THIS WEEK’S VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY

CENTER FOR VISION LOSS, Allentown is looking for volunteers to be “Annie’s Angels” to do home visits, read mail, and provide companionship.  We also need Volunteer Drivers to drive customers to doctor appointments, shopping, or center activities.  Hours are flexible and are determined by need.  Training provided.  Call Rita Lang, 610-433-6018, rita.lang@centerforvisionloss.org.

FAMILY ANSWERS, INC., Allentown is looking for a summer office assistant (age 16+) to help our Director of Development with various tasks and office duties.  Must have a working knowledge of computers and be proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel.  We are located in a beautiful historic building in Allentown in a third floor office.  Call Pat Gorman, 610-435-9651, pgorman@familyanswers.org.

LEHIGH VALLEY HEALTH NETWORK has an immediate need for gift shop volunteers at their Cedar Crest location on evening and weekend shifts.  Volunteers enjoy a discount on most gifts and a meal for every shift served!  All interviewed and accepted volunteers must complete requirements set forth by LVHN policies and procedures including TB testing, Flu Vaccine, Criminal Background Screening, and must attend an orientation.  Call Karla Bachl, 610-402-8897, karla_m.bachl@lvhn.org.

PHOEBE RICHLAND HEALTH CARE CENTER, Richlandtown – Help Us Move Our Bus!  Every week our residents look forward to a country drive, shopping trip, or lunch at their favorite restaurant.  Do you have four hours once or twice a month to drive our bus and help create good times and happy memories!  No CDL is needed, and most trips occur during the day during the week.  Call Suzanne Sabo, 267-371-4504, ssabo@phoebe.org.

SACRED HEART VISITING NURSE & HOSPICE, Allentown is seeking individuals for patient and family visits in nursing homes, private homes, and assisted living facilities.  Volunteers for bedside vigil are needed. Do weekly visits at your convenience any day or early evening.  Training of 12-15 hours is required.  Background & reference checks required.  Call Lynn Schiavone, 610-871-5897, lschiavo@shh.org.

SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK, Allentown is looking for volunteers (large groups or individuals) the first Tuesday of every month that can work together on an assembly line packing “SUNShine Boxes” of supplemental food for senior citizens across six counties.  Tasks include packing boxes, loading pallets, breaking down cardboard, and making boxes.  Volunteers must wear close-toed shoes, no short shorts, and no visible underwear.  Some lifting is involved.  For more information, call Lindsay Fly, 610-494-0875, lfly@caclv.org.

TEACH RWANDA, Easton needs volunteers (age 14+)for our “Thanks a Bunch Banana Festival.” Join us at Wesley Church, Bethlehem on Saturday, August 2 from 10am-6pm.  This fundraiser features a silent auction and banana treats to raise money to send 2 volunteers to Rwanda with much needed school supplies for our 2 schools with 8 teachers and 120 low-income pre-school children.  Volunteers are needed to set up, cooking demos, decorate and oversee other activities, help at the event, and clean up after the event.  Call Janet Brown, 484-542-7442, jbrown@teachrwanda.org.

THE MORAVIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Nazareth is looking for volunteers (age 16+) for our “Second Saturday” clean-up program! Help us with basic landscaping work: prune bushes, pick up sticks, plant flowers, etc., on the historic Ephrata Tract in downtown Nazareth, PA.  Dates-Days-Times: Days 8-11am on August 9, September 13, October 11.  Call Megan vanRavenswaay, 610-759-5070, info@moravianhistoricalsociety.org.

The Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley has been connecting volunteers with the needs of the Lehigh Valley community for over 25 years. The organization’s mission is to engage the community to care for one another through volunteerism.

As the premier resource on volunteerism for the Lehigh Valley and surrounding communities, The Volunteer Center focuses on four main areas of volunteerism: Recruitment, Placement, Recognition, and Training. The Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley is affiliated nationally with The Points of Light Foundation, Hands On Network, and the Corporation for National & Community Service, and is a member of the following organizations: Volunteer Centers of Pennsylvania, the State Commission Advisory Board for Citizen Service, Keystone Service Coalition, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, and Society of Volunteer Administrators of the Lehigh Valley.

As an example of the impact the Volunteer Center has on the community, in 2012, they recruited, matched, recognized and trained 17,000 volunteers. Of those, 5,000 were youth volunteers. These volunteers saved Lehigh Valley agencies and the community more than $47.5 million. The Volunteer Center collaborates with more than 50 area corporations and 450 Lehigh Valley agencies to create educational and human service partnerships to enhance and enrich the Lehigh Valley community.

Contact the Volunteer Center to receive a brochure listing agencies in need of volunteers at 610-807-0336 or e-mail: vc@volunteerlv.org. Visit our website www.volunteerlv.org for a larger listing of volunteer opportunities.