Volunteer Connection Service Bulletin: September 17, 2004
A bi-weekly newsletter of local service opportunities (also see the bulletin
archives)
September 17, 2004 ~ Fall 2004, #1
This bulletin lists information about one-time and on-going service opportunities, special events, and nonprofit agencies. We hope it will help you get involved in the community! If you're a SCSU student, staff, or faculty member interested in volunteering, but aren't sure which agency might be a good fit, please feel free to contact the Volunteer Connection staff. Drop by Atwood 139, call or email us volunteer@stcloudstate.edu.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Kids Voting
Kids Voting is a program sponsored by RSVP that educates kids about the voting process and allows them to "vote" on the actual election day! SCSU has adopted precincts at First Assembly of God, St. Benedict's Senior Community, and the Southside Boys and Girls Cub. We need 4-6 volunteers per site to help kids vote and staff polls from either 3-5:30 or 5:30-8:30 PM on voting day, November 2. Each team will have one volunteer captain who will volunteer from 3-8:30 PM on November 2 and also attend a mandatory training session on October 19. This is a great one-time service project for individuals or a small group of people! Contact Laura Merrill, Volunteer Connection Coordinator, at 308-5693 or lcmerrill@stcloudstate.edu if you are interested in volunteering.
Place of Hope
Place of Hope is currently looking for volunteers from the community to help prepare and serve meals, sort clothing, and help with the various events we hold throughout the year. Intern opportunities are also available. Please contact:
Place of Hope Volunteer
Coordinator
511 9th Ave North
St. Cloud, MN 56303
(320) 203-7881
(320) 203-7882 fax
hope@placeofhopeministries.org (attn:
Volunteer Coordinator)
Central MN Chapter of the Red Cross
The Central Minnesota Chapter of the American Red Cross is offering free disaster services training in October. Trained American Red Cross disaster volunteers are vital to disaster relief efforts, at home (locally), regionally and across the nation. Throughout the years, our Central Minnesota Chapter has dispatched volunteers to disasters in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
Volunteers assist in relief efforts similar to what the Red Cross is doing in Florida right now, including providing over 5 ˝ million meals, opening and staffing 620 shelters to date, and housing nearly 300,000 people. The disaster services training is the first step; get trained and you're ready!
To sign up for classes or if you have questions, please call 320-251-7641.
Minnesota Mentor Conference
The Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota invites you to its 5th Annual Minnesota Mentor Conference. The 2004 conference promises to be an invaluable experience. You can take part in an array of interactive workshops, share your ideas and concerns at the Town Hall Forum, and help shape the future of mentoring at the Call To Action Forum. Plus, there will be many opportunities to network. The conference will be held on September 20-21, 2004 at the University of Minnesota's St. Paul campus in the Continuing Education and Conference Center.
For additional information, go to www.mentoringworks.org or call 612-370-9180.
Planned Parenthood
WOULD YOU LIKE TO BECOME INVOLVED WITH PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND YOUR COMMUNITY? MANY VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE!
Medical Secretary Intern or Volunteer: The clinic intern will perform a variety of tasks within the clinic essential to efficient, customer-focused service delivery. Position includes interaction with patients, in-clinic triage, patient education and referral, appointment scheduling, and assisting staff with efficient management of clinic flow process.
Clinic Nurse Volunteer: As a volunteer RN/LPN, your duties will include recording patients' blood pressures and weights, recording information in charts, educating patients about reproductive health and contraceptives, reviewing patient histories and doing other tasks related to patient examinations and interaction. Volunteer nurses must have a current RN or LPN license and strong communication skills
To inquire about these volunteer opportunities at Planned Parenthood, please contact Carol at 320-252-9504 or email volunteers@ppmsd.org.
Catholic Network of Volunteer Service
Partner with the Catholic Network of Volunteer Service to find excellent opportunities to work with faith-based, post-graduate, summer and spring/winter break service programs across the country. Please email the organization to receive a Response 2005 service directory at volunteer@cnvs.org.
Contact at 1-800-543-5046 or visit their website at www.cnvs.org.
Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
The DNR Volunteer Opportunities newsletter is published four times a year to announce volunteer positions available with the Department of Natural Resources throughout Minnesota. Newsletter text can also be found on the Internet on DNR homepage at www.dnr.state.mn.us
To contact DNR, please call their Volunteer Programs office at 651-297-1449.
Central MN Taskforce on Battered Women
The Central MN Task Force on Battered Women is dedicated to the liberation and empowerment of battered women and their children. They are in need of various items: towels and wash clothes, toothbrushes and toothpaste, bathroom rugs, mattress pads (twin size), diapers, pull-up training pants, paper products (toilet paper, paper towels, tissue), laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, garbage bags, movie passes, notebook paper, groceries, and flashing alarm clocks. Please help these women and children get back on their feet!
For further information or questions, please contact Kate at (320) 253-6900.
Central MN Adult Basic Education
Central MN Adult Basic Education has many opportunities for individuals interested in volunteering. These opportunities include becoming a basic reading tutor, a classroom assistant, or an English language tutor. On Tuesday, October 12, from 6:30-8:30 PM, a workshop is being offered at the Community Education Center for individuals interested in finding out about volunteering as a classroom assistant or tutor. The workshop is designed to introduce potential volunteers to Central MN Adult Basic Education and the opportunities that are available. This is a great opportunity to help others in the community!
For further information please contact Lannie Bulka at (320) 529-6500 ext. 6254.
Jacob Wetterling Foundation
The Jacob Wetterling Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation and abduction of children. They are in need of a volunteer to help clean the St. Joseph office. Duties will include light cleaning, such as vacuuming, dusting, straightening the office, taking out garbage, and watering plants. The volunteer needs to be dependable, committed to the foundation, and willing to come in on a scheduled weekly basis. The volunteer will complete an application form, criminal background check, and confidentiality agreement.
For more information, contact Deb Schmidt at (320) 363-0470 or dschmidt@jwf.org.
Helping Hands Outreach Elders
Helping Hands Outreach Elders is a volunteer organization dedicated to helping rural Stearns County communities serve seniors in their area. Communities include Holdingford, Opole, St. Anna, St. Wendel, St. Anthony, and St. Francis. Volunteers are needed to provide a variety of services to elderly people in their homes. Replacing a battery in a smoke alarm or tightening some screws on a hand railing are examples of things that are needed for local seniors. Volunteers can indicate how and at which times they would like to serve. Following an application, volunteers are placed on a list and called upon when a need arises and given the opportunity to respond. There may be some training depending on the type of service a volunteer may provide. This is a great opportunity to help someone in your local community!
For further information, please call Diane Koehn at (320) 746-9960.
Independence Center
Independence Center is a non-profit organization creating opportunities for people with special needs. They are seeking volunteers interested in doing a variety of activities. Activities include, providing support and encouragement to consumers during programming, interacting one-on-one through games or arts and crafts, participating in large group community activities, and helping with the Seniors Program. Volunteers will receive general training and orientation. Independence Center staff will be with volunteers at all times to facilitate a good experience for them as well as the consumers. Hours for volunteering are Monday- Friday from 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM.
For further information, please contact Jennifer Linz at (320) 252-4146.
Big Brothers/Big Sisters
Have you ever burped the alphabet? Given a "wet willie"? Eaten anything for money? Put a frog in a lunchbox? Laughed so hard, soda shot out of your nose? Shot a spitball?
If you have, Big Brothers Big Sisters has an offer you cannot refuse! Become a mentor in one of our three programs, community-based, school-based, or site-based.
Each program has a specific location, time commitment, and schedule.
For more information contact Kara at (320) 253-1616 or visit our website (www.bbbscentralmn.org).
The Downtown Council
The Downtown Council is seeking many volunteers to help with the following projects:
- Research
- Cleaning up downtown (litter + weeding)
- Entertainment
- Participating in the Holiday Parade (set up, tear down, an entry in the parade)
- Giving tours of downtown to first-year students
Please contact Pegg Gustafson, Executive Director at 320-259-4010 or email at pegg@stclouddowntown.com for more information.
Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities' Life Transitions provides support counseling and outreach services to individuals experiencing change or loss. They are seeking a volunteer with compassion for children and good oral communication skills to assist with a children's support counseling group. The group consists of 3-6 children ages 5 to 13. The volunteer will receive appropriate training, discussion materials, and would be responsible for facilitating the group. The volunteer will receive prepared material in advance, share and discuss the material with the children, and spend time discussing the group with the Life Transitions Counselor. The support group meets Monday evenings from 6-8:30 p.m. and runs for approximately 4 months starting in September.
For further information, please contact Diane Swenson at (320) 650-1559.
Albany Public Schools
Twice a year, the Albany Public Library conducts a weeklong door count in order to gauge public usage of the library. They are seeking people who would be willing to take a one-hour block or more during their "door counting week" in October. Volunteers would be responsible for counting and recording the number of people entering the library. A counter is provided. Volunteers must be at least twelve years of age. Personal references should be provided. The ability to accurately count is important. Legible handwriting is also a plus.
For more information, please contact Karen Pundsack at (320) 845-4843.
Rocori Middle School
The ROCORI school district, along with the local Senior Center, provides volunteers in the media center at the junior high school whenever school is in session. Many valuable relationships are formed and this would be a great chance to connect with the seventh and eighth graders of the ROCORI area. The duties of this volunteer position include helping students find books and complete research, book check-in and check-out (which is done by scanning, so minimal computer skills are needed) and also simply to be a presence for them. This volunteer opportunity does require a nine- week commitment (to coincide with the quarter system ROCORI classes follow) in addition to a two-hour training session offered at the beginning of each quarter during daytime hours. Volunteers can choose either a 3˝ or 6˝-hour shift per week. A free school lunch is provided courtesy of the Senior Center.
For more information, please contact Mary Steil at (320) 685-8631.
Whitney Senior Center
Whitney Senior Center is looking for an individual who is interested in and has general knowledge of antiques to help facilitate an Antique Study Group. Responsibilities include coordinating programs and speakers and facilitating the group. There is a minimum commitment of one meeting a month, held the first Thursday of each month from 9:30-10:30 AM. Member list and past program details are available.
For more information, please contact Reena Shetty at Whitney Senior Center at (320) 255-7245.
River Oaks Hospitality House
River Oaks Hospitality House located on the St. Cloud Hospital Campus hosts guests who have loved ones staying at the hospital. Volunteer opportunities include checking guests in and out, answering phones, cleaning rooms, and helping with general upkeep of the building. Volunteers set their own hours around their schedules!
For more information, call Amy Krueger at the St. Cloud Hospital at (320) 251-2700 extension 54743.
Sexual Assault Center
Volunteers are needed to fill advocacy positions at the Sexual Assault Center beginning in the fall. Advocates will provide telephone counseling, crisis intervention, information and referrals to victims of sexual assault and other concerned persons. Advocates will also provide support during police, medical, and legal interviews and procedures and will provide educational presentations on sexual violence to community members. Prior to their advocacy, volunteers are required to complete 40 hours of training, which is provided by the Central MN Sexual Assault Center. Training sessions will begin on Wednesday evenings from 5-9 p.m. from October 6- November 3. This is a great opportunity to help people and work towards ending sexual violence.
Interested individuals can Tamara Hennes-Vix at (320) 251-4357 for more information.
Boys and Girls Club
As you know, school season is here and some students are still lacking much needed supplies. Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota are seeking school supplies for about 75 more kids. They are looking for backpacks, paper, pencils, glue, and other supplies so that students can start the year off right.
If you can donate these items, please call Deb Nebosis at (320) 252-7616.
Arthritis Foundation
The Arthritis Foundation is fortunate to have hundreds of loyal and caring volunteers throughout Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota who help carry out our mission to improve lives through leadership in the prevention, control and cure of arthritis and related diseases. As an Arthritis Foundation volunteer, you will meet new friends, gain valuable experience and know that you are helping people who face the daily challenges of arthritis.
There are many volunteer opportunities available with the North Central Chapter. The gift of your time will benefit the more than 1 million people in our chapter area who are affected by arthritis. Please direct your inquiries to 651-644-4108 or 1-800-333-1380 or email us at info.mn@arthritis.org.
The Volunteer Connection Service Bulletin is brought to you by the staff of the St. Cloud State University Volunteer Connection program:
Laura Merrill, Volunteer Connection Coordinator, 308-5693
lcmerrill@stcloudstate.edu,
Atwood 139
Maren Greathouse, Graduate Assistant, 308-3058
greatm01@stcloudstate.edu,
Atwood 139
Eveily Freeman, AmeriCorps member, Service-Learning Coordinator, 308-3898
elfreeman@stcloudstate.edu,
Atwood 139
Additional volunteer information is available from:
- Volunteer Central MN is a service of the United Way of Central Minnesota that instantly links you to volunteer opportunities that match your interest, skills, and schedule, visit www.unitedwayhelps.org.
- Z-Club, a SCSU student organization that promotes service opportunities, has weekly meetings Wednesday’s at 4:00pm in the Lady’s Slipper Room in Atwood. For more information look at their web site www.geocities.com/zclubscsu/home.html or email zclubscsu@hotmail.com.
- Volunteer Connection website has info about special events, non-profit agencies, and archives of all past Service Bulletins: www.stcloudstate.edu/volunteer.
*NEW* Bulletin Information
Please note that recipients of this newsletter may not post messages to the entire group. If you have comments or an item you'd like included in future newsletters, please email the information to the moderator at volunteer@stcloudstate.edu.
Feel free to forward this newsletter to others at St. Cloud State University and encourage them to sign up to receive the newsletter directly.
Anyone can SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE online by following the instructions on the Volunteer Connection website at http://www.stcloudstate.edu/volunteer/bulletins/archives.asp.
