Volunteers make a difference. Are you ready to join them?

The oldest of 11 children and nicknamed "perpetual motion" by her mother-in-law, Maria O'Neill could not sit still after retiring in 1997 from 30 years of working for the state.

She put her Spanish speaking skills to use, volunteering in reading programs at Empire Elementary School.

"I love being around children," she said.

She also started working part-time at a fabric store, where she saw a flier about two years ago that the Boys & Girls Club was looking for someone to teach a sewing class.

She quickly volunteered. Self-taught, O'Neill began sewing clothing for her children and then expanded to making dolls, quilts and home-decorating projects.

"I'm a fabric-a-holic," she said. "I love the texture of the fabric, the endless projects."

She now teaches classes every Wednesday at the club, alternating weeks between hand and machine sewing. She teaches the basic skills then leads students through projects ranging from baby blankets to donate to local organizations, hats and scarves, as well as holiday projects such as felt pumpkins.

"I enjoy working with them," she said. "Some of them are really creative, and they're all so pleased when they finish a project."

Hal Hansen, director of the club, said O'Neill's contribution is important to the club's success.

"What she brings in expertise, no one on our staff has," Hansen said. "It's great. It's really cool."

He said her class is popular among the youth, attracting both boys and girls. And it goes beyond sewing skills.

"When you have a long-term volunteer, they build a relationship with the kids," he said. "That's when you can have a real mentor-type atmosphere."

Janice Ayers, director of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, said volunteers are more crucial than ever now as state and other programs are being forced to cut back.

"These volunteer programs are taking up a lot of the slack," she said.

RSVP provides free transportation to veterans, the elderly and handicapped people in rural areas to medical appointments as far away as Reno.

The service, she said, is dependent on volunteers who do more than just drive.

"They have to have compassion and patience," she said. "They're the life blood. They're everything. They're just like finding gold."

Serving has its reward also.

"For me, it brings satisfaction seeing the kids' faces light up," O'Neill said. "I like that they're proud of what they're doing. That gives me smiles."

Get started getting involved

Volunteering your time and effort - it could be as strenuous as hauling trash out of Carson River Canyon or as easy as answering phones - makes a huge positive impact on the community.

As budgets for nonprofits are stretched to the limit, it's often volunteers who are on the front lines, helping seniors stay in their homes or get to doctor's appointments; freeing up teachers' time for instruction; keeping animals healthy and well-fed while they wait for a home; keeping the community's museums running smoothly.

There are so many different volunteer opportunities, we can't begin to list them all. But here are a few examples. Be sure to check out the People page Sundays n the Nevada Appeal; we run a list of organizations who could use a hand.

ANIMALS

Carson-Tahoe SPCA: This all-volunteer organization is dedicated to assisting Carson City Animal Services and other organizations find homes for homeless animals. If you are interested in fostering, working at adoption events, or just playing with a dog or cat to get to know them and creating a profile, SPCA can use the help. Call 885-7766 or e-mail info@carsontahoespca.org.

Carson City Animal Control: Some pets available for adoption need a little extra TLC in a home environment while they await a forever home. If you want to be a foster "parent" for a cat, dog or other pet, call Carson City Animal Control at 887-2171

SENIORS

RSVP: Drivers are needed to provide Carson City seniors transportation to the doctor. RSVP has a van available for drivers' use, or if prefer to drive your own vehicle, you'll get mileage reimbursement. RSVP is also looking for respite volunteers to give caregivers a break. Volunteers receive training, mileage reimbursement and a stipend of $175 per month. Call 687-4680 ext. 6.

CHILDREN

Food for Thought: This home-grown organization provides a bag of food for our community's hungry, homeless children every Friday, allowing them to eat on the weekends and arrive at school on Monday nourished and ready to learn. The organization needs donations and volunteer help. Find out more at their website. foodforthought.org.

Boys & Girls Clubs: Volunteers like Maria O'Neill can bring their expertise to the club and teach a skill, or help with homework, arts, computers, games or supervising kids. The Boys & Girls Clubs also needs mentors in mentor center, where you are really committed to helping shape a young person's life. Call 882-8820.

Your neighborhood school: Local schools need help from friends, neighbors and parents for a variety of duties, from volunteering in the classroom to clerical assistance. Call the district at 283-2000 or your neighborhood school

MUSEUMS & LIBRARIES

Children's Museum of Northern Nevada: Docents are needed to help with exhibits, special holiday events and help children with crafts and pottery. Volunteers also are needed to clean, dust, sanitize and help with landscaping. Call Jim Peckham at 884-2226.

Stewart Indian Cultural Center: Volunteers are needed for clerical work in the office and fundraising activities. A big emphasis on volunteers is in June during the annual Father's Day Powwow. To help, call Sherry Rupert at 687-8333.

Nevada State Capitol: To learn how to become a docent at the state capitol, call Deborah Stevenson at 687-4810. Ext/ 237.

Carson City Library: To volunteer at the Carson City Library, call Library Director Sara Jones at 887-2244.

Nevada State Railroad Museum: Volunteer for Depot Duty. The Interpretive Center will be closed from Nov. 29 to Dec. 26 for the installation of the new exhibit. The museum would like to open up the Wabuska Depot to visitors during this closure, and are looking for volunteers who would staff the depot during museum opening hours Friday through Monday. The Annex will remain open in November and December as well. Contact Lara Mather for information or to sign up at 687-6953, Ext. 233.

Nevada State Museum: For volunteer opportunities at the Nevada State Museum, call Deborah Stevenson at 687-4810, Ext. 237. To help in the museum store, call Charmaine Phillips at Ext. 244. To help in the history department, call Bob Nylen at Ext. 245. To help in the anthropology department, call Gene Hattori at Ext. 230.

POLITICS

Capital City Democrats: Volunteers are needed to help with campaigns, staff the office, observe other Democratic websites to bring in new ideas, work on get out the vote drives and more. Call 841-3367.

Carson City Republican Committee: Get involved in Campaign 2010 by phone calling, walking neighborhoods, stuffing door hangers, working on candidate campaigns and more. The Carson City Republican Committee fields a large volunteer program. Training available. Call 841-1800

SERVICE CLUBS

Carson City Natives & Newcomers: This group meets monthly and welcomes people from Carson City and surrounding areas to join in the fun and help in charity events. Contact Karen at 883-9041 or Esther at (775) 721-8265 to find out more.

Soroptimists: This service organization presents youth citizenship awards, girl of the month awards, scholarships, school supplies to children in need, a golf tournament to raise funds for breast cancer program, which provides free mammograms, ultrasounds and biopsies to underserved women  in our community, and many more services. Call Sherry Griffin Grundy at 841-4250

Kiwanis: This service club hosts many activities throughout the year to raise funds for children and families in need, and to clean and protect the environment. Golf tournaments, wine train fundraisers and more fun events. For more informaiton, e-mail Ron at bowman rj_bowman@yahoo.com.

MILITARY & POLICE

Web of Support: This small local organization provides support to soldiers and their families through "adopt-a-soldier" efforts, collecting cards, books and supplies to send overseas. Find out more at webofsupport.com.

Volunteers In Partnership with the Sheriff: VIPS covers working in almost every major facet of the sheriff's office. They have a citizen's patrol, a "citizen's police academy," and assist in any other place they're needed, taking over many mundane chores to help the uniformed deputies take care of the more important ones. Call 887-2020 ext. 41932.

MORE

Pop Warner football and cheer concession stand needs volunteers for the Carson home games Friday nights and Saturdays. ... Ormsby Association for Retarded Citizens needs volunteers for its Thrift Store to sort, hang and organize clothing. ... The Carson City Parks and Recreation Department is training volunteers for its theater productions. They need light and sound technicians, custodians, building monitors and ushers. Call RSVP at 775-687-4680 ext. 6 to find out more.