Volunteer Connection Service Bulletin: February 18, 2005
A bi-weekly newsletter of local service opportunities (also see the bulletin
archives)
February 18, 2005 ~ Spring #3
This bulletin lists information about one-time and on-going service opportunities, special events, and nonprofit agencies to 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, contact the Volunteer Connection staff. Please drop by Atwood 139, call, or email us (contact info and instructions for [un]subscribing are listed at the end of the bulletin.)
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
This Weekend
Ring of Kerry, a "rollicking Irish music group," will be hosting the Second Annual Food Shelf Fund Raiser at the new East Side VFW, 104 Franklin Avenue NE in St. Cloud this weekend. The event is on Sunday, February 20th , from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. Catholic Charities is looking for 3 or 4 people to be at the VFW from 1:30-6:00 to help accept food, thank people, and pack food into boxes. A Catholic Charities staff person will be there to handle any money that comes in and volunteers will not have to haul the food anywhere. Come for all or even part of the event.
For more information, contact Katie at (320)650-1553.
CERT Needs You!
Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) is conducting a simulated disaster drill to train new CERT volunteers. Volunteers are needed to act as victims of the disaster. Volunteers will use stage makeup to make the simulations as realistic as possible - this means fake blood and other fun! The simulation will take place on Saturday, April 2nd from 8:00am-5:00pm in the old Caritas building across from Matthew Hall Lumber. Lunch will be provided for volunteers! Please pre-register to volunteer by calling 255-7295 today.
For more information, please contact Bob or Erin at (320) 255-7295.
Summer Camp
Be an MDA summer camp volunteer! Each summer the Muscular Dystrophy Association provides a weeklong, all expense paid summer camp for children ages 6-21, affected by neuromuscular disease. This year's MDA summer camp will run June 4-11 at Camp Courage in Maple Lake, MN . Each counselor is assigned to a camper affected by Muscular Dystrophy to serve as his or her companion for the week. Throughout the week, counselors participate in various activities and assist their camper with personal cares. More importantly, attendants ensure their campers have a fun and memorable week!
The MDA must recruit volunteers for this special opportunity by March 31st. Counselors must be at least 16 years of age.
For more information, contact Kelly at 952-697-3250 or minneapolisservices@mdausa.org .
Read Across America
Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School is looking for 25-50 volunteers to help with a reading event on Wednesday, March 2nd 7:45-8:40am . This is a one time event and a continued commitment is not necessary. Volunteers will participate in reading activities with middle school students. This will be a great day; please join them in celebrating reading!
For more information, contact Bobbi at 258-1733.
Clerical Help Needed
Stearns and Benton Employment and Training Council provide leadership on current and emerging workforce issues in the region. They help community members acquire the skills, training and experience to achieve economic security while meeting the human resource needs of local business and industry. Volunteers are needed to help with clerical duties, photocopying and collating. The volunteer is needed during daytime hours. By volunteering at SBETC, you join a team of committed people who impact lives of family, friends and neighbors.
For more information, contact Kathy at (320) 229-5702.
Help Out at the 2nd Annual YMCA Promenade
The 2nd Annual YMCA Promenade will be taking place on April, 30th from 8 p.m. - 1 a.m. Promenade is a food and wine extravaganza. Participants partake in a wine tasting seminar, learn the secrets of mouth-watering chocolate, and observe the art of barrel making. Volunteers are needed to help with various tasks for this event. Dinner and dessert are also provided, followed by a silent auction.
To learn more, contact Andrea at (320) 253-2664.
Classroom Assistant
St. Cloud Area School District 742, in partnership with families and the community, wants to prepare all learners to live and contribute within a changing and diverse world. District 742 is looking for volunteers to help elementary students with math and reading in the classroom. Volunteers are required to fill out an application and may be required to have a criminal background check that will cost $15. They encourage people from all backgrounds to apply and volunteer with the students.
To learn more, contact Amy at 320-529-6500 ext. 6255 or amy.sidmore@isd742.org .
Intern at United Way
United Way of Central Minnesota is looking for an energetic person to intern this upcoming summer! Interns learn about the network of human service agencies, issues, trends, and changing needs in Central Minnesota . They gain increased skills in one-to-one communication, group facilitation, setting and reaching goals, written communication, and working as part of a team. Responsibilities would include writing a weekly column of volunteer opportunities, interviewing and referring potential volunteers to meet community needs, and volunteer promotion and recognition. The 2005 summer intern could serve at United Way between May and August for a minimum of 15 hours per week.
For find out more, contact Betty Schnettler at (320) 252-0227.
Help UNITE Set Up for Their Dialogue Series
UNIITE needs 2 volunteers for their upcoming spring 2005 dialogue series.
UNIITE would like one person to help with set up at 6 different locations, mostly
off-campus, from 11 AM to 12.30 PM on six dates (all Tuesdays--March 1, 8, 15,
29, and April 5 and 12) listed at
http://www.uniite.org/dialogue_spring2005.html .
The same volunteer or an additional volunteer could attend the 6 dialogue sessions
on the same dates in the evening from 6-8, and then help tidy up from 8-8.45
PM.
UNIITE would prefer that volunteers provide their own transportation.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Malcolm Nazareth, Executive
Director of UNIITE, at mmnazareth@astound.net or
230-6669.
Youth Basketball League
A new summer basketball league needs volunteers to be mentors, coaches, and referees. Volunteers will work with four area parks and will begin meeting at the St. Cloud area library starting in March.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Larry Weston at 251-6227.
St. Cloud Hospital
Here are some current volunteer openings:
Surgical Care would like volunteers to function as an escort for patients, a host/hostess for families and an assistant to nursing staff.
Volunteers are needed to assist office staff with filing, paperwork, copying and other office duties. Previous office experience is preferred. Pick up an application at the Volunteer Office today!
The Medical Information Department at CentraCare Health Plaza would like volunteers to assist in sorting loose filing. This is a great opportunity for volunteers who love to organize!
The Information Desk needs volunteers to provide information, directions and assistance to visitors and patients as they enter the Hospital. Help them make guests and visitors feel comfortable and welcomed!
If you are interested in any of the above opportunities, please contact the St. Cloud Hospital 's Volunteer Office at 320-255-5638.
Central MN Sexual Assault Center
The Central MN Sexual Assault Center is sponsoring a Volunteer Advocate Training. In order for advocates to provide support for victims and concerned persons, they will receive training in Crisis line, Hospital response, and Criminal Justice Information.
After completing the training, volunteers will work two shifts per month for at least one year. Training is a forty hour time commitment of one night a week and two Saturdays. Training will take place Thursday, March 24-Thursday, April 21.
If you are interested in learning more, please call Tamara at 251-4357.
Volunteer to Take Someone to an Event!
Volunteer to take developmentally disabled adults to an event such as a basketball game, baseball game, etc. No long-term commitment is necessary; preference will be given to volunteers who have completed a background check. If you are interested, please contact Deb at 656-6040.
The Service Bulletin is brought to you by Volunteer Connection, located in 139 Atwood Memorial Center on the St. Cloud State University campus.
2004-2005 Volunteer Connection Staff:
Laura Merrill, Interim Coordinator, 308-5693
lcmerrill@stcloudstate.edu
Maren Greathouse, Graduate Assistant, 308-3058
greatm01@stcloudstate.edu
Eveily Freeman, AmeriCorps member, Service-Learning Coordinator, 308-3898
elfreeman@stcloudstate.edu
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.
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.
