THIS WEEK’S VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY

COMMUNITY BIKE WORKS, Allentown needs “Earn-a-Bike” instructors for children ages 9-17.  Volunteers will mentor and assist children in repairing bicycles.  Commitment is one weeknight 6-8pm for 12 weeks.  No experience necessary.  Training provided.  Contact James Williams, 610-434-1140, james@communitybikeworks.org.

EXECUTIVE SERVICE CORPS OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY (ESCLV) is looking for retired and career professional management consultants to volunteer their expertise to non-profits in the Lehigh Valley.  Contact Bill Cosgrove, 610-504-6199, esclv@ptd.net.

HISTORIC BETHLEHEM MUSEUMS & SITES – Join us as a volunteer for the sweetest festival, our Annual Blueberry Festival!  Many opportunities available (e.g. parking & entrance attendants, volunteer & entertainer check-in, beverage & food, family tours & activities, and runners).  Help is needed Saturday, July 19 and Sunday, July 20 for shifts 9:30am-1pm, 12:30-4pm, and 3:30-7:30pm.  Must be 14+years of age.  Call Melanie Depcinski, 610-691-6055 x16, mdepcinski@historicbethlehem.org.

INDEPENDENT TRANSPORTATION NETWORK LV (ITNLehighValley), Bethlehem needs volunteer drivers to transport seniors age 60 and older and visually impaired adults in the Lehigh Valley.  91% of our rides are to medical appointments.  You choose when, where, and how often you would like to drive.  Our greatest need is in the Bethlehem area.  Call us at 610-419-1645.

LEHIGH VALLEY HEALTH NETWORK MARATHON FOR VIA needs volunteers (12+ years) for race day on Saturday, September 6 from 6am-5pm and Sunday, September 7 from 6am-3pm, with various shifts.   Many volunteer opportunities available, e.g. cheer on runners, staff water stations, and help keep runners on course.  Community groups and/or companies looking for team building opportunities are welcome!  Call Karen DeLuca, 484-239-4030, volunteers@vianet.org.

ST. LUKE’S UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK, Bethlehem Campus – Want to make a difference for our patients, visitors, and staff?  Join the Volunteer Escort Service or become a Greeter!  Not only do you have the opportunity to make a difference, but get exercise while walking throughout our hospital!  Not able to do much walking?  Join our Gift Shop team or help staff with various projects!  To learn how you can make a difference, call Jeanne Ramirez, 484-526-4600, Jeanne.Ramirez@sluhn.org.

SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK, Allentown is holding a six week program “Cooking Matters” that empowers low-income families to shop and prepare healthy meals on a budget.  Volunteers are needed to be Chef Instructors, Nutrition Instructors, and Class Assistants.  These are two hour, hands-on classes that vary in topics which give participants the tools to sustain healthier lives.  Learn more by contacting Ainsley Benner, 610-434-0875, abenner@caclv.org.

TEACH RWANDA, Easton needs volunteers (14+ years of age) for our “Thanks a Bunch! Banana Festival” to be held at Wesley Church, Bethlehem on Saturday, August 2 from 10am-6pm.  This fundraiser will feature 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 auction, cooking demos, decorate and oversee other activities, help at the event, and clean up after the event.  Contact Janet Brown, 484-542-7442, jbrown@teachrwanda.org.

ARTS QUEST, Bethlehem is looking for friendly and energetic volunteers ages 15-80 to volunteer for Musikfest July/August, 2014.  The festival runs from 8/1-8/10.  Opportunities are available as ticket sellers, soda and alcoholic beverage service, EcoSquad, stage hands, Street Team, etc.  For more information, contact us or visit our website, www.musikfest.org/volunteers. We ask that our volunteers do several shifts totaling 18 hours.  Contact Hillary Harper, 610-332-1370, hharper@artsquest.org.

BOOK BUDDIES, Allentown is a literacy program lead by youth volunteers (age 10+).  Volunteers will work at the Sixth Street Boys and Girls Club with kindergarteners in order to strengthen literacy skills such as word recognition, alliteration, and rhyming. The program will run June 24 to August 8 from 10:30am to 11:30am on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.  An interview and training are required.  If interested in being a Book Buddy, Contact summer@volunteerlv.org.

FAMILY ANSWERS, INC., Allentown is looking for a summer office assistant (16+ years of age) 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.

HISTORIC BETHLEHEM MUSEUMS & SITES – Join us as a volunteer for the sweetest festival, our Annual Blueberry Festival!  Many opportunities available (e.g. parking & entrance attendants, volunteer & entertainer check-in, beverage & food, family tours & activities, and runners).  Help is needed Saturday, July 19 and Sunday, July 20 for shifts 9:30am-1pm, 12:30-4pm, and 3:30-7:30pm.  Must be 14+years of age.  Call Melanie Depcinski, 610-691-6055 x16, mdepcinski@historicbethlehem.org.

LEHIGH VALLEY SCORE, Bethlehem seeks experienced business professionals to offer in-person and online counseling and advice to start ups and in-business owners of small businesses and non-profit organizations.  Orientation and training provided.  Contact Mitzi Colella, 610-266-3000, mcolella@lvscore.org.

MIRACLE LEAGUE OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY, Schnecksville seeks people (age 13+) who want to share their love of baseball with special needs kids.  Our baseball season runs from May-October with games on Wednesdays 6-8pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 11am-4:30pm.  Our game schedule may be found on www.miracleleaguelv.org.  Contact Melissa Borland, 484-707-5746, Melissa@miracleleaguelv.org.

THE GRESS MOUNTAIN RANCH, Orefield needs animal caregivers to take care of small/large, and some exotic permanent residents – feed, water, ground maintenance of their living quarters, grooming and brushing.  Our ranch needs volunteers seven days a week.  Schedule a 2 hr. orientation with hands-on training.  We also need for volunteers for our Ranch Camp (7/14-18 and/or 8/4-8) to help campers (grades 3-9) enjoy a fun-filled week on a working ranch.  Contact Kathryn Gress, 610-398-2122, gressranch@gmail.com. 

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 July 12, 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.