By Staff
SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK
Every year, fifth graders in Berrien County have the opportunity to attend Natural Resources Day at the Berrien County Fairgrounds in Berrien Springs. Students learn how to care for their environment and why it is important. Four volunteers can assist the organizing committee on Tuesday, April 24, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. with set up. No special skills are required. Berrien County Resource Recovery has opportunities for additional volunteers to present information to the kids either on Wednesday, April 25, or Thursday, April 26, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Volunteers will enjoy giving a 20-minute presentation multiple times as students rotate through information stations. Volunteers will receive information and a presentation outline well in advance. Volunteers should be comfortable standing and working either in a barn or outside. They will also be invited to a volunteer appreciation lunch following the event. Contact the Volunteer Center to connect.
ADULTS
Emergency Shelter provides a safe environment for those without a place to stay. Once a month, usually the last Wednesday, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. mothers can participate in a Sisterhood Club. Volunteer childcare supervisors will oversee other volunteers providing childcare and assure a lesson plan and activities are conducted in an orderly fashion. Contact the Volunteer Center to connect.
Polly's Place in Niles is a shelter for abused women. Volunteers can assist with clerical duties, fill the role of office manager, handle crisis calls, or drive women to medical and other appointments. A background check is required and training will be provided. The physical building could also use volunteers. Plumbing and electrical work are especially needed. Contact the Volunteer Center to connect.
The Veteran's Administration and the Disabled Veterans Transportation Network are seeking a roster of drivers for Tuesday and Thursday trips to the veteran's hospital in Battle Creek. Drivers should be willing to leave at 6 a.m. and be gone all day. You need to be insurable, pass a physical and T.B. test, and attend a training session. You should also feel comfortable with winter driving on back roads in the van provided. If you would like to help out, but are not available for Battle Creek, the Niles Senior Center also has opportunities to drive veterans and other seniors to doctors appointment locally Monday through Friday at various times. Our veterans served us well, now let's serve them!
Looking for the perfect red gift for Valentine's Day? Give the gift of life, give blood.
BERRIEN COUNTY CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS blood drives:
Friday, Feb. 9 – Peace Lutheran Church, 3590 Lincoln Ave., St. Joseph – noon to 5:45 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 14 – Celebration Cinema, Benton Harbor – noon to 5:45 p.m.
For a complete listing visit www.berrienredcross.org
MICHIGAN COMMUNITY BLOOD CENTER blood drives:
Saturday, Feb. 3 – Community Donor Center, 3900 Hollywood Road, St. Joseph – 8 a.m. to noon.
Tuesday, Feb. 6 – Community Donor Center, 3900 Hollywood Road, St. Joseph – noon to 7 p.m.
For a complete listing visit www.miblood.org.
ADULTS AND YOUTH
Disasters do not happen only in the south. Remember the tornadoes a few years ago? The Berrien County Red Cross is offering its core courses Feb. 9, 10 and 11 at Benton Harbor and Niles locations. You can take all three classes now or take only one. Be prepared to respond locally and/or nationally to prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. The Red Cross needs YOU! Contact the Volunteer Center to connect.
FAMILIES
Do your kids ever complain about how hard life is? Do you catch yourself saying "You don't know how good you have it!" Instead of telling them, why not show them? Poverty and need are not something you have to travel to find…it is in your own backyard. People are lonely without family; they are homeless without resources; they are struggling to make a good life. Help your children connect with reality; contact the Volunteer Center. You may be surprised when you connect with your children as well.
YOUTH
Summer may seem like a far away dream, but camps and festivals are already making their plans….are you? Start thinking about what you would like to do this summer. Call Patricia Leonard, youth volunteer coordinator to connect.
To connect with any of these volunteer opportunities, call the Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan in Niles at (269) 683-5464.