SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK

•   V-Junction is a social volunteer group sponsored by the Volunteer Center. They meet monthly and do Saturday Volunteer Projects. On Sept. 19 at Czars you can volunteer to help at a benefit concert featuring Ron Zelvis, Jester and Sons of Psyience. They are hosting this Rock Concert to raise money for dance and music classes for young people in Benton Harbor at the Citadel Dance and Music Center. You can help greet people as they enter the event, hand out flyers and promote V-Junction.

ADULTS
•  Capstone Family Support Center provides services that strengthen parenting. You can make a difference when you volunteer as a parent aide/coach. You will work on a team with families on parenting and life skill development. Training will be provided and some mileage reimbursement may be available. The times you volunteer are flexible.

• Do history and the Great Lakes excite you? You can learn all about maritime history and culture, as well as, the Great Lakes waterways at the Michigan Maritime Museum in South Haven when you become their volunteer grant writer. You will work with Museum Management to research and apply for grants that apply and promote their mission. Build your skills while contributing to a community treasure.

• Join thousands of people in caring for our Great Lakes shorelines during the Alliance for the Great Lake’s annual beach clean up. This is the World’s largest shoreline cleanup and is part of an international coastal clean up effort. In 2008, over 6,000 volunteers removed 24,698 pounds of trash from beaches and shorelines in Michigan, Indiana and Illinois. To register visit www.greatlakes.org/adoptabeach. This year the Volunteer Center is adopting the New Buffalo Beach and is inviting everyone to come out and help 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Visit this opportunity on-line or call Callie at 983-0912 for more information

• Harbor Harvest Urban Ministries (HHUM) in Benton Harbor provides academic assistance, social skill development and relationship building opportunities for youth and their families. If you are familiar with QuickBooks and Excel and are ready to be responsible for all phases of accounting, payroll, assisting with budgets and HHUM’s annual tax return (990) contact the Volunteer Center to learn more about how to learn more about what is required to become their volunteer bookkeeper.

• Are you looking for a volunteer position you can do from your computer and phone? As special projects volunteer coordinator for Therapeutic Equestrian Center you will contact volunteers about special volunteer opportunities for fundraising activities and work days. You will also be responsible for paperwork for these volunteers (tracking volunteer hours, etc.). You will work with the PR chairperson and volunteer coordinator and will need to attend occasional meetings. Help enrich the mind, body and spirit of people with special needs by volunteering today.

• Gateway improves the life and level of independence of individuals with disabilities. Their grass needs mowing and also trimming hedges when needed and cleaning up would be appreciated.

• Blood saved lives on 9/11.  You can save a life by donating today!
For a complete listing visit www.berrienredcross.org.
MICHIGAN COMMUNITY BLOOD CENTER
Friday, Sept. 18- Brandywine High School library, 1700 Bell Rd. Niles:  8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
For a complete listing visit www.miblood.org.

ADULTS & YOUTH
• Lots of volunteers are needed to help South Haven Area Habitat for Humanity raise money with their fundraising sale in September.

• Build your leadership skills by serving on the Youth Advisory Panel for the Volunteer Center. The monthly meetings will be held in the evening. Participants can be in elementary, middle school, and high school, ages 9-18.

To connect with any of these volunteer opportunities, call the Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan in Niles at (269) 683-5464.

Doris Higgins is the executive director of the Volunteer Center.