By Staff
FAMILIES
Do you like crowds and fun in the sun? Summer festivals from all over Southwest Michigan will be calling soon requesting volunteers. Call the Volunteer Center to get your name on the list.
Helping Hands in Cassopolis provides Cass County residents with food, clothing, medicine and medical transportation when they have an emergency need. Volunteers must have a willingness to help others regardless of race, creed or reason for need. To find out more about the many opportunities for short term or long term service call the Volunteer Center.
ADULTS
You are invited by the Saint Joseph Police Department to join their Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol (RSVP). RSVP strives to improve the community by enhancing the delivery of municipal services. If you are 55 or older, have daytime availability and have an interest in maintaining a safe community, this may be the position for you.
CARES (Community AIDS Resource &Education Services) seeks to minimize further transmission of HIV and to maximize the quality of life for all persons affected by HIV. Volunteer opportunities include transporting clients to doctor appointments and clerical work. If you enjoy public speaking, opportunities are also available to become a community educator. If you speak Spanish your language skills would be especially welcome.
THE BERRIEN COUNTY CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS reports that Berrien County residents use more blood products than we donate. A blood drive will be coming to your area soon.
ADULTS AND YOUTH
“Three Strikes You're Out!” Colorful commentators and umpires will have the opportunity to call Gateway's Miracle Softball Marathon July 29 and 30 at Plangger's Field in Benton Harbor. Commentators and umpires must be ready to have fun, tell jokes, and even accept bribes all in an effort to raise funds to improve the quality of life and increase the independence of individuals with disabilities.
Another opportunity with Gateway is to assist adult campers with physical and/or mental disabilities learn skills and have fun. Camps run in June and July.
 Are you an actor wannabe? Are you a fan of ER? Here's your chance. The Berrien County Disaster Committee is doing a disaster simulation on June 13. You are invited to act as a disaster victim, an on-looker, a reporter, or as a concerned parent.
Harbor Country Emergency Food Pantry &Thrift Shop in Three Oaks has a mission to supply people with food and to give financial aid as needed to help them until they can once again be self-supporting. Assistance in maintaining the pantry and shop would be greatly appreciated.
Are you fine tuning your office skills? Are you a whiz at answering the phone or completing clerical tasks? Would you like to share your talents with an office that is about the business of “mobilizing people and resources to deliver creative solutions to community problems,” since 1977? Help is needed in the St. Joseph office.
YOUTH
Berrien County Resource Recovery's mission is to increase awareness and opportunities to manage solid waste with the most environmentally sound methods available, emphasizing the benefits of waste reduction, reuse, and recycling. On Saturday, June 10, volunteers will ensure the Electronics Recycling Event at Lincoln Township Fire Department runs smoothly, helping make it easy for participants to get rid of their computers and TVs in an environmentally safe way.
Council for World Class Communities - Bridges for Digital Excellence provides computers and computer training to students and their families in Berrien County. Volunteer opportunities include data entry, teaching basic computer skills, and helping refurbish computers. Sites are in the Niles area, New Buffalo and Benton Harbor.
The Michigan Maritime Museum in South Haven provides maritime education through research, collections, preservation and the presentation of Michigan's Great Lakes and waterways history and culture. There is always something new and exciting happening at the Museum. Make history come alive by contacting the Volunteer Center.
To connect with any of these volunteer opportunties, call the Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan in Niles at (269) 683-5464.