In cooperation with the Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan, the Niles Daily Star 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 website at www.volunteerswmi.org; or e-mail us at volunteer@volunteers wmi.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 agency.

Spotlight Agencies of the Week

Are you already volunteering this summer? Great, Youth Summer Serve 2010 is a way to recognize your volunteer service to the community. Contact Callie at youth@volunteerswmi.org or 983-0912 and let her know where you are volunteering. If you volunteer at least 40 hours by the end of August you can receive an official recognition certificate for your service. Let us recognize what you have accomplished.

Adults

• Their motto is “Without you we don’t ride!”  Make sure people with special challenges in their lives have that opportunity when you contact Therapeutic Equestrian Center about helping out with scheduling volunteers while they look for a new volunteer Volunteer coordinator. If you have good organizational skills, can handle scheduling and reminder calls to other volunteers, and have time over the next month you will help them handle the transition during a busy time. So why not jump in and ride?

• Fall is a great time to think about becoming a mentor. Visit us online and use the key word “mentor,” or call and ask for our free booklet listing local mentoring organizations. There is one close to where you live or work. The kids are depending on you.

• Have you ever thought about the critical role that the American Red Cross plays in our communities? They respond to national and local emergencies and they prepare for those emergencies every day. You can contact your local chapter about how to become trained and prepared to assist. If you live in Berrien County and are interested in helping but don’t have the time to commit to training you can be on call to help clean and sanitize CPR equipment, help maintain their property and landscaping,

work on special events, or hang up posters when they have blood drives. The Red Cross is a volunteer organization that provides relief to victims of disaster and helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.

• The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center in St. Joseph promotes historical preservation, education, and research that relates to Benton Harbor, St. Joseph and the surrounding region. You can join their mail team working with other volunteers on mailings, be a greeter at the Museum Store, or help with school visits. School program volunteers can help with tours or even develop activities for the group visits.

• Whether you are interested in learning more about law enforcement or just would like to opportunity to help out this is a great opportunity. The Paw Paw Police Department would like you to be their volunteer office assistant on weekday mornings. You will answer phones, screen incoming calls, greet visitors, do data entry and other duties as assigned. You should be at least 18 years old with no criminal record. Preference is for someone with basic computer skills and with working knowledge of copiers, faxes and other office equipment. You should also have good communication skills and be able to maintain confidentiality.

Blood saves lives. Donate today!

Berrien County Chapter of the American Red Cross

For a complete listing, visit www.berrienredcross.org.

Michigan Blood

Tuesday, Aug 31 — St. Joseph Center, 2710 Cleveland Ave., noon to 7 p.m.

For a complete listing visit www.miblood.org.

Adult and youth

• Are you hoping to get hired as seasonal help at Christmas time at local stores? Build your resume now by volunteering at one of the local thrift stores. These stores support community programs and you make it possible for important services to have the funding they need. Habitat for Humanity has the Re-store, Emergency Shelter has 6 Degrees and Berrien County Council for Churches has its thrift shop. These are just the ones in Benton Harbor. There is probably one in your town too.

Families

• Yes, school will be starting very soon. It is easy to get involved in a back pack drive in your community by picking up a few extra supplies when you are shopping or by volunteering at a local back pack giveaway. Throughout August, the Salvation Army in Niles could use your help doing a simple intake form with parents applying to receive a backpack and packing the backpacks for distribution to Niles, Brandywine and Buchanan children. Contact the Volunteer Center for more information on this and other back-to-school drives.

Youth

• Youth volunteers have fun every first Saturday of the month with the senior residents of Lakeland Continuing Care in St. Joseph in a variety of organized activities with a team leader. Come once or come every month and learn how you can brighten someone’s day. This opportunity is open to youth in middle and in high school. Contact the Volunteer Center to learn more.

• As you get ready to head back to school think about becoming an

ambassador for volunteerism at your school. Contact the Volunteer Center to learn how you can help us distribute posters, flyers and information on volunteering to your classmates. This is an easy way to help others get connected.