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
Check out the Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan’s new and improved volunteer website. Create a profile and search for local volunteer opportunities at more than 230 organizations. If you have questions about or suggestions for the new site call Ashley or Doug at 983-0912.

Adults
• United Way of Southwest Michigan is sponsoring a Senior Day of Action on Thursday, Nov. 3. Register by Sept. 30 to go to one of 200 seniors’ homes in Berrien and Cass counties to rake leaves, clean gutters and put plastic on windows in an effort to get ready for winter.  Live United and sign up today.
• Do you have one lunch hour a week that you could share with a child in your work community?  Have you thought about becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister but were not sure how to get started? Big Brothers Big Sisters of Berrien and Cass is welcoming new Bigs to its Lunch Buddy programs in communities through out southwest Michigan.
• The storms are over but the work continues in communities across the country.  Do you know what organization is busy preparing for local and national emergencies? That’s right, the American Red Cross. You can train now to be a disaster volunteer or sign up to help out with office work and blood drives.
• Greet visitors and answer phones at the Lakeland HealthCare Continuing Care Information Desk in St. Joseph. You should have some telephone and customer service experience. Shifts are available seven days a week so this one fits everyone’s schedule. Volunteers should be over 18.

Volunteer by donating blood!

Berrien County Chapter of the American Red Cross
• Wednesday — American Red Cross offices, 3838 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, 11 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
• Friday, Aug. 26 — North Berrien Senior Center, 6648 Ryno Rd., Coloma, 11 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
For a complete listing, visit www.berrienredcross.org.

Michigan Blood
• Thursday — St. John and Bernard Parish, Community Room, 555 East Delaware Ave., Benton Harbor, 2 to 7 p.m.
• Saturday, Aug. 27 – Martin’s Supermarket on the bus, 720 South 11th St., Niles, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For a complete listing, visit www.miblood.org.

Adults and youth
• Here by the great lakes we sometimes take water for granted but water quality is of critical importance. Be a water quality advocate for the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission by distributing promotional materials to libraries, schools and other locations throughout Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties. You can also hand out materials by attending community festivals to promote the water quality program. How about assisting with surveys and other data collection when needed? Training and supplies will be provided. Travel reimbursement available. Tasks could be completed during office hours or during weekend/evening hours.
• Help at risk clients experience holiday celebrations that might otherwise be unattainable in a life full of complexities. From New Year’s to Christmas, and all the holidays in between, some people are afforded few opportunities to connect with caring individuals, besides service program staff, that truly care and understand the power and benefit of even a moments joy. You can be the person to individually, or as part of a group, create/host/facilitate these important “moments of joy” for seniors, teens and families fleeing domestic violence. This is a flexible volunteer opportunity and you will work with staff at Child and Family Services to make it happen. Would be a great project for a church group, family or work group. So why not call and talk with Beverly their volunteer coordinator to discuss further?

Families
• August is the month when families begin to think about school starting again. Keep an eye open for those great sales on school supplies and purchase extra to pass on to the children staying in a shelter or to give to an organization serving children. Did your children grow over the summer and so it is time to clean out the closets and purchase new clothes? Bring your used items to a resale shop near you. The proceeds from sales at the stores go to fund valuable programs. Contact the Volunteer Center for a location near you.
• The 10th anniversary of 9-11 is approaching — how will your family remember? Why not volunteer? Blue Star Mothers will gladly accept your cards and send them to the troops. Contact the Volunteer Center for other family friendly ideas.
• The American Red Cross-Berrien County Chapter would like your family to help sanitize its CPR equipment as needed. Call to get your name put on the “on call” list. When they need the work done they will call your family. If you are not available, no problem — they will find another volunteer. This is something your family can feel good about.

Youth
• Have you already volunteered 40 hours this summer? It doesn’t matter where you volunteered or who helped you get connected, turn in your hours to Callie (youth@volunteerswmi.org) at the Volunteer Center for your certification of completion of Youth Summer Serve 2011. This looks great on your college and scholarship applications.
• As you get ready to head back to school, think about becoming an ambassador for volunteerism at your school. Contact the Volunteer Center to learn how you can help us distribute posters, flyers and information on volunteering to your classmates. This is an easy way to help others get connected!