Volunteer Connection Service Bulletin: April 15, 2005
A bi-weekly newsletter of local service opportunities (also see the bulletin
archives)
April 15, 2005 ~ #7
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.)
The next Service Bulletin, published on April 29, will be the final bulletin of the 2004-2005 school year!
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Earth Day Clean Up
The community is invited to join St. Cloud State University students/faculty/staff as they gather to pick up trash in the surrounding SCSU neighborhood. Volunteers are needed on Saturday, April 23rd between 1- 3 PM to participate in the 3rd Annual Earth Day Clean-up. Volunteers will meet at Barden Park (across from the Miller Learning Resources Center) and be assigned to specific blocks for cleanup. This is a rain or shine event, so in case of poor weather, meet at SCSU Atwood Memorial Center main lounge. No pre-registration is required and refreshments will be provided. Come help and bring friends!
For more information, contact Maren Greathouse at (320) 308-3058 or email volunteer@stcloudstate.edu.
Rice Kids Club
Rice Kids Club, an after school child care program in Rice Elementary, is having a Spring Carnival! This event will take place Wednesday, April 27th at Rice Elementary (200 3rd Avenue NE, Rice). Volunteers are needed from 3:00-5:30 PM to run carnival games and help with face painting.
If interested, please contact Kelly Marcum by Thursday, April 21 at 258-1573 or email Kelly.marcum@isd46.org
National Volunteer Week Celebration
National Volunteer Week is April 18-22, 2005. St. Cloud Area Volunteer Coordinators presents a community-wide celebration that will take place Thursday, April 21 from 4-7 PM at the Paramount Arts Center. All community volunteers are invited for refreshments, door prizes and a performance of the best of GREAT Theatre!
For more information, please contact Laura Merrill at (320) 308-5693 or lcmerrill@stcloudstate.edu.
Health Services Focus Group
Campus Community: Student Heath Services (SHS) is conducting a series of focus groups this spring to assist the unit with long-range planning. Dr. Christine M. Imbra (Associate Professor of Educational Leadership) will be convening the focus groups, assisted by Suelynn Peart (Graduate Assistant).
If you are interested in attending one of the focus groups, please contact mysu0401@stcloudstate.edu and provide her with your name, number, and the focus group you are interested in attending. She will respond once the groups are assembled.
All focus groups will convene in the SHS Conference Room, and food and beverages will be provided. The dates, times, and specific focus of remaining groups is below.
Group 3 - April 21st - 10:00 a.m.-noon - for Students not in Gr. 1 or 2
Group 4 - April 21st - 4:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. - for Students not in Gr. 1 or 2
Group 5 - April 28th - 10:00 a.m.-noon - for Administrators, Faculty, Staff
City of Becker
Xcel Energy, the City of Becker, and local businesses are joining together to cleanup sites in Becker on Friday, April 22nd. The event starts at 9 AM at the Community Center and ends at noon with a hotdog lunch. Please register by April 18 to participate in this event.
To register, please contact Mary at (763) 261-2420 or Roslyn at (763) 261-3029.
Letter Carrier's Food Drive
The National Association of Letter Carriers, in cooperation with the U.S. Postal Service, United Way, Campbell Soup Company, and America's Second Harvest, organizes an annual food drive. Locally, this drive provides food to Catholic Charities Emergency Services and The Salvation Army. Volunteers are needed to help lift boxes full of food and store them at local food shelves. Teens and adults are needed to help on May 14th from 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM during various shifts.
For further information, contact Jan Henning at (320) 252-4552 or Rosanne Healey at (320) 229-4560.
Verizon Hope Line Cell Phone Project
Help launch the Verizon Hope Line Cell Phone project on Earth Day to benefit Anna Marie's shelter for battered women and their children. Volunteers will work with Anna Marie's to invite businesses to participate, deliver informational packets and cell phone collection boxes to businesses, count the phones collected, complete the report, and prepare the box for mailing to Verizon Wireless. Anna Marie's shelter will receive dollars for each recycled phone. This could be as easy as gaining approval to place a collection box in your workplace! The drive runs from April 22 until July 15.
For more information, please call the Volunteer Coordinator at (320) 253-6900.
AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps members are being recruited to serve September 1, 2005 through July 31, 2006 in the St. Cloud Corps. Members serve through local human service agencies focused on mentoring at-risk youth, increasing volunteerism, or disaster preparedness. There are part-time and full-time positions available. There is a living allowance, possible health insurance, and members are eligible for an education award up to $4,725 upon completion of service. All skill levels and abilities are needed. Applications are due Friday, April 29. If you'd like more information, feel free to reference the AmeriCorps website at www.stcloudstate.edu/americorps.
For more information, contact Jennifer Rausch at (320) 308-3050 or americorps@stcloudstate.edu.
Women's Center
Take Back the Night is a community rally and march to stop violence against women and children. The event is Friday, April 29 from 7-10 PM. Volunteers are needed to help with set up, beginning at 6 PM, through clean up after the event. Responsibilities include setting up tables, children's activities, refreshments, etc. During the event, volunteers can assist attendees with sign making and peacekeeping during the march and clean up after the event.
For more information, contact Melissa Grittner at (320) 308-4958 or grme0301@stcloudstate.edu.
Tsunami Relief Effort
Millions of survivors in South Asia continue to need assistance to recover from the tragic tsunami. Kids Against Hunger, The Message Program, Digital Green, Central Minnesota Community Foundation, Stearns Bank NA, and United Way of Central Minnesota are partnering again to help the survivors of the tragedy. On May 21st and 22nd at the St. Cloud Armory, over 1,250 volunteers can help to package meals to send to South Asia. They will work in assembly line fashion to measure and package dry food items. A team leader needs to register on United Way's Volunteer Central MN website at www.unitedwayhelps.org. Individuals, families or groups under 10 people can contact tsunami@digitalgreen.com to volunteer. Registration begins Monday, April 4th. Contact United Way or go the website to view open shifts.
If you don't have access to the Internet, contact Jessica Weber at (320) 252-0227.
Central MN Council on Aging
Central MN Council on Aging is committed to maintaining the highest level of independence with older people by developing and coordinating community care, reducing isolation, and improving access to services. They need individuals who are dedicated, energetic and like to work with older adults to assist clients with Medicare. Volunteers will complete 18 hours of classroom instruction to become a State Certified Health Insurance Counseling Volunteer. The next training will be April 11th, 12th and 14th from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Help seniors with their healthcare!
To learn more, contact Nicole Backman at (320) 253-9349.
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
The mission of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is to end the devastating effects of MS. They provide a camp for kids who have a parent with MS. The kids are there to have fun, learn how to connect and feel better prepared to cope with MS at home. Camp is at Wolf Ridge on the North Shore on June 18 - 25. Volunteer counselors, lifeguards and nurses are needed to be with the kids around the clock, doing things like rock climbing, high ropes, swimming, orienteering, hiking and other fun activities. No special skills or knowledge of MS is required, just lots of energy and a desire to work with kids. If you love working with kids and being outdoors, you'll love the MS Society's youth camp.
To learn more, contact Greg at gscanlan@mssociety.org or go to www.mssociety.org.
Talahi Senior Campus
Talahi Senior Campus strives to provide the best quality health care and services to their community campus. They are looking for volunteers to establish a friendly, one-on-one relationship with senior residents who may be socially isolated or do not receive many visits from family and friends. Volunteer responsibilities may include playing cards, assisting with letter writing, reading to residents, and taking them outside for walks when weather permits. Volunteers must enjoy working with elderly people, have good communication skills, and be a good listener. They must also attend a one- hour orientation.
For more information, contact Tony Nathe at (320) 251-9120.
Whitney Senior Center
Whitney Senior Center is a community organization providing a variety of social and educational opportunities for citizens, predominately age 55 and over. They are seeking an "English as a New Language" instructor to help older adults who are not fluent with English grasp some basic skills and techniques. Volunteers will meet with the older adults once a week at Whitney and conduct some basic lesson plans for learning English. If you would like to help someone learn English, this is the opportunity for you.
To learn more, contact Reena at (320) 650-3074.
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.
