By Staff
SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK
Did you know the gift shop at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles helps buy important medical equipment? Of course they also help encourage and cheer patients by making it easy for visitors to bring gifts. Come be a part of this important service when you volunteer at the Niles gift shop. You will help customers with their purchases, deliver phone orders, run the cash register and visa machines. You can choose to work on either Saturday or Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Older teens and adult volunteers are welcome and should expect to have a background check done, be tested for TB and attend an orientation.
ADULTS
Are you a young adult with an interest in working with youth to present drug prevention and awareness campaigns? The Community Alliance Against Substance Abuse volunteer advisors spend about 10 hours a month facilitating meetings and assisting Teens Influencing Choices (TIC), a youth advisory council, in developing special events. You will also enjoy chaperoning field trips, being involved in the Alliance, and mentoring teen leaders. Monthly meetings rotate to different locations throughout Berrien County. Six positions are available to start immediately.
Harbor Harvest Urban Ministries is working to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the Benton Harbor community. Exciting volunteer opportunities are available as teachers, tutors and mentors for afternoon and evening programs. All volunteers will need to pass a criminal background check. Harbor Harvest is working to make a difference. You can make a difference one child at a time!
United Way of Southwest Michigan improves lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities. One of the ways it does this is by providing the community with an information and referral call center, First Call for Help. This call center helps about 700 people a month. The data base used is ready for an update and as a community resource database volunteer you can assure that the needed information is accurate and up to date. You will also learn about the many nonprofits and their services that are available in southwest Michigan. You will be working from a prepared script calling agencies to verify basic information. Requirements include good communication and phone skills as well as good handwriting. Excel experience is a plus, but not required. You can work anytime of your choosing Monday – Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Nearly 70 percent of people need a blood transfusion in their lifetime, yet only 5 percent of those eligible give blood. Donate lifesaving blood Today!
BERRIEN COUNTY CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS blood drives:
Wednesday, Aug. 15, Niles Fire Department, 1345 E. Main St. Niles: noon to 5:45 p.m.
For a complete listing visit www.berrienredcross.org
MICHIGAN COMMUNITY BLOOD CENTER blood drives:
Wednesday, Aug. 15: Lakeland Hospital, 31 N. St. Joseph Ave. Niles: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 18- Moose Lodge, 2277 N. 5th St., Niles: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For a complete listing visit www.miblood.org
YOUTH
You are the technology generation! The Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan is launching a new way to connect to volunteer opportunities through a web site that is the match.com of volunteering. It will also allow students to sign up for volunteering via e-mail and help track volunteer hours. Would you be interested in promoting this to your school? We would provide you with materials, goodies, and training. You decide the best way to let your classmates know how volunteering can help them earn scholarships, learn new skills, and oh yah, have FUN!
Call the Volunteer Center today to volunteer.