Communication - These volunteers are on call to assist clients with special projects such as library research and taping various materials. This requires four hours of training.

Direct Service - These volunteers assist clients with clerical tasks such as balancing checkbooks, writing checks for monthly bills, reading class assignments, answering mail, or scheduling a friendly visit or telephone call. For persons who are elderly, lonely or isolated, this human contact is a welcome break. For the volunteer, it is an opportunity for good conversation and may lead to a friendship. Visits should be regular and scheduled in advance. These opportunities usually take place in the clients' home.

Events - Fundraising volunteers are called upon to help raise money for BVRS through a variety of activities that are coordinated by the Development Department. 

Household Arts  - Volunteers observe and are trained to reinforce classroom instruction in cooking, housekeeping, sewing, and other basic homemaking skills. 

Leisure Time  - Several hours each week volunteers participate one-on-one or in small groups in activities such as board games, indoor gardening, crafts, and bowling. Volunteers may also escort clients on excursions to local points of interest, athletic or cultural events. Some events are in the evening or on weekends. Six hours of training are required.

Motor Corp  - Volunteers provide transportation for clients to various destinations such as doctor's offices, the airport, or train or bus stations. Two hours of training are required. On the road, volunteers are covered by BVRS' general liability policy as secondary coverage. Volunteer drivers must be at least 21 years old and have ample liability and medical insurance coverage.

Teens - Volunteers must be at least 15 years old. After receiving sighted guide training and under adult supervision, volunteers who are 15 years old and older, escort teenage clients to cultural or entertainment events such as Kennywood, camping, and Pittsburgh Pirate’s baseball games. They may also tape manuals as a service project for local schools. Participation by teenagers is principally during summer youth programs.

Readers - Volunteers read correspondence, exams, newspapers, and other publications to clients. Employed persons may request readers to help them keep up to date on current material in their field. Readers generally meet with clients once a week for an hour at their home, dormitory, a library, or at our Homestead Rehabilitation Center. 

Shopping - Clients of all ages may request volunteers to accompany them shopping for groceries or personal items. A volunteer shopper helps locate items, describes the selection, indicates prices and points out new products that may be of interest.

Preschool Vision Screening - These trained volunteers visit daycares and preschools throughout Allegheny County to screen children for a variety of vision impairments that can be corrected if caught early.