Heber Paulsen cared for his sister until her death. And he learned the toll that care-giving can take on the people involved.

Perhaps that's why for the past two years he has devoted 20 hours a week to the Alzheimer's Special Project in the Salt Lake County Senior Companion Program.Paulsen, who lives in Magna, rides the bus to each of his three "jobs," where he spends four hours at a time with each man at least once a week. That gives the wife, worn out from caring for her husband, time to shop, run errands or just relax. During that time, he helps with daily activities, prepares a light meal and offers companionship in general.

"He's wonderful, he's absolutely the nicest person I've ever met and I'm his No. 1 fan," said one woman who gets respite from her care-giving tasks because Paulsen is there.

"One reason is he's so dependable and the care-givers get burned out," said Deanna Foxley, volunteer coordinator for the program. "To have someone who's dependable is truly a gift.

"He's a soft-spoken, sweet man and a very caring individual. When you meet him, you know you're with a special person," Foxley said.

-Did you know that you may qualify for assistance with your utility bills during the cold months? For more information, call the Information and Referral Center at 487-4716. The center is the place to call when you don't know who to call.

If you'd like to inquire about, or volunteer for, any of the following requests, call the Voluntary Action Center of the Community Services Council, 212 W. 13th South, 486-2136.

Help homeless people find jobs and resources. Also do follow-up. Training provided.

Decorate boxes for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The boxes will be delivered to elderly shut-in people.

Deliver food boxes to the elderly for Thanksgiving. One day.

Tutor in reading and math. Flexible schedule.

Carry infants, read stories to youngsters, help with play.

Be Scout leader for girls in homeless shelter. Tuesdays 7-8 p.m.

Do volunteer work with the Humane Society of Utah.

Clip newspapers, build scrapbooks, answer phones. Three half-days per week.

Be a volunteer barber at a residential treatment center.

Work in library at high school. Flexible schedule.

Read English papers to help teacher. 10-12 hours a month, can work out of home, training provided.

Help in hospital thrift shop.

Teach adults English as a second language.

Help blind adults balance checkbook, work with finances.

Babysit at wellness center, Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9-11 a.m.

Wait on customers, take orders, make balloon bouquets.

Teach adults to read.

Sort donated clothing one hour a week.

Work in hospital gift shop. Flexible hours.

Sew mittens for mentally ill children.

Work with young moms distressed by pregnancy. Once a week. Training provided.

Provide musical entertainment at care center.

Paint two rooms at cultural center.

Answer phones, do light office work.

Hearing-impaired first grader needs volunteer with sign language skills. Tuesday, Wednesday afternoons from 12:30-2:30 p.m.

Answer phones, type 3-4 hours a week.

Learn to operate puppets for program about disabilities that goes into schools. Training provided.

Help mend clothing for nursing home patients.

Volunteer at LDS Hospital. Four hours once a week.

Work with children and youth. Training provided.

Help with cancer control program.

Help older, handicapped women learn bus system.

Group needed for Children's Museum projects. Painting and insulation. Materials provided.

Serve food to homeless.

Be a docent at Museum of Natural History. Training provided.

Be a role model for adolescent mothers. Five hours a month.

Volunteer with a truck needed to pick up items donated to refugee families.

Provide bulletin boards to food bank.

Give personal items of all kinds for gifts to mentally ill of all ages who will not have a Christmas this year.

Donate filing cabinets.

Provide a storage shed for women's shelter.

Donate a microwave to an AIDS patient.

Provide small turkeys, chickens and ham.

Give a crib to poor family.

Provide baby and infant clothing.

Donate a single bed.

Give vacuum cleaner.

Provide back packs, potty chairs and high chairs.

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Donate tripod for video camera to Family Support Center.

Elderly woman needs size 48 or larger shirts.

Give Disney Videos to children's center.

Televisions are needed for citizenship testing purposes.

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