Volunteer Program Types

Advisory Boards & Committees
Mesa residents participate in the local government process by serving on a citizen advisory board or committee that makes recommendations to the City Council. The more than 20 boards and committees review a variety of issues ranging from parks and libraries to human relations and crime prevention. Members are recommended by the Mayor and approved by the City Council. For more information on this volunteer opportunity, please refer to the City of Mesa booklet, Advisory Boards and Committees.
Contact: Heidi Gast, 480.644.3002, heidi.gast@cityofmesa.org

Arizona Museum for Youth
Volunteers are needed to help build and maintain the Gallery Shop. Volunteers are needed to assist in the display and sales of specialty merchandise selected to complement art exhibits and to stimulate and inspire young imaginations. The Museum is especially seeking volunteers with experience working with children and/or retail sales.
Contact: Darlene Zajda, 480.644.3689, darlene.zajda@cityofmesa.org
 

Arizona Museum of Natural History
Volunteers are needed to lead tours, help in the Museum gift store, interpret hands-on artifact carts, assist in collections, help with exhibits and special events, participate in archaeological and paleontological digs, catalog artifacts, guide children in learning activities and perform many other jobs essential to the Museum’s operations. Participants in the Museum’s teen volunteer program must be entering 9th grade or above. Interested individuals should call for a schedule of orientation and docent training sessions.
Contact: Yvonne Petersen, 480.644.2760, yvonne.petersen@cityofmesa.org

Cemetery
Volunteers are needed to help survey and evaluate markers, clean vases, clean and arrange flowers, and host public cemetery activities. Group projects are welcome.
Contact: Naleen Butler, 480.644.2335

Court
Volunteer in the City’s judicial system assisting with check-in functions at the customer service counter, mailing various notices to defendants, answering phones, filing, performing data-entry or working on special events.
Contact: Susan Bozile, 480.644.3035, susan.bozile@cityofmesa.org.

Fire Department

Bilingual Assistance Team (BAT): Volunteers provide assistance with oral and written translations, bilingual presentations, community events and general office assistance in English and Spanish. Volunteers must be over 18 years of age, possess a high school diploma or GED, submit a copy of a valid Arizona Driver’s License before hire date with an acceptable driving record and valid motor vehicle insurance, consent to fingerprinting, volunteer for a minimum of six hours per month, and be proficient in Spanish and English at an intermediate level. Volunteers will undergo an interview process as well as attend mandatory training.
Contact: Marrisa Ramirez-Ramos, 480.644.5620, marrisa.ramirez-ramos@cityofmesa.org

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT): CERT is a citizen emergency-preparedness program that teaches leadership skills and response techniques for a disaster, large or small. The program is a 21-hour, seven-week program and is held one night a week for three hours. As the program grows, CERT participants will have the opportunity to be a part of a volunteer response team that will assist families and their communities in times of need. Occasionally the call out is national (i.e. five citizens were sent to Florida to assist in hurricane response needs in 2004).
Contact: Captain Dale Crogan, 480.644.2780, Dale.Crogan@cityofmesa.org

Community Response Team: Volunteers assist family members after a death (non-crime) by providing emotional support, assistance in contacting mortuaries and other services. Hours are 7 to 1 a.m. seven days a week. Day and night shifts are available. Volunteers work in teams on an on-call basis and must be able to respond within 30 minutes. Volunteers must be 21 years of age or older, provide their own transportation to calls, use a pager and cell phone, have the ability to read maps and drive around the city, pass a background check and interview process, as well as attend all training.
Contact: Anita Mapes, 480.644.3882, anita.mapes@cityofmesa.org

Connector Program: Volunteers work a five- or eight-hour shift providing assistance to citizens in non-emergency situations. Volunteers also assist crews on emergency situations by providing customers with transportation, linking fire victims to the Red Cross and other services. Hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Volunteers must be 18 years old, pass a background check and interview process, and attend all training. This program partners with Mesa Community College where students can receive up to three credits for service learning.
Contact: Warren Sprecher, 480.644.4692,
warren.sprecher@cityofmesa.org

Hydrant Painting

P.R.A.I.S.E. Program: Prevention and risk assessment initiating safer environments. Volunteers perform home safety checks aiming to promote health and safety, reduce the risks of fires and falls, and to provide community resources. All training is provided.
Contact: Carrie Castillo, 480.644.2508, carrie.castillo@cityofmesa.org

Library
Numerous volunteer opportunities are available within various areas of the Library to assist staff with daily operations. Positions in the book sale areas, shelving and homebound services are just a few of the jobs available at all three Library locations. Youth volunteers over the age of 12 are welcome to help review books, assist with the Summer Reading Program, shelve materials and much more.
Contact: Kathee Herbstreit, 480.644.4638, kathee.herbstreit@cityofmesa.org

Mayor’s Youth Committee
Citizens may serve as advisors to this committee, which is made up of Mesa high school students with outstanding academic achievements. The committee provides leadership training and community involvement opportunities for its high school members.
Contact: Heidi Gast, 480.644.3002, heidi.gast@cityofmesa.org


Mesa Arts Center
Programs available for teens and adults in all areas from classroom assistants, ushers, tour guides, gallery aides and more. Visit www.mesaartscenter.com for more information.
Contact: volunteers@mesaartscenter.com
 

Neighborhood Services Department
Volunteers work with department staff to keep Mesa's neighborhoods healthy, attractive and positive places in which to live work and invest. Volunteers will work with citizen groups, non-profit agencies, and other city departments to serve the community members of Mesa. Opportunities include the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA), Neighborhood Special Projects & Office Support. Contact: Katie Brown, 480.644.3705, katie.brown@cityofmesa.org
 

Parks and Recreation
There are numerous different volunteer opportunities for all ages within the Parks and Recreation division.  Some of the areas include: Adaptive Recreation, Open Gym Program, Parks Maintenance Services, Summer Aquatics Program and Youth Sports and Special Events.
Contact: Jordan Heller, 480.644.3654, jordan.heller@cityofmesa.org

Police Department
Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) augment public safety resources in many ways, including helping to process DUI suspects, disabled parking enforcement, disaster response, crisis intervention, administrative/clerical/data entry and public speaking. All volunteers must be at least age 18 (21 for some areas) and must successfully complete an extensive background investigation.
Contact: Linda Bailey, 480.644.2073, linda.bailey@cityofmesa.org

Prosecutor’s Office
Volunteers assist in preparing case files for prosecution, including filing reports, updating information on computers, answering phones, and contacting victims and witnesses. The work requires a high school diploma or equivalent, good penmanship, typing and computer experience, ability to work with people and successful completion of a background check.
Contact: Lynne Thomas, 480.644.5336, lynne.thomas@cityofmesa.org

Victim Advocate
Victim advocate volunteers are needed to provide support and assistance to crime victims and witnesses. Work entails updating case status information and tracking of services provided to victims and witnesses, routing victim/witness requests for services to appropriate staff and providing referrals to other agencies for assistance and/or compensation. Volunteers also help escort victims and witnesses to various court hearings as requested, and conduct computer input and preparation of victim notices for mailing. Volunteers need to be reassuring, empathetic and have good listening skills.
Contact: Lynne Thomas, 480.644.5336, lynne.thomas@cityofmesa.org

Utilities
Volunteers serve as administrative helpers in all areas of the Utilities Department. The duties vary upon department needs and may require some driving.
Contact: Debbie McKillip, 480.644.2749, debbie.mckillip@cityofmesa.org