By Staff
SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK
Are you a kid at heart who likes to play with trains? Do you enjoy nature, history and the art of miniature landscaping and scale buildings designed with all-natural materials? Then Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve needs YOU in their new Railway Garden. You can monitor the trains, answers visitors' questions, assist in parking cars, or help with light weeding and watering. Docent training will be provided. Fernwood is open every day except Monday so lots of opportunities for friendly, outgoing volunteers. Volunteers aged 15 to 115 are welcome.
ADULTS
Imagine not being able to read this column. Adult Learning Community of Southwest Michigan is a new all volunteer adult literacy program in South Haven. The need for the services they are providing is great and the program is growing by leaps and bounds. A publicity manager will make it possible to get the word out to students, volunteers and funders. Student and Tutor Coordinators will make sure sessions run smoothly. A Teaching Site Coordinator will open and close the site and perform administrative tasks.
Capstone Family Support Center supports family and community life by providing services that strengthen positive parenting. As a volunteer parent-aide/coach you will support families each week with information on parenting skills, and community resources. You choose your hours, but a commitment of at least six months is required. It could also be made into a college internship.
Buchanan Art Center provides a place to nurture the arts by providing quality educational programs for all ages, as well as gallery exhibits, and sales opportunities for artists thereby enabling the Center to creatively enlist the power of the arts in promoting positive social change. On your own, or as part of a group, you can make an artistic statement by scraping and painting the Center's eaves.
Lest We Forget is a patriotic organization dedicated to promoting patriotism and our nation's heritage. The Week of June 17-21 Lest We Forget will be putting on multiple events that will require the assistance of many volunteers including re-enactments, a World War II reunion of the Forgotten 500 and a Field of 1000 Flags at Benton Harbor Airport. As part of your Father's Day weekend why not volunteer with Dad to honor the men and women who make this country great!
Krasl Art Fair July 11-12 on the bluff in St. Joseph is a juried show featuring over 200 artists and offering a wide variety of high quality art and fine crafts. Hundreds of volunteers make this event possible. You can choose from many tasks including distributing surveys, working in the hospitality suite, assisting in the children's tents, helping in the parking lot, and other interesting tasks.
Extra blood is needed over the holiday weekend when fewer people donate. Sign up today to save a life!
BERRIEN COUNTY CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS
Friday, June 19 – First Presbyterian Church, 13 S. Fourth St., Niles: noon to 5:45 p.m. For a complete listing visit www.berrienredcross.org.
MICHIGAN COMMUNITY BLOOD CENTER
When you give blood between May 26 – Sept. 8 you will be registered to win one of three trips either to Las Vegas or Little River Casino and Resort. For a complete listing visit www.miblood.org.
ADULTS &YOUTH
"Without YOU we don't ride" is the motto for the Therapeutic Equestrian Center (TEC) in Watervliet. A lot of volunteers make it possible for TEC to enrich the mind, body, and spirit for people with special needs through horse-related activities. In just two hours you can help them raise funds by helping with their pancake breakfast on June 20. Shifts are 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. or 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. At least 10 workers per shift are required so why not bring a friend or a group?
Calling all graphic artists! Buchanan District Library wants to design a professional logo for their library to use in all publicity and informational materials. Work on the project as a team or on your own. You should have training in graphic arts. Teens are welcome.
FAMILIES
Summer Festivals are a fun way for your family to volunteer. Visit www.volunteerswmi.org for a sampling of festivals or call your Chamber of Commerce or visit www.swmichigan.org.
YOUTH
Youth Summer Serve is back bigger and better than ever! Worried that you won't find a job this summer, but don't want to be bored? Need something to put on job, college and scholarship applications that show just how wonderful you are? Volunteering is the answer you have been looking for.
Who sits on a roof to raise money for charity? Rob and AJ of U93 do! Join the fun as they sit on the roof of Martin's supermarket on Ironwood and SR23 in South Bend June 21 – 26 broadcasting live and raising awareness and money for Child Abuse Awareness in Michiana. Volunteers will help answer phones on Friday, June 26, 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. A four shift is preferred but you can do less if that is what your schedule allows. Volunteers should be at least 15 years old.