By Staff
SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK
Are you a Martha Stewart wanna-be? Would you like to plan parties and organize special events? At the Emergency Shelter, Inc. you can do all this and more for families and single parents with children while they search for permanent homes. Doesn't everyone deserve a party?
ADULTS
"Without YOU we don't ride." As a newsletter editor or web master you can ensure that children and adults benefit from Therapeutic Equestrian Center's programming. Enriching the mind, body and spirit for people with special needs through horse-related activities is their mission and you can play an important role by telling their stories and building community awareness.
Do you think you are just too average to be a mentor? As a stable and caring adult, you can spend time with a youth in need of developing academic or life skills and in just an hour a week help change a child's life. They will change your life too! Contact Michele at the Volunteer Center to learn more about how mentoring changes lives, two at a time.
Do you enjoy computers and children? At the Benton Harbor Boys and Girls Club, Computer Lab Assistants provide instruction and assist with computer activities, encourage participation and monitor behavior, and serve as a role model for children. Volunteers must pass a background check and complete an orientation.
Share your expertise or build your skills when you volunteer to assist staff at Samaritan Counseling Centers with grant writing. Samaritan Counseling Centers provide professional psychological counseling, consultation, and community educational services, integrating spiritual insights with the values and faith of the client. Written communication skills are sought after by nonprofit and for profit businesses and this volunteer opportunity would be a great resume builder.
Southwest Michigan Community Action Agency assists people in economic need and enables them to achieve and sustain self-sufficiency. They have very recently taken on a new housing project and must organize a filing system. Two volunteers will work short term on organizing papers and creating a system allowing staff to focus on clients rather than paperwork.
Michigan Community Blood Centers' mission is to provide a safe and adequate blood supply. Volunteers 17 and older may choose from a variety of opportunities including serving refreshments at blood drives and assisting with clerical and other office tasks.
MICHIGAN COMMUNITY BLOOD CENTER blood drives:
Thursday, Dec. 6 – St. Anthony Catholic Church, 509 W. 4th St., Buchanan: 2 to 7p.m.
For a complete listing visit www.miblood.org
ADULTS AND YOUTH
Do you find wonder in learning? Do you enjoy kids and their natural curiosity? The Curious Kids Museum in St. Joseph is an educational, hands-on discovery center that stimulates children's curiosity, learning, and creative expression. As a floor interpreter you will interact with visitors by demonstrating exhibits or answering visitor's questions. You will also return exhibits to order by cleaning and tidying as necessary enhancing visitor's museum experience.
FAMILIES
Does your family like to fix things? Are you interested in teaching your older children your knowledge about home repairs? Many organizations that provide housing have an on-going need for such help. One of them is the Safe Shelter which provides a safe and well maintained environment for women and children escaping abuse. Doing house maintenance entails changing light bulbs and making light repairs.
There are many ways to support a cause you believe in. The Berrien County Council for Children seeks to shape a community that shields children from abuse and neglect. At the Children's Assessment Center they work to reduce the trauma of investigating child sexual abuse and seek to compassionately meet the children's needs. Would you like to be a part of maintaining a pleasant, peaceful environment for victims and their families? It is as easy as spending an afternoon in January and transplanting their thriving house plants into bigger pots. Bring the kids or a friend to help out. Your green thumb will have a long term impact.
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. 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!
Contact the Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan, director@volunteerswmi.org, 210 Main St., Suite 237, 605 Pleasant St., Niles, MI 49120.