By Staff
SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK
Families from all over southwest Michigan came out to Orchards Mall in Benton Harbor on Saturday, Nov. 22 for National Family Volunteer Day.They learned about community needs from 16 community organizations and participated in many hands-on volunteer activities. More than 300 people donated more than 150 hours of volunteer time! They made activity kits for kids in the hospital, made blankets for kids who are homeless, decorated containers to collect their pennies for cancer and participated in many more projects to make a difference in their community. You can make a difference too! The Volunteer Center would like to set up a similar event in your town. As a volunteer leader you can help make that happen!
ADULTS
Therapeutic Equestrian Center in Watervliet provides horse related activities to people with special needs. Providing these services is expensive, but as a fundraising assistant you can make sure the riding continues. You set the times and dates that match your schedule. You will also work closely with other volunteers and staff to make the magic between horse and person happen!
Snow, Snow, Snow. Lake effect, system and other snow … we know it is coming. The American Red Cross in Benton Harbor has a small parking that needs to be plowed before they open at 9 a.m. Monday-Friday when there is more than 5 inches of snow. Do you have a plow to help them out?
"Mentoring changes lives two at a time." There are many opportunities in Southwest Michigan to make a difference in someone's life in a very personal way through mentoring. You can have lunch once a week with a child at the local elementary school, you can work with a young person involved with the courts but trying to get back on track, you can help a mom learning to read better so she can read to her children, you can help an adult searching for work… YOU can do this and make a huge difference!
Capstone supports families and community life by providing services that strengthen positive parenting. As an office administrator you will help answer phones, do filing, and other office duties and projects. Capstone is also seeking a volunteer grant writer to seek funding for their programs.
Would you like to help the working poor save money on their taxes? Do you enjoy organizing events and people? Earned Income Tax Coalition volunteers make sure working families get all the assistance that is available to them. Berrien County is searching for a county coordinator who would help various sites and volunteers get organized and ready for tax season. A site coordinator for Benton Harbor is also needed to ensure smooth operations and coverage.
"Picturing the Twin Cities" featuring photographs of St. Joseph and Benton Harbor is a new exhibit of The History Center at Courthouse Square/Berrien County Historical Association. During December this special exhibit will be located at the Orchards Mall in Benton Harbor. As a volunteer docent you will interact with the public about the exhibit and help handle gift shop sales.
Blood Drives in the area:
For a complete listing visit www.berrienredcross.org
MICHIGAN COMMUNITY BLOOD CENTER blood drives:
Wednesday, Dec. 3 – American Legion Auxiliary, 112 N. Bluff St., Berrien Springs: 3 to 8 p.m.
For a complete listing visit www.miblood.org
ADULTS &YOUTH
Would you like to be Santa's helper? The Salvation Army assists clients with Christmas gifts and food. The Benton Harbor Salvation Army sets up a toy shop so parents can choose gifts for their children on Dec. 16 and 17 from 1 until 7 p.m.
FAMILIES
Christmas music, delicious cookies and the Salvation Army bell ringers are all part of the holidays for many families. Why not volunteer your family or a group of friends for a few hours to ring the bell? Opportunities are available in most communities.
Want to share the joy of giving with your children this holiday season? There are lots of big and small ways to get involved. Why not have a dinner conversation about what they care about. Are they concerned about animals? Do they know that some families don't have a place to live? Do they think art is cool? Do they think every kid should have their own little library of books? Ask and you may be surprised what they care about and understand. Ask them how they would like to get involved.