By By ANDY HAMILTON / Niles Daily Star
NILES – The Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan has a new home.
And downtown Niles has welcomed it's newest resident. The volunteer clearinghouse left its home of 18 years on Oak Street and has moved into the same building as a second popular Niles not for profit – Niles Main Street.
"It brings people downtown," said Niles Main Street Director Lisa Croteau about her new suite mate on the second floor of 210 E. Main St. "I also think that we're good neighbors. Our program is a volunteer-based program with numerous volunteer opportunities."
Niles Main Street logged more than 4,000 volunteer hours in 2005, and some of those who donated time were provided through the Volunteer Center. Instead of having to make a phone call to the Volunteer Center to get help with downtown activities, Croteau will now simply have to walk, or even shout, across the hall.
The building at 210 E. Main St. is under a transformation, which started about a month ago when Croteau and Niles Main Street moved up one floor. Croteau and Niles Main Street now operate next door to United Way of Niles and the Greater Niles Community Development Corp.
Taking over Croteau's former office is Middleton Financial Group. Moving down from the third to the second floor and joining Main Street is Vickie Mitchell and her Sacred Spaces Massage Therapy.
On Wednesday, the Volunteer Center was unpacking computers and printers, and cleaning desks to organize their four office rooms. Doris Higgins, executive director of the Volunteer Center, said herself and three staff members – business manager Sharon Peeters, court referral coordinator Sandra Marietta and adult and family volunteer coordinator Debra Panozzo – will have a constant presence in the new office.
"Change is always hard," Higgins said of leaving the long-time home of the Volunteer Center. "We're excited to be in here. There's a lot of opportunities to do things together. It's just fun being right downtown."
Higgins said the old office was closed about two weeks ago, and the Volunteer Center staff is taking next week off. The new location will be open starting Tuesday, Jan. 2.
"People are always asking, 'What does the Volunteer Center do?'" Higgins said. "If anybody wants to volunteer, they call us. We're that connection between the individual who wants to volunteer and the people who need volunteers."
The Volunteer Center also offers training seminars for not for profits, such as volunteer management, grant training and not for profit board training. Higgins said the organization hopes to offer more seminars on a more frequent basis now that they have access to a large board and meeting room at their new office.
Also looking ahead, Higgins said 2007 will be the 30th anniversary of the opening of the Volunteer Center, and the milestone will be marked by a celebration with the Niles Service League, which played a large role in forming the organization.
Higgins also said people can expect a new look from the Wish Book. The list of donated items will now be packaged along with the Volunteer Center directory, and the publication is due by early February.
"It's a whole new look," Higgins said of the directory.
The same goes for the Volunteer Center itself.