By Staff
ADULTS
THE NILES SENIOR CENTER on Bell Road conducts a food commodities distribution for eligible individuals on the 3rd Wednesday (8 a.m.-3 p.m.) of each quarter for the federal program and the 3rd Friday (noon-2:30 p.m. of each month for the local program.
Volunteer commodities aides are invited to help pack food. If you can lift cartons and bags of groceries to put in seniors' vehicles, your help would be most welcome!
On the Mondays following each distribution, volunteer drivers are invited to help deliver food to homebound seniors in the Senior Center van. To connect, call the Volunteer Center!
One of the nation's premier art fairs, happens right on the bluff in St. Joseph. The town will be jumping from Friday to Sunday, July 8-10. You can be part of the action by becoming a ST. JOSEPH ART FAIR volunteer.
Requests include volunteers to help set up the Fair on Friday and tear down on Sunday night. If sales are your strength, then why not help sell bottles of water, t-shirts, and other items. Or you can work in the Food Court area - keeping the area clean and neat. If you have a few hours to volunteer that weekend or need more details, contact the Volunteer Center:
THE AMERICAN RED CROSS, BERRIEN COUNTY CHAPTER, reports that Berrien County residents utilize more blood products than are collected here. Here's your chance to change that! Participate in a blood drive in your area in June!
ADULTS AND YOUTH
PARENTS AS TEACHERS, a part of GREAT START works with families to ensure that children are competent, self-assured and ready for school. Volunteers aged 16 and older are invited to participate in the summer program which will work with a small group of children to teach gardening techniques. The program will be held on June 13th and 14th in Benton Harbor, and children will take home plants in pots at the end of the session. To connect, call the Volunteer Center.
CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES runs a Respite Summer Camp for children with special needs at a local park during three one-week sessions between July 11th and Aug. 12th. If you can volunteer to help foster the development of these children, you help would be welcome. Hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday during the weeks mentioned. If you can work one week or a few days over the entire period, please call the Volunteer Center to connect.
ST. JOSEPH TODAY is kicking into high gear for the summer. The Welcome Center at the corner of Ship and State Sts. will have staff on site, but would welcome additional help from volunteers to answer the phones or talk with visitors. Staffing support is especially needed in the evenings Monday through Friday from 6-9 p.m. and on the weekends from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. If you can volunteer for a few hours once a week or twice a month, your help would be welcomed! To connect, call the Volunteer Center.
FAMILIES
Do you and your family love the outdoors and the cool beauty of a wooded creek? If so, the BUCHANAN FRIENDS OF THE TRAIL would love to have you join them as they improve and beautify the McCoy Creek area in Buchanan. For more information on the next event when you can participate, call the Volunteer Center.
Do you enjoy sharing learning opportunities with children? If so, then this volunteer opportunity might appeal to your family. THE JAMMIN' SCIENCE AND ARTS CIRCUS will be held on Friday, July 22nd from 1-4 p.m. outside the Salvation Army building in Benton Harbor. Teen and adult volunteers are encouraged to assist with set-up, monitoring activities and clean-up. You'll even have some fun along the way! To connect, call the Volunteer Center.
YOUTH
Are you on your school's track or cross country team? Or do you just like to run for exercise? If you and your friends would like a group project in June that would culminate in a unique event on Saturday, June 18th, then THE HUMAN RACE 2005 at Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Center is just the thing! The Human Race is an opportunity for individuals, families, groups, and businesses to support the local nonprofit or school of their choice by registering for the race and then collecting pledges for their participation in the event.
The event includes a 10K run, 1 5K run, a 5K walk and a One Mile, barrier-free, paved walk. Sponsored by the Volunteer Center, this event raises funds for nonprofits throughout southwest Michigan.
To receive a copy of the registration form, call the Volunteer Center. Join The Human Race!
Call the Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan Niles at (269) 683-5464.