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SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN — In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, the United Way of Southwest Michigan is seeking volunteers for various projects to continue to car for local residents.

Current volunteer opportunities include:

Turn compassion into action

American Red Cross of Southwest Michigan is looking for volunteers for several opportunities such as a disaster action team member, which provides 24-hour emergency response to local disasters, ensuring that those affected have access to resources for basic necessities such as food, shelter and clothing. The American Red Cross of Southwest Michigan is also looking for blood drive volunteers in Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties. For more information, or to sign up, visit uwsm.org/volunteer.

PACE seeks medically trained volunteers

PACE of Southwest Michigan is looking for medically trained volunteers to help support their staff and clients during the current COVID crisis. PACE is looking for a volunteer nurse and a volunteer nursing assistant. The nurse has the responsibility for providing direct and indirect nursing care to participants in the PACE Center and in the community. The nursing assistant performs participant care activities and other tasks as assigned to assist the primary care, therapy and adult day health staff. PACE is looking for candidates who are interested in home care and has permanent openings for this position if someone is interested in staying with PACE permanently. For more information, or to sign up, visit uwsm.org/volunteer.

Help community members in need

Southwest Community Action Agency helps those in our community who need assistance. SMCAA advocates for struggling individuals, providing them with a variety of programs and opportunities. Southwest Michigan Community Action Agency is hosting a family food distribution drive-thru at their warehouse on May 20. SMCAA is seeking volunteers to help distribute food. Volunteers and staff will follow strict COVID-19 guidelines while interacting with families. For more information, or to sign up, visit uwsm.org/volunteer.

Facemasks needed for frontline workers

In partnership with the Emergency Operations Center, United Way of Southwest Michigan is collecting homemade facemasks to distribute to frontline workers and volunteers at area agencies and organizations. Agencies such as homeless shelters, Meals on Wheels, and many others are still working with their clients every day.  They need masks to help protect their staffs, volunteers and clients. To find donation locations and times, visit uwsm.org/volunteer.

Help ease worry

Meals on Wheels of Southwest Michigan is working with area seniors to fill many needs during COVID-19. Meals on Wheels is seeking the donation of hygiene items that volunteers can include in their deliveries to seniors. Those items include full-size shampoo, full-size toothpaste, toothbrush and notes of encouragement and cheer. For more information, visit uwsm.org/volunteer.

Senior center needs helping hands

Greater Niles Senior Center is seeking volunteers to help beautify the senior center and to install a plexiglass barrier. Greater Niles Senior Center provides services and activities for area independent senior citizens and needs help so they can be completely focused on helping seniors during this difficult time, officials said. For more information, visit uwsm.org/volunteer.