In cooperation with the Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan, 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 Way agency.

Spotlight of the Week

Girls on the Run is a life-changing, experiential learning program for girls in grades 3-5 sponsored by United Way of Southwest Michigan. The program combines training for a 5K running event with self-esteem enhancing, uplifting workouts. The goals of the programs are to encourage positive emotional, social, mental, spiritual and physical development. Coaches meet with the girls weekly March through May. You don’t have to be a runner to be a coach. New Buffalo, Buchanan, Bridgman and Berrien Springs still each need one more coach. They have had a record number of girls sign up this year.

Adults

• The self-declared “Soup Nazi” (reference to “Seinfeld”) can’t be there everyday at The Salvation Army in Niles. They have kitchen help but are seeking a kitchen supervisor for Fridays. The kitchen supervisor creates menus and provides oversight of volunteers and kitchen for “lunch bunch” meals. Prep starts at 9 a.m. and lunch is served 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Why not stop by and help out one day and see how you like it? This is about much more than serving food, this is about sharing a communal meal with those in need of many forms of nourishment.

• Do you like solving puzzles? Medicare Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP) is part of a national program sponsored locally by the Area Agency on Aging to help people with Medicare get the most out of their insurance and figure out their bills. You will receive in-depth training and support and then provide counseling at local sites such as senior centers through Southwest Michigan. Call now to learn about an upcoming training in March. No previous experience required just a desire to help others and to continue learning about Medicare and other insurance issues. Volunteers are especially needed in Van Buren County. Become a Medicare expert.

Mentoring

• Work with three to four children in need of one-on-one attention in schools, early childhood centers, detention centers, migrant programs or after-school programs at various locations in Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties through the Foster Grandparent Program. Mentor must be at least 55, income eligible and willing to serve about 20 hours a week. If qualified, volunteer may receive a monthly tax-free stipend and mileage reimbursement.

• Who mentored you? If you are a woman who has overcome addictions, homelessness and/or domestic abuse and wants to help others do the same, you can mentor a mom who is receiving services through Hope’s Door in Dowagiac. Be matched with one woman or work with a small group on topics like self-improvement, hygiene and social skills. The commitment varies, depending on needs.

• Who mentored you? Why not honor their memory by encouraging others to become mentors? You can request materials to post at your work place, library, house of worship or other location to become mentors. We have posters and a booklet of mentoring opportunities. Our children need mentors.

• Boys who are staying at the Berrien County Juvenile Center need positive male role models. Show them that the community cares. Flexible times for mentoring one or more teens available.

• As a mentor for Youth Development Company/ PAL you will work primarily with four- through eighth-graders in an after-school and/or Summer Fun in the Parks mentoring program. Be a caring mentor who will guide them to make the choices that will lead them to live happy, healthy and productive lives. The goal for the program is to have fun while motivating youth toward success. Mentors and mentees meet once a week for approximately 90 minutes in South Haven. Mentor will receive training as well as an evaluation before they are placed with a mentee.

• Girl Scouts have impacted so many young women over the years. As a troop leader you will guide girls through activities that are girl-led and include cooperative hands-on learning. You will also lead troop meetings, community service activities, field trips and camp outings. Opportunities are also available for those needing to make a smaller volunteer commitment. Reminder that troops in Van Buren County are part of the Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan out of Kalamazoo and girls in Berrien and Cass counties are part of Girls Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michiana out of South Bend.

• If every person who donates blood once a year recruited one person to donate once a year, blood shortages could be a thing of the past. Recruit a friend to donate blood today.

Berrien County Chapter of the American Red Cross

For a complete listing, visit www.berrienredcross.org.

Michigan Blood

For a complete listing, visit www.miblood.org.

Adults and youth

The American Red Cross in Berrien has a new office located at 3838 Niles Road in St. Joseph. They have the usual volunteer opportunities to work in disaster preparedness and on blood drives, but did you know that you can also assist in operations by sprucing up their old van? It could really use a good detailing and then a follow up cleaning once a month. Their new building could also use a handyman (or woman) and someone to help clear the snow. If you want to support the Red Cross they will find a place for you to make a difference.

Youth

Are you part of a group that wants to do community service? Contact Callie at the Volunteer Center and she will help you brain storm ideas and then make it happen. Your community needs your help.

Families

Visit www.volunteerswmi.org for hundreds of ideas on how you can make a difference today and throughout 2011. Whether you are looking for a one time event to give a few hours to, a regular volunteer commitment or someplace to donate to the Volunteer Center can be your connection. Call 983-0912 in St. Joseph or 683-5464 in Niles to learn about opportunities throughout Berrien, Cass and VanBuren counties.