10 Ways to Volunteer Locally

1. Eden Medical Center: If you have a nurturing nature and a passion for health care, set aside some time to volunteer at Eden Medical Center. Volunteers 18 and older can help patients and visitors at the Information Desk, volunteer at the gift shop or help at the Family Support Service. Throughout the year, the hospital organizes a number of volunteer-driven events such as health fairs, a health expo and a golf tournament. 20103 Lake Chabot Road. 510-727-2720.

2. Kenneth C. Aitken Senior Center: Reach out to those in their golden years. Volunteers at the senior center help organize special events, luncheons, classes, games and trips, provide tax assistance or work at the reception desk. 17800 Redwood Road. 510-881-6738.

3. Castro Valley Rotary Club: Volunteering here is a great way to meet people, and develop personal and leadership skills. Your interest and talent could be matched to the causes the club supports, including organizing Christmas parties for disadvantaged children, donating time at the library or educating youth about the dangers of drug use. 510-886-5450.

4. Kiwanis: Love working with children? Sign up with the Hayward-Castro Valley Kiwanis and spend time working in schools, helping seniors, or cleaning up parks and beaches. Meetings are held once a week at the Carrows restaurant on Castro Valley Boulevard, and are a great way to meet members and learn about ongoing projects. 510-889-5885.

5. Food drives: The Angel Food Ministry has a branch at a local church at which volunteer teams are needed once a month, usually on Saturdays, to organize food-distribution drives. Depending on your interest, you could work in security, coordinate entertainment during the two-hour distribution process, load orders into customers' vehicles, prepare food for volunteers and customers, man the check-in desk, or clean the site after the food drive. Neighborhood Church of Castro Valley, 20600 John Drive. 510-537-4690.

6. Elementary and middle schools: With crippling budget cuts and layoffs paralyzing the state's education system, schools welcome volunteers to provide clerical help, read to students, help them with math or computer studies, help with special classroom events and field trips, or assist teachers with technology support. Opportunities are available at Jensen Ranch Elementary, Castro Valley High School and others in the Castro Valley Unified School District.

7. Castro Valley Library: If you love books, volunteering at the library could be the perfect way to spend your leisure time. The Friends of the Castro Valley Library help maintain and enhance library services. You could join the group and shelve books and DVDs, sort and arrange donated books, assist elementary school students in the Homework Center, or help with other tasks. 3600 Norbridge Ave. 510-667-7900.

8. Animal shelters: Help man's best friend or winged and other creatures at a local animal shelter. Dusty Paws Rescue Inc. in Castro Valley helps abandoned, neglected or abused animals find loving homes. Volunteers help organize fund-raising drives, provide foster homes for animals or provide other support to the shelter. 510-886-8925.

9. Volunteer Trail Safety Patrol: Combine exercise with love for natural and historical resources by joining the team of volunteers at the East Bay Regional Park District that educates visitors about parks and trails, ensures public areas are safe, and participates in search-and-rescue operations. Volunteers can patrol their areas on foot, bike or with a dog. East Bay Regional Park District Police Department, 17930 Lake Chabot Road. 510-690-6580.

10. Meals on Wheels: Help feed people who cannot cook for themselves because of old age or limited mobility. Join Meals on Wheels, the country's oldest and largest senior-nutrition program, and serve meals at senior centers or deliver meals to seniors' homes. 1435 Grove Way. 510-582-1263.