By Staff
ADULTS
CAPSTONE FAMILY CENTER supports family and community life by providing service that strengthens positive parenting. A volunteer with a flair for organization is invited to work in the Family Learning Center to inventory items, including toys and games, videos and music in order to make those materials more accessible to staff and client families. If you enjoy that kind of challenge and would like to name your own schedule between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on any weekday, please contact the Volunteer Center. This is a short-term assignment.
THE WE CAN RIDE 4-H CLUB'S mission is to enhance the lives of disabled youth in Berrien County through educational activities related to horses. The actual riding season for youngsters is from May 10-Aug. 19 on Wednesday evenings beginning at 5:30 p.m. north of Buchanan on Red Bud Trail, and volunteers are encouraged to join in the fun. Experience with horses is welcome but not necessary; some volunteers help with registration and other duties. For more information call the Volunteer Center.
HARBOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY wants you to imagine what it would be like if your children did not have a yard to play in, have never had a place they could really call “home.” You can do something about that by volunteering to help build low cost homes for families in need. Construction supervisors and skilled volunteers will help train you. Construction days will begin on April 25 and will continue every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday until done. If you can work one shift on one day a week, your support would be warmly welcomed.
MEALS ON WHEELS OF NILES-BUCHANAN welcomes volunteer drivers willing to deliver meals to clients homes once a month or more often. This is an ideal project for two friends or a couple with their own transportation who would pick up the meals at Lakeland Hospital in Niles and deliver them to addresses in the area. Hours would be from approximately 10:45 a.m. to noon on any weekday of the volunteer's choice.
Remember, in addition to welcoming volunteers to provide direct services in their organizations, agencies also welcome volunteers interested in becoming members of their boards of directors. If you have an up-to-date resume and would like to be considered for a position on a local board, contact the Volunteer Center and we will see that you get a BOARDBANK application to complete. Resume painfully out of date? Bring it up to speed and e-mail it to us. It’s good to have it current!
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 to your area soon:
ADULTS AND YOUTH
THE CITY OF NILES, with CIVITAN CLUB, will host an Easter Hunt in Niles on Saturday, April 8. If you enjoy working with children and would like to participate in making this event a success, connect by calling the Volunteer Center.
FAMILIES
HELPING HANDS OF CASS COUNTY in Cassopolis provides county residents with food, clothing, medicine and medical transportation when they have an emergency need. Volunteer opportunities include clerical work, maintenance, stocking shelves and working on special events. If your family would like to get involved, call the Volunteer Center for details.
YOUTH
Would you like to be involved in a group where you and other youth get to be the decision makers? Become a member of COMMUNITY ALLIANCE AGAINST SUBSTANCE ABUSE (CAASA) YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL in Berrien County. CAASA YAC groups will be established throughout the county to provide an opportunity for students to plan and participate in activities and events that have the potential to impact the entire community. Here is an opportunity to build your college application or job resume.
Kids’ Nights Out are coming up soon at the YMCA NILES-BUCHANAN FAMILY CENTER. Events take place from 5-9 p.m. on Saturdays, April 15 and 29, May 13 and 27. Volunteers work with elementary and middle schoolers on projects and activities. Training for volunteers will be provided by staff.
To connect with any of these volunteer opportunties, call the Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan in Niles at (269) 683-5464.