By Staff
ADULTS
THE BERRIEN COUNTY CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS reports that Berrien County residents use more blood products than we donate. Let's change that!
The next blood drive will be coming soon to one of our communities.: Be there!
Wednesday, Jan. 4: Noon - Red Cross blood drive until 5:45 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church, 302 Cedar, Niles. “Though someone needs blood every two seconds, only 5 percent of eligible citizens donate,” according to Angie LaVanway, director of the Berrien County chapter of the American Red Cross. “We're currently experiencing a blood shortage - especially for type O blood. Type O is the universal donor type and used exclusively by U.S. military hospitals. We currently have less than one half day's supply of type O blood.”
THE YWCA WOMEN'S CAREER CLOTHING CLOSET provides professional clothing for women needing assistance in obtaining career appropriate clothing.
Volunteers are invited to support the Closet by making a six-month commitment to assisting women once a week in choosing clothing for job interviews and maintaining the donations that come in. If you are available once a week on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday for a 3-hour shift, your time would be a welcome gift.
THE BENTON HARBOR CHILDREN'S ART FAIR will be held on Saturday, July 8, 2006, and volunteers are invited to help plan activities. Monthly meetings are held at Fort Miami in St. Joseph and activities include scheduling volunteers for the day of the fair; serving as historian; planning activities, or generally organizing the event.
CITIZENS FOR PROGRESSIVE CHANGE offers volunteers a variety of opportunities. You might like to be an art instructor on Tuesday or Thursdays from 4:30-6 p.m. at Hull Middle School in Benton Harbor. Or, how about serving as a site assistant on any weekday between 3 and 6 p.m. at either Hull or Fairplain Middle School. Maybe you'd rather serve as a counselor to youth on Wednesdays from 4-6 p.m. at either school, encouraging youth to manage their anger and to educate youth about the dangers of gang involvement.
ADULTS AND YOUTH
If your mittens and mufflers are in good working order, the Hunter Ice Festival in Niles would like a few hours of your time, to be held beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 13 and continuing all day on Saturday and Sunday. The festival welcomes volunteers who want to serve as runners for the ice carvers; assist with the Wine, Cheese and Chocolate tasting tent; or serving ice cream
LAKELAND HOSPITAL in St. Joseph welcomes volunteer coffee shop servers who can work a couple of hours on weekdays between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Time over the holidays is a precious commodity, and it is often spent with family and friends. Why not consider doing something special for a nonprofit organization during this time? Call the Volunteer Center and ask for our 2006 Wishbook; it will give you lots of ideas on ways you can make donations of items that you have in your home. Spring cleaning knows no season!
FAMILIES
Hey, sports fans! “Great Teams, Great Players, Great Coaches” is the theme of the BERRIEN COUNTY HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION'S exhibit (now through January) at Orchards Mall in Benton Harbor. The exhibit will trace the history of high school basketball in Berrien County, so come and volunteer as a family to host the exhibit, greet visitors and learn some exciting sports information about our area. Shift choices are Monday through Saturday from 12 noon-4 p.m. or 4-8 p.m. Sundays, you could volunteer from noon to 3 or from 3-6 p.m.
YOUTH
Play a huge role in encouraging and educating other youth by being a peer mentor. Sit on a panel to help youth make amends to society and their victims because of the crime they committed. Be a COMMUNITY RESTORATIVE BOARD member, and learn the process of circle conferencing. If you are interested in the court system and would like to learn more, why not consider applying for this great opportunity. You must be between the ages of 15 and 18 and willing to take a 2-hour orientation course.