Non Profit Jobs in Houston for the Holiday Season

Many people like to volunteer during the holiday season, whether it's because they have a specific organization they like to work with or because they simply want to give something back.

Especially now, when many people are out of work and looking for ways to fill their free time, volunteering can offer a fun and rewarding experience. Fortunately, many non profit jobs in Houston are opening up for the holidays.

While most companies are offering positions on a strictly volunteer basis, one organization is planning to pay its workers. The Salvation Army is struggling to find people willing to serve as bell ringers, those cheery people who collect donations in red kettles that you always see outside of stores this time of year.

In Houston, the Salvation Army is hoping to hire 80 people. The organization will pay its volunteers $7.25 per hour and in addition is offering bonuses for to the bell ringers who collect the most donations.

Part of the reason the Salvation Army is looking to hire more bell ringers is that the organization saw its 2007 to 2008 fiscal year intake decrease by 12 percent. On top of that, red kettle donations decreased by 17 percent, so the company is hoping that hiring motivated volunteers will help bring in more money for the needy.

In addition to bell ringers, the Salvation Army also is looking for volunteers to help with the organization's Angel Tree Program, which collects gifts for needy families to put under their Christmas trees.

Unfortunately, donations for this program are at the lowest level in years, while the need for donated gifts is much higher. So far, about 30,000 families have registered for the program, which is a 20 percent increase from last year.

Several other organizations are hiring workers on an unpaid, volunteer basis for both the Thanksgiving and Christmas season.

The City Wide Club of America is looking for volunteers for the Houston Big Feast to serve shifts as short as one hour between 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving day. Volunteers will help with setup, serving dinner, waiting tables and cleanup.

The YMCA of Greater Houston is looking for volunteers for the Jingle Bell run and Walk, to take place on December 13. Volunteers will help with setup, registration, course monitoring and staffing water stations.

Jobs At San Diego Green Companies

If you're looking to get in on the ground floor of the emerging "green collar" movement, there are plenty of available jobs at San Diego companies that support the up-and-coming green industry.

A green job has become known as one that benefits the environment and the worker involved. In California, green jobs have been more readily available in Los Angeles and the Bay Area, mainly because those areas received American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding for large-scale green projects.

However, San Diego is not far behind. Here is a list of companies doing their part to further the green movement, as compiled by the San Diego News Network:

• CleanTECH San Diego - This company recently played a large part in securing $154 million in federal bond financing for San Diego County through the Clean Renewable Energy Bonds program. The funding will be used to finance solar installations. There are currently financing opportunities for 192 projects for public facilities, which will create hundreds of green jobs.
• San Diego Workforce Partnership - This company has partnered with the California Community College District and other public colleges to develop green training certification programs.
• San Diego Gas & Electric - This company recently received $28.1 million in federal stimulus funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to install wireless smart grid communication devices. The company estimates upcoming projects will help create 100 jobs in the area.
• U.S. Navy - This organization has set aside $4.1 billion for green infrastructure projects throughout the San Diego area.
• U.S. Department of Energy - This organization has issued a total of $28 million in Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant funding throughout San Diego County.
• MAAC Project - This company works to connect job seekers with entry level jobs in weatherization.

In addition, there has been increased investment in local algae-based alternative fuel companies, including Synthetic Genomics and HR BioPetroleum, as well as investment in Achates Power, Inc. and Advanced Telemetry, all of which have helped to create job opportunities.