THIS WEEK’S VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY

AMERICA ON WHEELS, Allentown needs volunteers for Gift Shop/Admission Assistants (handling register required) on Saturdays 10am-1pm or 1pm-4pm and Sundays noon-4pm. Help customers with merchandise and take admissions. Training provided. Call Liz Hahn, 610-432-4200 x10, fund_development@americaonwheels.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. Call Bill Cosgrove, 610-504-6199, esclv@ptd.net.

MORAVIAN HALL SQUARE, Nazareth has a daytime volunteer opportunity for those who enjoy the outdoors, working with their hands, and making the community beautiful. Volunteers (age 16+) are needed to assist with gardening and grounds. Duties include weed pulling and mulching. We will work around your schedule; weekdays preferred. Call Laurie Brunstetter, 610-746-1334, laurieb@moravian.com.

SACRED HEART HOSPICE, Allentown needs volunteers to call families of our deceased patients and check on their well-being on a periodic basis; particular need to call families in Berks County area. Training (usually is excess of 10 hours) and specific bereavement training is provided. Volunteer must have excellent listening skills and the ability to empathize. A phone script is provided. Volunteers to help with bereavement support in the office are needed also. Call Lynn Schiavone, 484-664-2704, lschiavone@LutheranHomeCare.org.

SACRED HEART HOSPITAL, Allentown is seeking volunteers for their busy volunteer department. Tasks include delivering flowers and mail to patients and assisting patients and staff. This is a great way to contribute while making new friends. Training is provided, all shifts available. Call Beth Fogel, 610-776-5413, bfogel@shh.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: 8-11am on October 11. Call Megan vanRavenswaay, 610-759-5070, info@moravianhistoricalsociety.org

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.

EASTERN PA DOWN SYNDROME CENTER, Trexlertown is celebratingits 15^th Annual Lehigh Valley Buddy Walk at Valley Preferred Cycling Center (the Velodrome) in Trexlertown! We are in need of volunteers (age 14+) to assist with a number of activities: parking, greeting, registration, meal distribution, and other activities. Help is needed Saturday, September 27^th from 10am-6pm; a variety of shifts are available within this time frame. Contact Sue McGorry, 610-530-8648, suedsu@gmail.com.

EPISCOPAL HOUSE OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY, Allentown needs a group of volunteers to paint the doors of our senior residents’ apartments between 9am-4pm Monday to Friday. This includes taking off all hardware, prepping the door and painting, then putting hardware back on.  There are approximately 125 doors that need to be painted. Call Miki Weaver, 610-821-0311, mweaver@episcopalhouse.com.

LEHIGH COUNTY CONFERENCE OF CHURCHES, Allentown urges everyone to help end hunger by participating in their 31^st Annual CROP Hunger Walk scheduled for Sunday, October 12. Volunteers (age 16+) are needed to assist with registration and crowd control from 12pm to 3pm. Tasks include guiding walkers to the registration table and to the starting line, working at the registration table, and answering walkers’ questions. Please wear a red shirt, comfortable shoes, and a big smile! Call Laura Rowe, 610-433-6421, lrowe@lehighchurches.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. Call Mitzi Colella, 610-266-3000, mcolella@lvscore.org.

LEHIGH VALLEY ZOO, Schnecksville has several volunteer opportunities available. Help set up for weddings on Sat. 9/20 and Sat. 10/4 from 3-4:30pm. ZOOrific Silent Auction on 10/11, 10/12, 10/18, 10/19, 10/25/10/26, 11/1, and 11/2 needs set up help from 8-10am, and from 10am-5pm welcome guests, answer questions, and break down Silent Auction. Call Alan Raisman, 610-799-4171-x224, araisman@lvzoo.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.  Call Melissa Borland, 484-707-5746, Melissa@miracleleaguelv.org.

THE GRESS MOUNTAIN RANCH, Orefield needs volunteers on Sunday, October19^th from 1-5pm to help with an “Open House for the Animals” as part of The Open Gate Farm Tour.  People are needed to help with set up/take down, do parking, run bake sale and raffle, and handle the animals.  Horse volunteers must be experienced. Live music, educational talks, and donkey cart rides will provide entertainment for all.  Call Kathryn Gress, 610-398-2122, gressranch@gmail.com.

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.