SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN — Each week, United Way of Southwest Michigan releases a list of volunteer opportunities in the southwest Michigan area. To learn more about these opportunities, visit uwsm.org.

Read to area children

United Way of Southwest Michigan and Be Healthy Berrien present Read Up, a new addition to the Meet Up and Eat Up Program. “Read Up” will give children access to books while experiencing the power of storytelling through a reading volunteer, who reads stories to children at area “Meet Up, Eat Up” sites. Volunteers will take a wagon full of books as a mini mobile library to various meal time sites in Dowagiac and Niles so children can pick books to take home after story time and grow their reading skills. Background checks are required. For more information, or to sign up, visit volunteer.uwsm.org.

Party on the Pavers seeks volunteers

Kick off the sixth annual Party on the Pavers with the second annual Once Upon a Time 5K in downtown Baroda to benefit the Therapeutic Equestrian Center. Volunteers are needed from 7 to 10 a.m. Saturday, July 27 to assist with the 5K. The volunteer responsibilities will include directing cars and participants to designated areas, ensuring all participants have their race bib secured and on the front of their body, setting up the refreshment table and taking photos at the finish line. After the race, volunteers can enjoy a pancake breakfast at the fire department hosted by the Baroda Lions Club, with proceeds benefitting TEC. For more information, or to sign up, visit uwsm.org/volunteer.

Avenue Family Network seeks volunteers

Come help The Avenue Family Network, Inc. with a day of golf to benefit to Autumn House Adult Day Services, a nonprofit located in Paw Paw. Autumn House Adult Day Services provides a daytime environment where adults with memory loss and special needs can participate in both meaningful and therapeutic activities. The golf outing will take place at Heritage Glen Golf Club on Saturday July 27. Volunteer shifts are available at the registration table, Mulligan Card table, the Auction table, Hole in One witnesses and End of Event Runner. For more information, or to sign up, visit uwsm.org/volunteer.

School Supply Spectacular seeking volunteers

United Way of Southwest Michigan is partnerinng with businesses and organizations in Cass County to present the annual School Supply Spectacular. The event will provide backpacks with age-appropriate school supplies to any student in need throughout Cass County. The volunteer shifts cover three days, Tuesday Aug. 13, Friday Aug. 16, and Saturday, Aug. 17 at Brookside Learning Center in Cassopolis. Individual, team and group volunteer signups are now open. For more information, or to sign up, visit volunteer.uwsm.org.

Help feed the hungry

Fresh, healthy food tends to have a short shelf life. To make sure it gets distributed as quickly as possible and to increase the distributed amount, Feeding America West Michigan developed the Mobile Food Pantry. Mobile pantries are like farmers’ markets on wheels, delivering a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products and baked goods to people in need, often on the same day the food is donated. This will be a reoccurring monthly volunteer opportunity to help with trucks on a regular basis. The volunteers will help distribute food, carry heavier groceries for people who may need help due to a disability, and give a smile to those that are currently experiencing food insecurity. Dates, location and more information can be found at volunteer.uwsm.org.