Volunteer Connection Service Bulletin: October 29, 2004
A bi-weekly newsletter of local service opportunities (also see the bulletin
archives)
October 29, 2004 ~ Fall 2004 #4
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
Summer of Service
Scholarship applications are now being accepted for the Institute on Philanthropy and Voluntary Service, a dynamic summer program for undergraduate students interested in volunteerism and careers in the nonprofit sector. The 2005 summer institute will be held from June 4th through July 30th, 2005, at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. For more information or to request a brochure, please visit the website at www.dcinternships.org/ipvs.
This face-paced Institute offers a rigorous combination of professional experience, academic learning and service projects that will provide students with an unparalleled experience in the nation’s capital.
- Internships - Competitive placements with national & community nonprofit organizations
- Classes - Up to 9 credit hours from Georgetown University
- Housing - Furnished on-campus apartments
- Volunteerism - Variety of hands-on community projects
- Leadership Development - Leadership and career building activities
- Scholarships - Over half of all students receive full or partial funding
Faculty members can nominate outstanding students for priority consideration at https://inq.applyyourself.com/?id=tfas&pid=1054.
For more information on this exciting opportunity, please contact Ms. Shane Goldsmith, Program Director, by phone at 1-800-741-6964 or via email at sgoldsmith@tfas.org.
Haunted House Volunteers Needed!
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota is in need of volunteers to staff a Haunted House and Hayride. The event takes place on three separate days: October 28th, 29th, 30th from 7:00 - 11:30 p.m. Volunteers need to arrive at 5:30 p.m. to get into their costumes and make-up. Please bring your own costume. If you don't have a costume, please wear dark clothing that you don't mind getting dirty. Come bring joy to kids this Halloween!
For more information, please call Kara Good at (320) 253-1616.
Notebook Donation
Kids Against Hunger of Central Minnesota is a humanitarian relief organization designed to meet the immediate needs of people in hunger. The organization is in need of spiral notebooks by November 5th, 2004. The notebooks will be brought to an orphanage in the Dominican Republic. This orphanage needs the notebooks to allow students in the Dominican to continue to learn despite recent flooding and tragedy.
For more information on donating, please contact Janet McConkey at (320) 203-1799.
Catholic Charities
Data Entry Position.
Gain Office Experience with Catholic Charities. Catholic Charities provides help and creates hope by providing over 40 human service programs to individuals, families and children. Their Department of Organizational Advancement is in need of a volunteer to enter data and information on people connected with Catholic Charities into a database. The volunteer will be needed for 4 hours a week between Monday - Friday until mid-November. Hours are flexible, but will need to be during regular business hours between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. This volunteer opportunity is in a professional office setting with a separate workspace. The volunteer must possess data entry skills as well as the ability to maintain strict confidentiality regarding information.
For more information on this opportunity, please contact Diane Swenson at (320) 650-1559.
Mardi Gras Volunteers.
Catholic Charities' Annual Mardi Gras Benefit will take place February 5, 2005. The goals of the event include raising funds for the food shelf, emergency clothing and financial assistance programs, and transitional housing as well as raising awareness of Catholic Charities' role in the community and the services it has to offer to people of all faiths. Preparations are currently underway to make the event a success, but help is needed in several areas.
Volunteers with carpentry experience are needed to create city backdrops and sets to be displayed the night of the event. Sets will be designed to reflect this year's theme, "All That Glitters." The total time commitment can vary depending on availability, but volunteers will be needed for approximately 10 hours between now and when the event takes place in February. Volunteers are also needed to help set-up and connect the finished sets the night of the event (approximately 5 hours).
Volunteers are needed to design and create decorations for the event. Volunteers will also orchestrate the layout of decorations and sketch their plans so that other volunteers are able to help transform their ideas into reality. Volunteers should possess creativity, artistic flair, flexibility, and good communication skills. The time commitment will be approximately 2-3 hours per week from now until the event takes place in February. If you love to draw, paint, or otherwise create, this is the perfect opportunity!
Contact Katie Kustritz or Diane Swenson at (320)650-1559, or email dswenson@gw.stcdio.org.
Host/Hostess Wanted
The Saint Benedict's Monastery is active in diverse ministries throughout the community. They are in need of a kind, dependable, and enthusiastic volunteer to be a host or hostess for their Whitby Gift Shop and Haehn Museum visitors. The primary responsibilities are to welcome, invite and introduce visitors to the current exhibit and/or to the gift shop. There are museum guide sheets with which the visitors can tour on their own. Volunteers are asked to dress appropriately for the position.
For more information on this opportunity, please call Patricia Reed at (320) 363-7105.
Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement uses hands-on experiences to help young people understand the economics of life. In partnership with businesses and educators, Junior Achievement brings the real world to students and opens their minds to their potential. As a volunteer you have the opportunity to visit a K-6 classroom 5-8 times. During each 25-45 minute visit, you have the opportunity to share your own personal experiences while teaching hands-on business activities. Curriculum provided by Junior Achievement. Classrooms volunteers are needed at various St. Cloud, Sartell, and Sauk Rapids elementary schools.
For more information contact Ileana Merten at 320-255-8624 or ileana@jaum.org.
Minnesota AIDS Project
The Minnesota Aids Project Transportation Program provides rides to medical and social service appointments, support groups, food shelves and the grocery store for people living with HIV/AIDS. The organization is in need of volunteers to provide this transportation. Transportation volunteers actively contribute to the well-being of people living with HIV/AIDS by getting them to these important appointments. Volunteers are needed to provide at least one ride per month using their own car. Volunteers must have a valid driver's license, proof of insurance and a clean driving record. A Criminal Background and DMV check are performed. Training is provided.
For more information, please contact Jessica Franken at (612) 373-9160.
Whitney Recreation Center
The Whitney Recreation Center is hosing the "Halloween Celebration" on October 29th, 2004. The event will include games, crafts, prizes and refreshments for kindergym users and their parents. The event runs from 1:30-4:30 pm, but their staff is looking for volunteers to help with set up/take down, assist staff during the event, and help clean up. The event is part of the City of St. Cloud Recreation Department.
Please contact Lacy Bienkowski at 320-309-6222 or email her at lacybienk@yahoo.com.
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross is looking for individuals interested in volunteering as an HIV/AIDS instructor. The HIV/AIDS Starter Facts course is a prerequisite class for all HIV/AIDS Instructors Courses. The Basic HIV/AIDS Instructor Course provides the opportunity to openly discuss the facts about HIV/AIDS. Many people take these courses to fulfill personal and professional advancement objectives in addition to working toward becoming a Red Cross HIV/AIDS instructor. If you volunteer to teach a minimum of 18 hours within a 5 month period, you will only pay half of the $45.00 fee. The course is being offered on two different weekends: November 12th-14th and December 3rd-5th from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. All participants must be 17 and older.
For further information, please contact the American Red Cross at (320) 251-7641.
Faith in Families
Faith in Families partners teams of volunteers from faith communities with families experiencing the challenges of poverty. Volunteers make up a Mentor Team and establish a supportive relationship with one family. Mentor Teams are provided initial orientation and training. This training will help each volunteer learn more about the Faith in Families project, understand specific roles and expectations, and get a clear idea about activities the team might engage in with the family. Faith in Families staff will facilitate the first 2-3 meetings between the Mentor Team and the family. Additional support will be provided through ongoing training, technical assistance, and meetings with other Mentor Teams. Volunteers must be over 18 years old and will have a comprehensive background check.
For further information, please call Cathy Peterson at (320) 229-5724.
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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