By Staff
ADULTS AND YOUTH
It's not too early to begin saving pennies for the Pennies for Patients event that the BERRIEN COUNTY CANCER SERVICE will hold in late spring. Each year thousands of dollars are raised for this organization through the collection of pennies alone! Schools, businesses, faith communities and service clubs, to say nothing of families and neighborhoods, can begin now to collect pennies from junk drawers, change jars, forgotten coat pockets mand other fruitful locations!
ADULTS
VOLUNTEER ADVOCATES FOR S-O-S OF MADISON CENTER, the rape crisis center for Michiana, will conduct it next training starting on Thursday, Jan. 26. Volunteer Advocates provide crisis intervention to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence on the phone and in person..
HARBOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY provides homes in partnership with families living in substandard housing. Beginning in mid-January, HHH welcomes volunteer construction volunteers who can work anytime between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on any day Monday through Saturday. Both skilled and unskilled volunteers are welcome as there is satisfying work for everyone.
THE MICHIGAN PROSONER REENTRY PROGRAM believes that every inmate released from prison should have the tools needed to succeed in the community.
Volunteer mentors work with one former inmate to provide guidance and support as they rebuild their lives in the community. The time commitment is one hour per week for a minimum of one year.
THREE ANGELS MISSION OPERATION provides emergency assistance, education and spiritual guidance for low income youth and families at risk in inner city Benton Harbor. Volunteers are invited to serve as executive secretary one day a week or more, any day Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The volunteers would be meeting clients, giving directions to the office, and answering the telephone.
LAKELAND HOSPITAL in St. Joseph welcomes volunteer drivers for the Courtesy Carriage shuttle that delivers patients and visitors from the parking lot to the front entrance and vice versa. Days and hours are flexible.
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 on Thursday, Jan. 26 - Moose Lodge, 101 S. Red Bud Trail, Buchanan, noon to 5:45 p.m.
FAMILIES
Looking for a new way to connect with your family in 2006? Many nursing home staff will tell you that some of their residents don't have visitors.
Inquire at one in your neighborhood and see if you can “adopt” a grandparent to visit once a week or twice a month. It would make a big difference in their life. In between visits, send them a card or a note.
YOUTH
HOSPICE AT HOME, with offices in Berrien County and in South Haven, provides special training for youth who would like to help provide services for patients and families who are experiencing terminal illness. Use your skills to assist the office staff with mailings, newsletters and other clerical tasks. Or help with fundraising and special events. Required training is provided.
Do you love the smell of grease paint and the roar of the crowd? TWIN CITY PLAYERS strives to provide a live theater experience that benefits and culturally enriches the community. Be an usher for productions or work the concession stand. Be a stagehand or even an actor!
SOUTHWESTERN MICHIGAN COLLEGE will host the Asset Builders Award Celebration on Feb. 2 from 4 to 8:30 p.m. in the college Conference Room. Student volunteers are invited to set up for dinner and decorate the room, as well as usher people to their seats and assist with clean-up afterwards. At least 12 students are needed.
To connect on these opportunties, call the Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan in Niles at (269) 683-5464.