Guide to Volunteer Roles
The Guide to Volunteer Roles provides a bird’s eye view of the wide variety of opportunities available to Village volunteers. There are no limitations to the ways you can serve. Many volunteers prefer not to be “type-casted” into one kind of role and enjoy contributing in multiple capacities.
We require ALL volunteers to complete an initial orientation and undergo a basic background check before jumping in. There are always new and evolving ways to give of your time and talents. This descriptive list of roles covers most of the primary functions.
Hot Roles for Spring 2026! We Need…
1. Photographers: We always need photographers! Specifically, we need pictures of Village events and pictures documenting the connection between our members and volunteers. Are you a skilled photographer? We would love to have you take pictures that can be used in our newsletters, fundraising communications, and outreach materials. Your encore career as a photojournalist begins here!
2. Office Volunteers: As you already know, our Office volunteers make up the “central command” of Villages of San Mateo County operations. They facilitate all the support services that VSMC provides to its members. They do much more than answer the phone and respond to emails five days a week from 9 am to 1 pm. They are computer savvy and have great people skills. They track the details of requested services from our members and doggedly search for volunteers for services that haven’t yet been picked up. They problem-solve for members and volunteers as needed. They are a dedicated bunch of folks and would love to get more help. An Office volunteer works from the comfort of their own home, and can choose the day they want to work. Extensive training will be provided before you start working in the “virtual” office.
3. Member Information Update Team: Recently we sent out a survey to our members so we can update their information (including emergency contacts, health status, etc). We’re hoping for a sizable number of mail-in responses but also anticipate that some of our Villagers will need a follow-up call. Our goal is to hear back from each and every one of our members. Do you have time to make a handful of calls (or perhaps more based on your availability) to Village members to confirm/update their information over the phone?
4. Photo Library Curator: We have a lot of pictures, some old and some new, taken by some of our Volunteer Photographers. We would like your help to curate them so that they are easily accessible and searchable.
5. Video Production: Looking for a volunteer with expertise in video capture/editing. We have a great story to tell of connection and support, and we are looking for a volunteer to help tell our story.
6. Branding Experience: Villages of San Mateo County would like to refresh its brand. We are looking for someone who can translate brand vision into compelling visuals and consistent messaging across all platforms to improve visibility and drive growth in our three Villages.
For more information contact the Volunteer Manager, Kaumudi Phansalkar.
Email: kaumudi@villagesofsmc.org
Phone: (858)204-2383