By Staff
ADULTS
BERRIEN COUNTY TRIAL COURT, FAMILY DIVISION assists young people to avoid delinquent behavior and grow into mature adults. The program invites volunteers to become Intake Assistants who would work one day a week at the Courthouse in St. Joseph supporting the work of the Deputy Registers. For more information, contact the Volunteer Center.
FAITH IN ACTION RESPITE CARE provides short-term intervals of relief for individuals and families who have fulltime, round-the -clock responsibility for a homebound person. If you would like to volunteer to become a respite care aide in this non-denominational program, you will receive six hours of training from a variety of professionals in South Bend. Volunteers, who only socialize with the homebound person (no cooking, cleaning or dish-washing allowed) are asked to be available once a week for 2-4 hours, and they may choose daytimes, evenings and/or weekends to participate.
Everyone is wondering how she/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 next sessions for Disaster Preparedness will be held in Niles beginning on Saturday, Nov. 12; continuing on Tuesday evening, Nov. 15 and concluding on Saturday, Nov. 19. Volunteers may also be asked if they are willing to be deployed to disaster areas. The Red Cross needs just 20 more volunteers to be trained in these Basic Disaster Preparedness classes 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
THE CASS COUNTY MEDICAL CARE AUXILIARY in Cassopolis seeks to improve the health and welfare of residents of the facility. Gift Shop attendant volunteers are welcomed to staff the shop one afternoon per weekday from 1-4 p.m. An understanding of long term care residents is a must.
THE BERRIEN COUNTY CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS invites you to participate in one of its blood drives this month:
Mon., Oct. 31 – Celebration Cinema in Benton Harbor – 12 noon-5:45 p.m.
Thurs., Nov. 3 at First Baptist Church, E. Main St., Niles from noon-5:45 p.m.
Wed., Nov. 9 at 1st United Methodist Church, Leco Ct., St. Joseph 10 a.m.-3:45
ADULTS AND YOUTH
LAKELAND HOSPITAL, St. Joseph, maintains an excellent coffee shop that serves patients, visitors, and staff on a daily basis. Volunteer servers have the opportunity to work for 2-4 hours over the noon rush. If you can work one day a week to help serve the public, your help would be welcomed.
Scheduling can be flexible.
CITIZENS FOR PROGRESSIVE CHANGE works to improve the quality of life for Benton Harbor residents. To that end, the organization is collecting clothing for Hurricane Katrina residents who now live in Benton Harbor.
Volunteers are invited to help sort the clothing by size and gender to make distribution easier and more efficient. If you can help on any Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. or between 5 and 7 p.m., please call the Volunteer Center.
FAMILIES
Did you know that Fall is an ideal time to plant trees - to increase the beauty of your yard and to increase the oxygen level in your breathing area!
In fact, a single tree with an 18-inch trunk produces enough oxygen throughout the year to support a family of four, and an average-sized tree absorbs as much carbon from the atmosphere as is produced by a car driven 26,000 miles. Trees lower heart rates and reduce stress. Hospital patients who have a view of trees heal faster, use fewer pain medications and leave the hospital sooner than those with a view of a brick wall. So, why not make it a family affair and plant trees this Fall. It will make the tree happy and it will make you healthier!
YOUTH
BROOKVIEW SCHOOL in Benton Harbor provides a Montessori program for children six weeks of age to 14 years, nurturing children as whole and integrated persons and supporting families. The school welcomes volunteers of all ages interested in supporting its Tuition Assistance Program by participating as Silent Auction supervisors at the event to be held Saturday, Nov. 19 at the Mendel Center.
Call the Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan in Niles at (269) 683-5464.