By Staff
ADULTS
Everyone is wondering how s/he can help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
One of the best ways, according to the BERRIEN COUNTY CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS, is to be prepared in your own region of the country. The Red Cross needs 90 volunteers to be trained in Basic Disaster Preparedness classes which are being scheduled immediately for individuals who:
1. Have a valid driver's license with no restrictions
2. Can lift 50 pounds
3. Have no health restrictions
4. Have no criminal background (this will be checked)
5. Can commit to 7-10 consecutive days to be away from home
6. Have health insurance coverage
Classes will be taken in the following order: Introduction to Disaster and Red Cross Orientation; Mass Care Overview; Shelter Operations; Shelter Simulation. To connect, call the Red Cross directly at 927.2288. Your help is needed
LAKELAND HOSPITAL in St. Joseph welcomes volunteers interested in assisting patients in the Emergency Room or driving the Courtesy Cart from the parking lot to the front door of the hospital. Both positions are available during daytime hours Monday through Friday in 2-4 hour shifts. If you would like to get involved, call the Volunteer Center.
MADISON CENTER in South Bend provides SOS Volunteer Advocates for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. The next training series begins on Sept. 22 and will continue on 10 consecutive Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-9 p.m. South Bend time.
CITIZENS FOR PROGRESSIVE CHANGE would welcome the support of a volunteer bookkeeper who could maintain an organized bookkeeping system, including Quick Books.
If you have such a background, have a few free hours each week, and would like to assist this Benton Harbor organization promote partnerships in the area, please call the Volunteer Center and we will help you get started.
THE AMERICAN RED CROSS blood drives continue with events scheduled for: Wed.,Oct 5 at Andrews University, Pioneer Memorial Church in Berrien Springs 10 a.m.-9:45 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 5 at Red Cross offices, Riverview Dr., Benton Harbor 10 a.m.-3:45 p.m.
Thurs., Oct. 6 at Lane Automotive, 8300 Land Dr., Watervliet from 10 a.m.-3:45 p.m.
ADULTS AND YOUTH
SOUTH HAVEN AREA HOSPICE welcomes volunteers aged 16 or older to work in the office, work directly with families providing respite care through music therapy, reading, letter writing, or caregiver transportation on any day of the week. Eight two and a half hour training sessions, beginning Oct. 4 on Tuesday and Thursday evenings are required of all volunteers, as well as a TB test. If you would like to ease the burden of terminally ill patients and their families, this is a wonderful opportunity to do so.
BERRIEN COUNTY RESOURCE RECOVERY office is coordinating the annual Coastal Cleanup event on Saturday, Sept. 17 for the southwest Michigan portion of Lake Michigan. This event is a local part of an internationsl program sponsored by the Ocean Conservancy. Volunteers are invited to help remove trash items from our Great Lakes' shoreline; then the items are recorded, and the results are used to educate people about the prevention of these environmental problems.
FAMILIES
If ever there was a time to plan a neighborhood fundraiser, the time is now. Victims of Hurricane Katrina are in dire need of support through the Red Cross and other organizations. One of the best things local residents can do is raise money for the relief fund of the Red Cross. A bake sale, a car wash or any other activity that a family can plan will help the men, women and children of the Gulf Coast to reorganize their lives.
YOUTH
Do you enjoy working on independent projects? Are you a whiz on the computer? If so, UNITED WAY OF SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN has a great project you might like. The United Way maintains a database of civic organizations that should be updated yearly. This would include some telephone calls, a little digging, and some time working on the database. And, even better, you can come in to the office after school or you can do the work from you home. If you would like to work on this or some other possible projects, please call the Volunteer Center.
Call the Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan in Niles at (269) 683-5464.