Volunteers provide critical assistance, support and leadership, working in many different departments and on a variety of activities, like escorting patients into our health centers amid picketer-presence. Our Troy Health Center has seen a discouraging number of picketers this year, as the picture above shows. New volunteers are urgently needed to counteract their presence on Thursday mornings, from 8 to 9:30am. Please contact us if you could fill this essential role, or if you are interested in joining our team of over 100 community volunteers and help us ensure access to comprehensive sex education, affordable health care and reproductive justice. To get involved with UHPP's volunteer program, please email us, give us a call at (518) 434-5678 x131, or download a volunteer application (.doc).
Patient Escorts
Volunteer Patient Escorts, like Joe Levinger, pictured below, stand outside our centers in Albany, Troy, and Hudson on days when picketers are present. These escorts greet patients, helping them feel safe, and also monitor and record the activities of picketers, in case we need to file complaints. Patient Escorts are needed in Albany on Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings, in Troy on Thursday mornings and Friday afternoons, and in Hudson on Wednesday mornings and Thursday afternoons. Training is provided.
Click here to read the story (PDF) on Joe's amazing ten years volunteering with us.
Reception Area Assistant
The health center is a busy place, and reception area assistants help to keep it a comfortable, approachable one as well. Reception Area Assistants perform non-medical functions which enable the agency to provide efficient, quality medical services to clients and other members of the community. The primary responsibility is to ensure that the front end of the patient services department is orderly and patients’ initial needs are being met. Assistants are needed on Tuesdays from 5pm to 8pm, and on Wednesdays from 8:30 to 12noon, 12 to 3pm, 3 to 6pm, 6 to 8pm. Click here to download further details.
Lobbyists
Legislators always prefer to hear about issues and concerns from their constituents, rather than from Planned Parenthood staff. Volunteer lobbyists are trained to advocate for reproductive health and rights by calling, writing, or personally lobbying elected officials. Lobby visits usually take place during the business day several times per year. Training is provided.
Letter Writers
Every month, local newspapers carry stories and letters about reproductive rights issues. Volunteer letter writers make sure the pro-choice perspective has a voice on the editorial page. Writers sign up by the month to write to a specific paper. UHPP staff help identify issues and provide key points to include in letters. Work is done from home.
Outreach Workers
Health fairs, concerts, conferences, and special events all provide us with opportunities to reach new people with information about responsible sexuality and reproductive rights. Outreach workers help staff table at events, conduct voter registration in the fall, and assist in public education campaigns. Hours vary and include weekdays, evenings, and weekends.
Fundraising Volunteers
While UHPP receives significant government funding to help with our medical services, this funding does not come close to meeting all of our expenses. We rely on community grants and contributions to support our advocacy and education activities, and to help us meet the needs of a growing number of uninsured patients. Fundraising volunteers help with special events and donor solicitation, and are occasionally needed to help with data entry or mailings.
Planned Parenthood Young Leaders (PPYL)
PPYL was created in the summer of 2003 to create fun opportunities for young professionals to come together, socialize, and learn more about UHPP's services and mission. PPYL members are working to build a new generation of supporters for Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood and for reproductive freedom. Learn more about PPYL and our upcoming events!
Visibility Volunteers
Visibility volunteers participate in Burma Shave demonstrations, pub-crawls, petition drives, door-to-door canvassing, and phonebanking. Throw on a hot pink Stand Up For Choice t-shirt and help keep Planned Parenthood in the public eye.
Sex Education Campaign Volunteers
UHPP is helping to build statewide momentum behind the Get the Facts NY Campaign to ensure that young people in New York State have access to comprehensive, medically accurate, age-appropriate sex education in our public schools. Join us for lobby visits, help us plan programs and community forums, or gather signatures for the campaign petition. Learn more about the campaign for comprehensive sex education in New York State.
Campus Organizing
Albany Medical Center, Albany Law School, the College of St. Rose and the University at Albany all have established student organizations dedicated to comprehensive sex education, affordable health care and reproductive justice. UHPP staff and volunteers provide resources, guidance and time to support these organizations and their activities. Volunteers have also worked to reach students on other college campuses with information about pro-choice legislation and sexual health. Each year, students come together to join with UHPP staff and volunteers at events including the Family Planning Advocates Legislative Conference, Equality and Justice Day, Gay Pride Parade and Take Back the Night.
