Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan Web Site

		Upcoming Events National Volunteer Week April 27 - May 3 2008


	Click on logo for more volunteer opportunities Updated April 25 OPPORTUNITIES For Adults, Youth, Families Adults If you love parades and enjoy making people smile then this volunteer opportunity is for you! The 102 year old Blossomtime Festival has two parades where you can wear costumes and practice your best wave. The Youth Parade is Thursday May 1st in the late afternoon at St. Joseph High School where two lucky volunteers will play the roles of Captain America and Sponge Bob. On Saturday, May 3rd is the big Blossomtime Parade attended by thousands. Eight volunteers should call now to get first choice of costumes. Would you like to be a clown or Darth Vader? Volunteers will need to arrive at the Benton Harbor Salvation Army by 9 a.m. to get into costume, including makeup. Volunteers should be comfortable interacting with children, at least 15 years old and love to be in character. Come be a part of the largest multi-community festival in the mid-west! Call the Volunteer Center to connect. Spring is here! Are you looking for an excuse to hit the open road? Do you love to drive? Several organizations have opportunities for volunteer drivers on the Volunteer Center’s web site www.1-800-Volunteer.org. CARES (Community AIDS Resource and Education Services) volunteers will transport clients to and from medical appointments on an as-needed basis in Berrien, Cass and Van Buren Counties. Senior Nutrition Services also utilizes drivers in all three counties, but is especially looking for volunteer drivers in the South Haven area. Help deliver meals to homebound seniors between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. once a month or more as your schedule allows. Both CARES and Senior Nutrition Services provide mileage reimbursement. Call the Volunteer Center to connect. Do you love to learn and then share information with others? Safe Shelter will send you to trainings on domestic abuse and sexual assault so you can train Safe Shelter staff and volunteers. All costs will be assumed by the Safe Shelter. You should have excellent listening and public speaking skills to become a training assistant. You will need to use your own vehicle to attend trainings. You should also have the ability to give and receive effective feedback. Call the Volunteer Center to connect. Are you passionate about helping individuals with disabilities be all they can be? July will be here before you know it and that means it is time to find corporate sponsors and solicit teams for Gateway’s annual Softball Marathon. As a marketing volunteer, you will work flexible hours starting now with additional work closer to the time of the event. You can do some of the work at home on your own telephone and computer. A marketing background is helpful and knowledge of local business leaders is a definite plus! Help make this their biggest fundraiser ever and help individuals reach their “milestones for life.” Call the Volunteer Center to connect. Citizens for Better Care provides information and advocacy to enhance self-determination and the well being of long-term care consumers. As a volunteer Ombudsman, you will meet with nursing home residents to educate, empower, and advocate on their behalf. You can volunteer in either Berrien or VanBuren Counties and must be free of any conflicts of interest. You will routinely visit assigned nursing homes during regular visiting hours. Call the Volunteer Center to connect. Without intervention 70% of children with an incarcerated parent will also become involved in the criminal justice system during their lifetime. Help break the cycle by becoming a mentor to a child in need. Through mentoring young people can live up to their academic, emotional and social potential. The Michigan Prisoner ReEntry Initiative (MPRI) program will connect you to these children in need through mentoring opportunities at Big Brothers/Big Sisters, HOSTS, or Y Uncles program. Mentor a child today! Call the Volunteer Center to connect. BERRIEN COUNTY CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS blood drives: Wed. May 21 –American Red Cross, 303 Riverview Dr. Benton Harbor: 10 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. For a complete listing visit www.berrienredcross.org MICHIGAN COMMUNITY BLOOD CENTER blood drives: Thurs. May 15 –Marie Carroll Wolford Elementary, 122 S. E. Ave. Galien: 3 p.m.–8p.m. Sat. May 17 – Buchanan Middle School, 610 W. Fourth St.: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. For a complete listing visit www.miblood.org Adults and Youths Lots of good activity happening at the Bridgman Chamber of Commerce and you can be a part of it as their office assistant. Answer phones and direct callers to the agency or department that can assist in answering their questions. Inform callers and visitors about community events. You can volunteer anytime Monday- Friday 9 -5. Be in the know about what’s happening in Bridgman and help grow the economy through your efforts. Call the Volunteer Center to connect. Benton Harbor Children’s Art Fair in July provides free access to the arts in all forms and brings together people and families from diverse backgrounds creating important bridges and relationships between generations, individuals, families and communities. All committees have opportunities for you to be involved in planning and coordinating food, artists, transportation, organizing volunteers, performing arts, publicity and marketing, or working with the schools on student’s exhibits. Call the Volunteer Center to connect. Youths Calling all students…..what are your volunteer plans for 2008? Are you ready to get involved, but not sure how? Need to keep track of your volunteer hours for scholarships or schools? Check out our new interactive volunteer web site1-800Volunteer. You can search volunteer opportunities that fit your interests and schedule; as well as create a profile for yourself to track your hours. Any questions? Call John at the Volunteer Center to connect Family Your local American Red Cross provides relief to victims of disaster and helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. It is time for a spring spruce up at the Berrien County, Benton Harbor office where you and your family can wash windows to let the sunshine in or spruce up their flower beds. Make the office a pleasant place for other volunteers to gather for trainings and meetings. Call the Volunteer Center to connect. To find out about these or other volunteer opportunities, please check out our new 1-800Volunteer.org website or call 269-983-0912 in the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor area, 269-683-5464 in the Niles area. An appointment will be arranged so you can get connected with your community. Appointments do not constitute an obligation to accept a volunteer opportunity. All responses to the following requests should be handled through one of the Center's offices. The Center is a United Way agency. Copyright 2008 © All Right Reserved. Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan info@volunteerswmi.org	Is your portfolio looking puny? Could your college application use some added accomplishments? Do you need a mood transplant? The Volunteer Doctor is in! Why not consider volunteering your time this semester for a cause that interests you. Do you like coaching? Would you like to mentor? How about visiting elderly residents of local nursing homes? These are all prescriptions for success, and they're only a phone call or a mouse click away. Connect with the Volunteer Center today for ideas! For more information on the many non-profit organizations that we serve click on the Community Connection Guidebook above. United Way of Southwest Michigan United Way of Greater Niles
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