How do I get involved with UNICEF?

I want to get involved in my community - but I travel so MUCH!

• Question: What specific activities can I get involved in and what steps do I take to get "connected" to my community? Let me give you some background. I just recently moved to Tampa from up North. I am a corporate management consultant and am out of town every week - Monday through Thursday. I got my MBA from a top 10 school. I make very good money. I am 35 years old. I feel totally disconnected from Tampa. I have family that lives in Tampa. I spend a lot of time with them. Not interested in spending more time with them or their friends. I don't have any friends in Tampa. I want to become part of the community. What kinds of activities can I get involved in? What steps do I take to get involved? I'm shy. I've thought of starting some organization that helps police and firefighters. Maybe something that helps immigrants or senior citizens. I lack focus. I need to pick one or two things and develop that. I need to focus on something I can do in person on weekends - over the phone during the week (although I work a lot of hours during the week). I like to "throw myself" into activities. I'm divorced. I don't have a girlfriend, so it might be nice to do something that helps me meet nice, single women (but that's secondary). I would like to run for public office in the near future, so something political might be useful. I was thinking of a co-ed sports league, but didn't want to seem like the loner jerk that needs to be "assigned" to a team. I need help with: 1 - help me figure out what areas I need to focus on 2 - what (and how many) activities to get involved in 3 - what steps to take in getting started.

• Answer:

  Hello ricardo042366-ga, Here are a number of Tampa area organizations that seem worthy of your time. As far as areas concerned I selected ones that politically viable and also where you would have the opportunity to meet others. As regarding how many, probably one or two at the most. The organizations that I mention all have directions on how to get started. ------------- Tampa Bay Harvest "Tampa Bay Harvest is an all-volunteer organization that transports donated foods from those who have it, and do not want it, to those who want it but cannot afford it. This means that businesses that have overages, or outdated but perfectly edible food arrange for a TBH volunteer to collect the food and deliver it, free of charge, to pre-approved charities that assist the needy of Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties. Many of the volunteers working with us commit 1 hour per week to Tampa Bay Harvest. Volunteers use their own vehicle to collect food from a single donor and then deliver the food to a single recipient agency. Once the transport volunteer has relayed their requirements to us, our management team matches the volunteer?s availability, and vehicle size to the needs of a specific donor and recipient agency. A transport volunteer may, of course, accept more than one route per week. Other volunteer opportunities can involve filling in for another volunteer as a backup transporter or they may fall under the "Special Events" category. Also, see "Other Openings" for a variety of non-transport activities. Special events are activities where one or more volunteers are needed to complete the volunteer assignment. Some of our food drives and some of our booth work qualifies as Special Event Activities. See the Special Events section of this web site for more information about these types of activities." http://www.tampabayharvest.org/volunteers.htm ------------- Habitat for Humanity is a worldwide organization which President Jimmy Carter is involved in - here is the Tampa office: Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County Florida, Tampa, Florida "Habitat for Humanity International was founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller. Habitat has built more than 100,000 houses around the world, providing more than 500,000 people in more than 2,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter. Habitat is a worldwide, grass-roots movement. There are more than 1,900 active affiliates in 83 countries, including all 50 states of the United States, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico. To learn more about Habitat for Humanity International, visit the HFHI website by clicking here": http://www.habitat.org http://www.habitathillsborough.com/Aboutus.htm ------------- American Red Cross - Tampa Bay Chapter "Serving the Community of Tampa Bay since 1917. The Tampa Bay Chapter serves the 2.36 million residents of Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco counties, with offices in Tampa, Brandon, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Hudson and MacDill Air Force Base. This Chapter is governed by a volunteer board of directors, made up of dedicated and civic-minded community and corporate leaders. Last year we reached more than 136,250 families in the Tampa Bay area with services like: Aquatics/ Water Safety Armed Forces Emergency Services Books-to-Go Caregiving CPR/ First Aid Disaster Education Disaster Relief HIV/AIDS Education Hospital Volunteers International Messaging and Tracing Services Language Bank Medical Transportation Nurse Assistant Training Telephone Reassurance Youth Programs Volunteers are essential to the American Red Cross to provide services for Tampa Bay residents. The Tampa Bay Chapter has many volunteer opportunities that will utilize your existing skills, develop new ones, gain experience, make new friends, and most of all, help others in need. Training is provided. Check out some of our volunteer opportunities." http://www.redcrosstbc.org/ ------------- Hillsborough County Volunteer Fire Departments "Volunteer But Professional" "Consisting of 7 stations manned and operated by Volunteers 24 hours a day, and 1 combination Volunteer/Paid station. Together with Hillsborough County Fire Rescue which has 28 stations, the dedicated Volunteers respond to over 6000 (yes, six thousand) alarms a year and they maintain and operate over 30 different pieces of apparatus including some specialized items to provide emergency assistance and care to our neighbors and friends in their times of need." http://www.geocities.com/pipeline/3028/ ------------- Seffner-Mango Volunteer Fire Department "What if there were no volunteers?" http://www.smvfd.org/ ------------- Volunteer Opportunities in Hillsborough County "In Hillsborough County, thousands of people a year donate millions of volunteers hours in a variety of positions. These contributions have saved the county government, and in turn the taxpayers, millions of dollars a year! "Without these wonderful citizens many adults would not know how to read. The Literacy Tutors helped make a significant difference in many lives. The "computer techies" have helped hundreds of people get on the Freenet from their home computers. Without the compassion and assistance of volunteers, many old people would have no way to go shopping, or have their yards cleaned for them. And the animal shelter would have had fewer adoptions without the loving care the volunteers gave. Can you imagine all those sports leagues without volunteers? Or the recreation centers where you can learn to line dance? Or the endangered lands we purchase which is being cleaned? Or horse or bike trails which were just wilderness? There are many, many opportunities available if you have a few hours a week or month." http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/hr/vips/ ------------- This site is Tampa business related: "The New Tampa Community Council is a non-profit community-based organization serving and promoting the quality of life in the New Tampa area in the interests of its residents and businesses. Marked by intelligent efficient partnership among New Tampa residents and business leaders, the Council has provided innovative solutions and instills high standards for preserving a high quality of life in our community since 1991. Working colleague-to-colleague, neighbor to neighbor the members of the New Tampa Community Council have tackled and triumphed over issues most important to the business and residents along the Bruce B. Downs corridor North of Fletcher to S R 54. The Council has positively impacted areas at the very heart of our quality of life." http://www.newtampa.org/benefits.php ------------- Tampa Bay Watch "Tampa Bay Watch trains and organizes citizen volunteers, students, at-risk youth, and civic organizations to participate in environmental projects while heightening community awareness of the fragile nature and importance of the environment." http://www.tampabaywatch.org/ ------------- The Professionals Network of Tampa Bay (ProNet Tampa Bay) "The Professionals Network of Tampa Bay (ProNet Tampa Bay) is a volunteer-driven marketing, networking and career support program that helps connect Florida Business with Florida Professionals. If you'd like to learn more about this and other innovative programs and the professionals who are driving them, subscribe to ProNetWorking Connections? by visiting" http://www.mypronetworking.com ------------- This site answers questions on joining its various coed sports teams: Tampa Bay Club Sport Club Sport Frequently Asked Questions... "From coed sport leagues to parties and happy hours to special sporting events, active young professionals can do it all with Tampa Bay Club Sport. Year round leagues include, flag football, soccer, softball, sand volleyball, basketball, golf and more! It is a great way to stay active, meet new people, and have fun in a friendly atmosphere. Check out our photos page for snapshots of past TBCS events and sports or get on our mailing list to stay informed on Club Sport activities. If you have any suggestions regarding our leagues, events, offerings, or website, do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to make sure you get involved, stay active, and meet new people." http://www.tampabayclubsport.com/ http://www.tampabayclubsport.com/FAQ.htm ------------- This site offers an internet course on volunteer management: "However, the Volunteer and Community Resource Management Certification Program is specifically designed for nontraditional students and current volunteer managers who are working full time, says Pamela Sybert, director of the consortium. Its five courses are taught entirely on the Internet, allowing students to complete class assignments around their schedules." http://www.unt.edu/inhouse/may192000/volunteer.htm ------------- ElderNet "ElderNet helps homebound elderly and persons with disabilities maintain their quality of life and independence with a sense of security by providing daily telephone reassurance calls. It is an opportunity for daily interaction with another person, friendship, and the knowledge that someone cares. For those who live alone or have no available support system to assist them, ElderNet provides a daily call to help reduce isolation and loneliness. ElderNet links people with appropriate services before their needs become critical. The service helps people maintain their independence. ElderNet, a service of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, Inc. since 1981, utilizes staff and volunteers to provide service." http://www.crisiscenter.com/belder.htm ------------- Others might have insight regarding community involvement at this chat room: Tampa Bay Chat "Have you visited the Tampa Bay Chat room yet? If not, you are encouraged to do so. It's a great way to meet other Bay Area residents, and a great place to just have fun. There are no downloads required, just a java-enabled browser, so 'cmon in! Welcome to the Tampa Bay chat room. Let's talk about Tampa Bay issues, events, politics, or any other issues you want to bring up. Visit the chat room at anytime to see who might be here. Scheduled chat events will be listed here as they are confirmed by featured Guests." http://tampa.about.com/mpchat.htm ------------- I hope that you find this information useful. If you need further assistance, please let me know-jdb ga