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

Help build an area

accessible playground

The Van Buren Intermediate School District is seeking volunteers for the Phase two expansion of the Janice DiGiovanni Playground at the Bert Goens Learning Center. This playground is a handicap-accessible playground at the VBISD Bert Goens Learning Center in Lawrence. To complete the project, and the former Principal’s dream (“Janice’s Dream”), five pieces of outdoor exercise equipment will be installed. Volunteers will also help add to popular playground items. These include adding another zip track and another swing set. These two pieces of equipment VBISD has found the students truly enjoy and will even wait in line to use. Both of these areas will also have soft-surfacing installed, not only for safety but to make them fully handicap accessible as well. This opportunity is a short drive from Berrien County, organizers said. For more information, or to sign up, visit uwsm.org/volunteer.

Salvation Army Niles Corps

seeking volunteers

The Salvation Army Niles Corps operates a food pantry, which serves Southeast Berrien County and all of Cass County. The Salvation Army is looking for volunteers to sort donations, keep pantry areas clean and organized, pack pantry bags, and, as needed, assist guests with carrying bags to their vehicles. Volunteers assists the volunteer coordinator and social services coordinator, to ensure the pantry shelves remain stocked with food. Volunteers may donate the number of days or shifts they are available. For more information, visit uwsm.org/volunteer.

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 kids at area “Meet Up, Eat Up” sites. Volunteers will take a little wagon full of books as a mini mobile library to various meal time sites in Niles and Dowagiac, so kids 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 uwsm.org/volunteer.

School Supply Spectacular

seeking volunteers

United Way of Southwest Michigan will partner with businesses and organizations in Cass County to present the School Supply Spectacular. This annual 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, and Wednesday, Aug. 21 in Marcellus. Individual, team and group volunteer signups are now open. For more information, or to sign up, visit uwsm.org/volunteer.

Buchanan Art Center

seeking volunteers

The Buchanan Art Center is looking for welcoming and friendly front desk volunteers. The volunteers will greet and assist visitors, record purchases on an iPad and run a cash drawer for gift shop and art purchases and open and close the building. Art knowledge is not required, but passion about supporting the cultural life in Buchanan is a plus, said organizers. Clerical duties may be assigned if volunteer has clerical skills. Light cleanup may be required to keep the Buchanan Art Center ready for visitors, but routine deep cleaning and heavy lifting is not required. Shifts available from 1:30 to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays or from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on alternating Saturdays. For more information, or to sign up, visit uwsm.org/volunteer.