The Niles Daily Star will publish opportunities for volunteers each week.  To find out about these or other volunteer opportunities, please call 983-0912 in the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor area, 683-5464 in the Niles area; visit our website at www.volunteerswmi.org; or e-mail us at volunteer@volunteerswmi.org for further information.  To arrange an appointment, please call ahead. Appointments do not constitute an obligation to accept a volunteer opportunity.  The center is a United Waypartner agency.

Spotlight of the Week
• The YWCA childcare centers throughout Berrien County provide an important service. Several of these centers could use a fresh coat of paint on the walls. This would make a great group project and can be arranged to fit your schedule. Special requirements are that you have an enthusiasm for creating exciting spaces for young children to learn and grow!

Adults
• Downtown Development Authorities (DDAs) are catalysts for investment and help our downtown communities grow. Benton Harbor’s DDA has a unique volunteer opportunity. They currently have no paid staff with the board and other volunteers doing all the work. They are looking for a volunteer executive director, under the direction of the board, to initiate and promote programs to improve, preserve and enhance the downtown area. This person should be a strong advocate for down town businesses and preferably already have experience in related areas. This part time volunteer position would be interesting for a Masters level student or a retiree looking for an exciting challenging volunteer position. This is not your typical volunteer position so if you have ideas or interest in being involved don’t hesitate to contact them to discuss further.

• Do you know how to develop websites and maintain Web pages? Many nonprofits could use your help. One of those is Community Alliance Against Substance Abuse (CAASA). Their mission is to eliminate substance abuse among youth by identifying needs and strengthening organizations that provide substance abuse related services. This volunteer position can be done from home and once things are up and running would require approximately two hours a month. Hope’s Door provides transitional housing for women in recovery in Dowagiac and could also use a website administrator.

• The Readiness Center in Benton Harbor provides educational programs for low income parents and their pre-school through grade five children. Most programming runs September through May but they are looking for volunteers to sign up now so they can be ready. You can volunteer as a parent room volunteer and participate in sewing, craft, writing or computer projects. Classes meet Monday through Thursdays with morning and afternoon activities. So pick a time that works for you and let your creative juices flow.

• Sometimes we forget that there are people, including children, who go hungry in our own backyard. United Way of Southwest Michigan’s Community Foodlink coordinates referrals to food pantries in Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties. Volunteering at the Benton Harbor office, you will handle these referrals over the phone and fax paperwork to the appropriate pantry.  Volunteers are welcome Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; however, volunteers are especially needed on Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Good communication and computer skills required. Training will be provided.

Blood saves lives.  Donate today!

Berrien County Chapter of the American Red Cross
For a complete listing visit www.berrienredcross.org.

Michigan Blood
Wednesday, June 30 – New Buffalo City Fire Department, 35 North Harrison St., 3 to 7 p.m.
For a complete listing visit www.miblood.org.

Adult and youth
• Would you like to be Waste Warrior? Berrien County Resource and Recovery wants you to help at their household hazardous waste collection days. You will greet participants and make sure the waste gets to where it is suppose to go. A collection is happening Wednesday from 3 to 7 p.m.  at Lakeshore High School in Stevensville, but more are in the works.
• Overflow Church is one of the sponsors of the H3 event. What is H3?  How about hoops, hip-hop and hot dogs! You can help with planning or volunteer to help the day of the event on July 3 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. atBroadway Park in Benton Harbor. Be a part of bringing a positive, fun-filled experience to area youth.

Youth
• Youth Summer Serve is back bigger and better than ever!  Worried that you won’t find a job this summer, but don’t want to be bored? Need something to put on job, college and scholarship applications that shows just how wonderful you are? Volunteering is the answer you have been looking for … plus it is fun!  You can choose from hundreds of volunteer opportunities all over southwest Michigan. If you complete at least 40 hours by August you will be invited to a special party at Volunteer Day at the Berrien County Youth Fair. Contact Callie, youth volunteer coordinator at the Volunteer Center to learn more.

• Youth volunteers will engage senior residents of Lakeland Continuing Care in St. Joseph in a variety of organized activities with a team leader on the first Saturday of each month. Volunteers should arrive 10 minutes early for instructions. This opportunity is open to youth in middle and in high school. Contact the Volunteer Center to learn more.