In cooperation with the Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan, file will publish opportunities for volunteers each week.  To find out about these or other volunteer opportunities, please call 983-0912 in the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor area, 683-5464 in the Niles area; visit our Web site at www.volunteerswmi.org; or e-mail us at volunteer@volunteerswmi.org for further information. To arrange an appointment, please call ahead. Appointments do not constitute an obligation to accept a volunteer opportunity. The center is a United Way partner agency.

Spotlight of the Week
• Red Bud Area Ministries provides food, clothing and assistance to families in Buchanan and Galien. You can make a difference by working in the office answering the phone, greeting clients, keeping the log and setting appointments. You will be the welcoming, friendly face to those in need. The office is open Tuesdays through Fridays in the mornings and you can volunteer a couple times a month or more. All training is provided.

Families
• Run a drive to collect items for 350 Easter baskets to be created for all the children in the foster care system and for children staying at local shelters in Berrien County when you volunteer as the Easter Bunny’s assistant. Set up your drive at your school, house of worship, place of employment, business or other approved location. Contact the Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan to learn all the details and receive your publicity materials. This project meant so much to kids in foster care and to kids in shelters last year! This project qualifies for the Give A Day Get a Day Disney program. Visit www.disneyparks.com for more information.

Adults
• Do you know a volunteer hero? Now is still time to nominate them for awards to be presented during National Volunteer Week in April. Please also consider nominating a business whose employees have made a big impact. Visit www.volunteerswmi.org for all forms.

• Be an event planner! You choose the event and with the approval of the Safe Shelter staff bring your idea to fruition. Impact the women and children staying at the shelter by planning and overseeing a one time event such as a spring cleanup or a holiday activity or whatever idea you have! Make the shelter brighter and improve resident’s lives.

• Do you like to drive? Berrien County Cancer Services wants you to drive patients to and from medical appointments. You must be over 18 and times vary for transporting patients.

• Do you consider yourself a handyman or woman? Are you a painter, electrician, plumber or general fixer upper with duct tape? There are many volunteer opportunities that could put your skills to use whether it is one time, on a regular basis, or as part of an on-call system. Many nonprofits are in old buildings that need regular fixing up and many also have clients who need assistance at their homes, but are unable to do this work for themselves. Some nonprofits are in old buildings because they want to be! The History Center at Courthouse Square is one such place where your skills will help preserve our local culture. Call the Volunteer Center and we will help you figure out where you can be someone’s volunteer hero!

Blood saves lives.  Donate today!

Berrien County Chapter of the American Red Cross
For a complete listing visit www.berrienredcross. org.

Adult and youth
• You can be a program assistant for children who are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder as they enjoy recreation therapy programs and social skill programs. This position will require having fun, laughing and learning about how great the kids are at the Sonya Ansari Center for Autism at Logan Center in South Bend. Some of the activities you might be involved in include: arts and crafts, cooking, active play, board games and table games. This social skills program assists children with autism to learn important social and communication skills. All activities will take place within a classroom like structure. Program activities occur on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and evenings, and at various hours on Saturday.

• Back to School Event: Yes, you read correctly!  It is not too early to start planning when you are running the third annual School Supply Spectacular, which last year gave away 1,500 free backpacks stuffed with school supplies to underprivileged students in Cass County School District (Lewis Cass Intermediate School District). The economy continues to hit families hard so help to make the 2010 project a reality. If you would like to be involved with a project with a more immediate time frame, you can volunteer to help with registration, setting up food, or running a booth for the 7th annual Parent Expo on Tuesday, March 23 from 4 to 8 p.m.