VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

USO Council of San Antonio and Central Texas, Inc.

Volunteer Opportunities

Airport Reception Center

Volunteers staff the USO Airport Reception Center (between gates 39 and 40 in Terminal 2) seven days a week. Normal hours of operations are: Monday-Friday, 8:00AM to 10:00PM and Saturday/Sunday from 9:00AM to 9:00PM with teams of two people per three or four hour shift.  Free parking is available for volunteers.  When all shift positions are full, we still accept names to receive training and are then used as fill-ins as needed during volunteer absences. 

Basic Duties:  Provide hospitality support to military members and their families, including: information on transportation to local military installations; coffee, cold drinks and snacks; local hotels; closest ATMs; liaison for families of wounded troops going to BAMC; reading materials; TVs/DVDs, and cards/board games are available for guest use.  Support holiday season Exodus. 

The USO is, as always, working hard to improve and expand the ways we can assist our military and their families.  To that end, the idea of going to a 24/7 operation at the airport has been discussed.  In order for this to occur, many more volunteers that would consistently come in for the “night owl” shifts would be needed.  Those that are interested in participation in this effort should contact the Reception Center Manager, Alan Waterman at (210) 824-1081, or via email him at awaterman@satx.rr.com.   A complete shift of people would be needed to start this on any given night, so there may be a significant time-lag between initial contact for this program and actually putting this into place.

Downtown Community Center

Volunteers needed mostly on Saturdays, 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM; and Sundays/Holidays, 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM.  Free parking is available for volunteers.  The USO Community Center is in need of corporate, community or civic groups to volunteer to prepare and serve Saturday lunch plates to our troops; as well as provide basic hospitality and greeting to our military personnel and their families. Commitment would be on a Saturday; from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Individuals and groups also have the opportunity to sponsor the cost of the Saturday lunch for $100.

Basic Duties: Provide “home away from home” atmosphere through hospitality support to authorized guests.  Assist with information about downtown area – The Alamo, ATM locations, restaurants, movie theaters, tourist attractions, discount tickets, etc.; provide free beverages and snacks; assist with serving Saturday lunch plates; and provide local-area transportation information.  Facility has lounge areas, a Cyber Café, PlayStation 2, reading materials, 2 large screen TV, pool tables, etc.; and a family room (nursery-type area for small children).

Groups to Conduct Care Package Items Drives 

The USO San Antonio needs individuals and groups to hold independent care package items drives. These items will be packed in care packages for our military men and women deployed to overseas.

Basic Duties: Be able to plan and organize a group effort to collect products and deliver, at the completion of the drive, to USO San Antonio Downtown Community Center. This volunteer opportunity would be great for church, community or civic groups, Scout groups or schools.

Events and Programs

We can always use volunteers with the planning and execution of events -- such as Alamo Heights Night, Injured Soldier Program, Kids Costume Party, Thanksgiving Day Dinner, Holiday Exodus, Care Package Program, Saturday $1 Lunch Program, USO Canteen Dance, etc.  Free parking is normally available for volunteers at most locations where special events and programs are held.  High guest contact.

Business Office

A volunteer is needed at least two days per week in the business office helping with data entry, updating monthly performance reports, photography, writing/mailing newsletters, etc.  The USO business office is co-located with the Community Center.  Free parking is available for volunteers.  Business Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. 

Click here for printable list of volunteer opportunities

Click here for Volunteer Application 

For more information, please contact:

Luis Sandoval, Volunteer Coordinator

USO San Antonio

420 E. Commerce Street

San Antonio, Texas 78205

(210) 227-9373 Ext. 11 / (210) 299-4435 Fax

lsandoval@alamouso.org

Copyright © USO Council of San Antonio & Central Texas 2007