By Staff
SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK
With medical care for our veterans in the spotlight, remember you can make a difference right here right now. The Veteran's Administration and the Disabled Veterans Transportation Network continue to seek a roster of drivers for Tuesday and Thursday trips to the veteran's hospital in Battle Creek. Drivers should be willing to leave at 6 a.m. and be gone all day. You need to be insurable, pass a physical and T.B. test, and attend a training. You should also feel comfortable with driving in all kinds of weather on back roads in the van provided. If you would like to help out, but are not available for Battle Creek, the Niles Senior Center also has opportunities to drive veterans and other seniors to doctors appointment locally Monday – Friday at various times. Other senior centers and service agencies could use similar help as well. Our veterans served us well, now let's serve them!
ADULTS
Can you imagine struggling to read this column or not being able to read at all? The Community Partnership for Lifelong Learning is working to improve community systems that impact learning and workforce competitiveness. In conjunction with Western Michigan University they are offering tutoring for adults learning to read. Volunteers will receive 12 hours of training and should be willing to tutor an adult 1 to 2 hours a week.Tutoring will take place in any public space and at a time agreeable to the adult learner and tutor.
Mentoring.You keep hearing about it. Have you thought about it? Lunch with a child? Tutoring after school? Going bowling? Playing basketball? There are many organizations with different levels of commitment and different types of mentoring.
Clowning around, being a drama queen, painting the town red, singing the blues … all elements for the last 10 years of Buchanan's summer series for children: "Stop, Lunch, and Listen." You can be the program director! 2007 funding for the series is already set so you will book the programs March – April. June – August you must be available midday Thursdays to assist performers with setting-up, greeting the crowds and basically having fun. As volunteer program director, you must be well organized, timely, have good communication skills, enjoy young children and have a sense of humor. All background files and information will be provided.
CRITICAL APPEAL FOR DONORS – Bad weather may have kept you inside, but doesn't stop the need for blood.
MICHIGAN COMMUNITY BLOOD CENTER blood drives:
Monday, March 19 – Niles YMCA/Lakeland Rehabilitation, 905 N. Front St. – 10 a.m.to 3 p.m.
ADULTS AND YOUTH
Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve in Niles is a local treasure. They currently have openings in their delicious self serve cafe where you can bake cakes and cookies, monitor the supply of food and assist as needed. If you volunteer in the gift shop and front desk area you will greet visitors, help answer phones, and operate the register. You can also volunteer in the plant shop. No special skills are needed for these positions and all training is provided. An added benefit is the opportunity to explore the gardens, river and prairie.
FAMILIES
Families come in all forms. Do you have children in your life on a limited basis? Why not make your time together extra special by volunteering? We'll help you figure out how. Contact Deb Panozzo, Family Volunteer Coordinator to connect.
YOUTH
Do you want to be involved in a group where you and other youth are the decision makers? Become a member of the CAASA (Community Alliance Against Substance Abuse) Youth Advisory Council starting up again in your area. CAASA will provide you with the opportunity to plan and participate in fun activities and events that have the potential to impact the entire Berrien community. In addition to planning and participating in events, you will have direct input in the planning and direction of CAASA programming. Contact Pat Leonard, Youth Volunteer Coordinator to connect.
To connect with any of these volunteer opportunities, call the Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan in Niles at (269) 683-5464.