call the Options Manager at 239-434-7115.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities with the Shelter for Abused Women & Children, please call 239-775-3862, ext. 235.

Options Thrift Shoppe accepts donations of new and gently used clothing, furniture and household items Monday through Saturday, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., at the store located at 968 Second Avenue North in Naples. For more information on the Shelter for Abused Women & Children, please call 239-775-3862.

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The Shelter for Abused Women & Children helps adult and child victims and survivors of domestic violence through safety, intervention and support; educates the public about domestic violence; and advocates for social change against domestic violence. For more information, please contact us at 239-775-3862, or visit us online at: www.naplesshelter.org

Media Contact: Mary Ann T. Green, mgreen@naplesshelter.org, 239-775-3862, ext. 211