Volunteer Connection Service Bulletin: September 29, 2004
A bi-weekly newsletter of local service opportunities (also see the bulletin
archives)
September 29, 2004 ~ Fall 2004
This
bulletin lists information about one-time and on-going service opportunities,
special events, and nonprofit agencies that we hope 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 what agency would be a good fit, it might be helpful
to meet with the
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Sauk Rapids-Rice School District
Sauk Rapids-Rice School District (just across the river from St. Cloud) needs reading partners for elementary students K-5. The school district needs volunteers once a week to do reading activities with students; volunteers should have their own transportation and excellent reading skills. Sauk-Rapids-Rice also needs general classroom volunteers in early childhood, elementary, middle school, high school, and community education!
If you are interested, please call Bobbi Murphy at 258-1733 or Laurie Bammann at 258-1732.
AmeriCorps
The St. Cloud AmeriCorps program has one part-time and one full-time position open at the Boys & Girls Club. As an AmeriCorps member, you will mentor youth while strengthening the community and building skills as an active engaged citizen. The AmeriCorps member will plan and lead a variety of activities within program areas including sports, fitness and recreation; the arts; education and career development; character and leadership development; and health and life skills. There is a living allowance and, upon completion of service, members are eligible for an education award. This is a great opportunity to mentor and guide the youth in this community.
For more information, contact Jennifer Rausch at (320) 308-3050 or go online to www.stcloudstate.edu/americorps.
Girl Scouts-Land of Lakes Council
Girl Scouts-Land of Lakes council needs volunteers for various positions. If you are interested in helping girls grow strong, either as a volunteer who works directly with girls or directly with other adults, this is the perfect opportunity to make a difference. There are three specific opportunities available: Community Cookie Manager (help coordinate information for troops in regards to the cookie program), Girl Growth Troop Leader (bring the Girl Scout program to a troop of girls that meet at the same site for 6 months to a year), and a STUDIO 2B Advisor (work with a group of 10th grade girls as they explore new programs). They also need troop leaders for all age levels, especially for girls who are 11-17 years old.
If you are interested in any of these opportunities, please contact Renee Cardarelle at rcardarelle@girlscoutslolc.org or 320-252-2952 ext. 236.
International Friendship Program
St. Cloud State University is looking for local residents who want to participate in the International Friendship Program. The program pairs residents with international students in a friendship for the academic year. Students who participate don't live with their local hosts, and hosts don't assume any financial responsibility for their student. Hosts, who act as friends, can invite their students to meals, family outings, holiday celebrations, community events, or Friendship Program activities throughout the year. There will be an orientation for all interested volunteers. This is a great way to have a cross-cultural exchange.
For more information, please contact Norma Dalton at (320) 202-1464 or via email at ndalton@netlinkcom.com.
Albany Public Library
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" starting October 4. Volunteers will be responsible for counting and recording the number of people entering the library. The library will provide a counter. Volunteers must be at least twelve years of age. Please provide personal references. The ability to accurately count is important and legible handwriting is also a plus.
For more information, please contact Karen Pundsack at (320) 845-4843.
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army community lunch program serves a meal from 11:30 AM to 12:45 PM each weekday. They are in need of volunteers to help prepare and serve meals, set up tables, and help clean up the kitchen and dining room when the meal is over. They need volunteers from 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM or from 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM. Volunteers need to be respectful and have the ability to communicate well with people of diverse backgrounds. Volunteers need to be sixteen years of age or older.
The Salvation Army needs volunteers for the Boy Scout Food Drive. The drive will be held on Saturday, October 2, 2004 from 12-4 PM at the Metro Administrative Building at 655 Lincoln Ave NE, St. Cloud. (Close to the Humane Society on the east side). They need volunteers between 9: 00 AM - 4:00 PM to box up food donations and unload them at their warehouse. Please just show up if it is after hours and you are unable to call.
If interested in either of these opportunities, please contact Jan Henning at (320) 252-4552.
New Beginnings
New Beginnings is a home where expectant mothers and their babies where receive a safe secure residence. New Beginnings also fosters self-esteem, educational growth, and helps develop parenting and decision making skills. As a volunteer, they will call you at least 24 hours in advance to provide care for an infant when their normal daycare is unavailable and the mother is in class, at appointments, or doing programming. The care will be at New Beginnings and they will provide everything you need. The volunteer will fill out an application form and New Beginnings will complete a criminal background check. Volunteers must be eighteen years or older. If you enjoy babies, this is the perfect opportunity!
For further information, please contact Jessica Gosser at (320) 255-1252.
Mother of Mercy-Campus of Care
The Mother of Mercy Campus of Care, located in Albany needs a volunteer to assist residents in wheelchairs to and from the beauty shop at the Nursing Home Campus. They need a volunteer on Thursday mornings from 9:30 - 11:30 AM. This is a great opportunity to exchange interesting stories while the residents are getting their hair done.
For further information, please contact Doris Vos at (320) 845-2195 ext. 19.
SCSU Homecoming Run
St. Cloud State University is sponsoring a Homecoming Run on October 23, 2004. They need volunteers to help out with various tasks such as timing the finish line, officiating the race, and providing water to the participants. The race starts at 9 AM; volunteers should arrive at 8 AM. SCSU will provide further information.
For more information, contact Chris Haukos at (320) 308-6692.
Heywer Non-Profit
Heywer Non-Profit helps people who have chronic pain. Heywer will provide a free conference on pain management November 17, 2004, at the Whitney Center in St. Cloud. They need volunteers immediately to 1) handle marketing of the conference using radio, newspapers, TV, etc. 2) contact local merchants and others for fundraising 3) identify agencies for grant requests and prepare requests 4) track the registrations and handle other conference preparations. They need volunteers on the day of the conference to manage participants and to facilitate small group discussions.
For further information, please contact Michael Werb at mwerb@heywer.com.
Oxfam America
Oxfam's Fast for a World Harvest provides opportunities to learn about hunger and do something about it. The Fast is one of the most wide reaching hunger events in the US, raising awareness and funds to fight hunger and poverty. Participation may vary widely, from simple fundraisers to fast-related giving, to hosting an Oxfam Hunger Banquet. Any way you can get involved makes a difference to those in need. Oxfam can provide you with the tools to help you build a program that is right for your group. Their materials contain ideas and customizable materials for participating in The Fast as well as the tools for organizing an Oxfam Hunger Banquet.
For more information, please visit www.oxfamamerica.org/fast , email at fast@oxfamamerica.org, or call 1-800-597-FAST.
Central MN Adult Basic Education
The Central MN Adult Basic Education is looking for volunteers to serve as classroom assistants or tutors for their students. They will hold an orientation on Tuesday, October 12, 6:30-8:30 pm at the Community Education Center. This workshop will introduce participants to Central MN Adult Basic Education and to the volunteer opportunities that are available. Please register for this workshop by October 11, 2004.
For more information, please call Lannie Bulka at 529-6500 x6254.
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps will be holding an informational meeting and slide show for interested students and community members on October 14, 2004, from 4:30-5:30 PM in the Lady's Slipper Room in Atwood Memorial Center on the St. Cloud State University campus.
For more information, please call 1-800-424-8580, option 1 or visit www.peacecorps.gov.
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 still need a volunteer captain who has their own transportation and will volunteer from 3-8:30 PM on November 2 and also attend a mandatory training session at either 9 am or 5:30 pm on October 19. This is a great one-time service project!
Contact Laura Merrill, Volunteer Connection Coordinator, at 308-5693 or lcmerrill@stcloudstate.edu if you are interested.
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
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