What: Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy Web site: smartriders.org or call 941-322-2000  What They’re All About: Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy, or SMART, helps special needs children and adults throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties through therapeutic riding programs involving riding and working with horses.  The programs improve balance, flexibility, and challenges riders emotionally and mentally in addition to the physical demands. “Our mission is to provide riding therapy to everyone in our community who needs it,” said Gail Clifton, volunteer executive …

WHAT: Kids Serve WEBSITE: http://kidsserve.com/ WHAT THEY'RE ALL ABOUT: Children are often touched by the tragedies they hear about in other parts of the world and they want to help. They also like to be able to help out friends in need. Often that means going to mom and dad and asking them to do something. But some children come up with great ideas on their own or figure out a way to volunteer on their own. For them there's an effort called kidserve.com, created by Jermiah Victor who wanted to make a difference after an earthquake in Haiti nearly two years ago.That effort has blossomed into …

WHAT: Manasota Operation Troop Support WEBSITE: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Manasota-Operation-Troop-Support/256816395397?sk=wall WHAT THEY'RE ALL ABOUT: Now that the United States is pulling its troops out of Iraq there are those that think the war is over and the military will take care of the returning troops. But there are still troops in Kuwait and Afghanistan and more being sent over in the coming year. There are also troops who are coming home, but are having a difficult time readjusting to life outside of the military. The volunteers at Manasota Operation Troops Support (MOTS) …

Who: Art Center Sarasota Web site: artsarasota.org What they're all about: Just as the arts themselves encompass a huge variety of media, styles and forms, so do the volunteers at Art Center Sarasota. Karen Branch is responsible for shepherding the 160 volunteers as their coordinator. The Art Center hosts a gallery exhibits, workshops and other events support fine arts in Sarasota. How to help: “We’re definitely looking for helping hands,” Branch said. “Our handyman is now in his 80s and he’s amazing.” Branch is looking for volunteers to fulfill a variety of roles. “We need help for evening …

What: Southeastern Guide Dogs Web site: http://www.guidedogs.org/ What they’re all about: Southeastern Guide Dogs prepares canines for the critical job of partnering with people who have visual impairments. The school has provided guide dogs for people for nearly three decades. Southeastern Guide Dogs' school is located on a 23-acre campus at 4210 77th St. East, Palmetto. Phone is 941-729-5665. Its Discovery Center in Sarasota is at 1618 Main St. Phone: 941-953-2892. There are training facilities in both Sarasota and Brandenton. Southeastern Guide Dogs relies on volunteers to fulfill its …

What: Tidewell Hospice Web site: http://tidewell.org/volunteers/  What they’re all about: Tidewell Hospice offers hospice and end-of-life care in Bradenton and Sarasota, among other locations in the region. The corporate office is located at 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, while the Sarasota Hospice House is at 5957 Rand Blvd. The Bradenton Hospice House is at 2504 24th Ave. W. The Bradenton office is at 3355 26th St. W., and there’s also an administration office for education and human resources at 6310 Capital Dr. Suite 100, Lakewood Ranch. How to help: Tidewell Hospice volunteers offer various …

It is a familiar problem. A family, couple or perhaps a retiree moves to town and wants to volunteer. But where to start? A startup in Sarasota has the answer. Volunteer Community Connections works to match the talents and interests of individual volunteers with the needs and requirements of local organizations. The group recently received a $25,000 startup grant from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation. James DuPlantier is program director. He notes the effort actually started 30 years ago, and was absorbed six years ago by the Senior Friendship Center. But as of Oct. 1, the organization was…

What: Pines of Sarasota Web site: http://www.pinesofsarasota.com/volunteers.html What they’re all about: Pines of Sarasota has provided compassionate care to the elderly for more than past 60 years. The center helps assist people with Alzheimer's disease, short term rehabilitation and outpatient services. The organization was started by the Downtown Kiwanis Club.  How to help: Pines of Sarasota is built on volunteering as the Downtown Kiwanis Club started the organization. Beyond the skilled nurses helping the 204 residents and 72 assisted living residents, volunteers are needed to help bring…

What: Guardian ad Litem Program Web site: http://12gal.org/index.htm What they’re all about: More than a thousand children in Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties have been removed from their homes because of abuse, neglect or abandonment. Through no fault of their own, those children must navigate through the court system where a judge makes decisions about a child he or she has never met. A confused and frightened child can easily get lost in an already overburdened child welfare system. A Guardian ad Litem is a trained and certified community volunteer appointed by the judge to speak up …

Caroline Allen oversees a brigade of 1,100 volunteers, and she’s on the prowl for more. Allen is volunteer coordinator for Senior Friendship Centers in Sarasota, Manatee, Lee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties. “We wouldn’t exist without our volunteers,” she said. Volunteers are involved in every aspect of the centers. “Last year we served 39,000 meals at noon on site,” she said. That’s more than 100 per day, 365 days a year. And the center prepared and delivered 67,000 meals to homebound seniors. All the departments use volunteers. Some are fully staffed, but Allen is looking for help in other …

What: Mote Marine Aquarium and Laboratory  Web site: www.mote.org/volunteer What they’re all about: Mote is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to marine research and preservation. It is an international hub for scientists who are performing studies on marine life and ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico, offering community and youth outreach and education programs. How you can help: Volunteers are critical to Mote because of the non-profit’s public education goal, Mote spokeswoman Nadine Slimak said. Plus there’s the allure of a gift shop discount and free admission to the aquarium…

Name: Community Coalition on Homlessness Website: http://cchomeless.com/ What they are all about: The Community Coalition on Homelessness runs the One Stop Center in Bradenton. The Center offers myriad services for the homeless population, including computer access for job searches, help obtaining a Florida Identification, mail services, laundry services, a soup kitchen, showers and dental and medical services. How to help: “We’re always on the lookout for volunteers,” says Cheryl Hedger, the volunteer coordinator for the Community Coalition on Homelessness. “Every hand helps.” Every day …

Volunteer opportunities abound in this area, but sometimes it's difficult to find just the right fit for your interests and the time you have available. Patch is here to help! For the next 12 days we will chronicle a range of opportunities that take just an hour a month (or less) to opportunities that will allow you to open your home, as well as your heart.  Animal rescue groups across Manatee and Sarasota Counties are always looking for volunteers to provide a range of services: from fostering dogs and cats (I meant it when I said open your home) to walking the dogs at Bradenton's downtown …