THIS WEEK’S VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY

EASTERN PA DOWN SYNDROME CENTER, Allentown has several volunteer opportunities available for the 7^th Annual EPDSC Golf Tournament on May 16 from 8am-5pm at Whitetail Golf Club, Bath. Help with set up, registration, course marshals, raffle sales, and clean up. Rain or shine event and no training is needed. Call Maria Floryshak, 610-402-0184, theepdsc@gmail.com.

GIRLS ON THE RUN OF LEHIGH COUNTY, Allentown needs volunteers for their 5k Run on May 28 in the Lehigh Parkway. Assist with course set-up, parking, refreshments and more! Running Buddies (adults 18+) are needed to be paired with a Girl on the Run to help her through the 5k. Must be able to run/jog 3.1 miles. Times are 4:30pm for volunteers and 5:15pm for Running Buddies. Call Liz Fones, 610-682-1446, fonese@diakon.org.

HISTORIC BETHLEHEM MUSEUMS & SITES – Sign up as a volunteer for special access to the “Rooms to View” Home and Garden Tour on June 6, 9am-1pm or 12:30pm -4:30pm.   Volunteers interact with visitors who come to tour the homes and are able to enjoy the tour for free on the same day!   Call Melanie Depcinski, 610-882-0450 x13, mdepcinski@historicbethlehem.org.

KIRKLAND VILLAGE, Bethlehem is looking for a volunteer who is knowledgeable in Qui Gong Tai Chi. The volunteer would run a video for the class and help individuals where needed. Classes are on Mondays and Thursdays at 3:15pm. Volunteer for one or both classes. Call Connie Cain, 610-691-4515, ccain@psl.org.

NEW BETHANY MINISTRIES, Bethlehem seeks a volunteer to serve as receptionist to welcome visitors, clients, and residents. Duties include answering phones and transferring calls accordingly, giving information of our services, filing, helping with various projects, assisting individuals and families and treating them with dignity and respect, etc. Volunteer mornings or afternoons, Monday through Friday. Call Liliana Kelhart, 610-691-5602 x21, lkelhart@newbethanyministries.org.

THE GRESS MOUNTAIN RANCH, Orefield needs creative needlecrafters to knit, crochet, or felt alpaca fleece projects that can be sold to raise funds for the Gress Mountain Ranch. Volunteers must have the ability to create products from the fleece of alpaca/llama. Call Kathryn Gress, 610-398-2122, gressranch@gmail.com.

THE LITERACY CENTER, Allentown – We serve community members of all skill sets, goals, backgrounds, and needs. We are always looking for ways to expand the knowledge of our students and expose them to new ideas. Come and share your knowledge about your career, field of study, government, computers, etc. The only requirement is enthusiasm to share your knowledge! Call Lisa Johnson, 610-435-0680, ljohnson@theliteracycenter-lv.org.

THE SALVATION ARMY FOSTER CARE & ADOPTION SERVICES, Allentown is seeking volunteers (age 14+) for the Rock N”Run 4 Kids Fun Run, Saturday, May 16^th to support foster care services. All kinds of volunteer opportunities are available. This family event held in beautiful Coca-Cola Park is a great way to spend a few hours to support a great cause! Call Jan Musser Geier, 610-821-7706, jan.mussergeier@use.salvationarmy.org.

VOLUNTEER CENTER OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY, Bethlehem is looking for volunteers to coordinate drives for empty shoe boxes to be used for our annual “Holiday Hope Chests” program.   Shoe boxes may be dropped off at our address 2121 City Line Rd, Bethlehem between 8:30am-4:30PM Monday to Friday. Call Sandie Kelly, 610-807-0336, skelly@volunteerlv.org.

CEDARBROOK NURSING HOME, Allentown and Fountain Hill – If you like to garden or have landscape experience, we are looking for you. Individuals (13+ years of age) or groups are needed to help with keeping the outside of Cedarbrook looking its best at both of our locations. Availability is any time Monday through Friday 8am-3pm. Call Kerry Magliane, 610-336-5684, kerrymagliane@lehighcounty.org.

DELAWARE & LEHIGH NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR, Easton needs volunteers to become guides and work as gift shop attendants at the National Canal Museum in Hugh Moore Park, Easton, for the upcoming visitor season. Training is held on four Saturday mornings beginning May 2. The museum opens to the public Wednesday through Sunday beginning June 6. Call Dennis Scholl, 610-923-3548 x225, dennis@delawareandlehigh.org.

EASTON FARMERS’ MARKET seeks summer volunteers (ages 18+) to support the Saturday morning market and the Wednesday evening market. The Saturday market runs May through November from 9am-1pm, and the Wednesday market runs May through September from 5pm-9pm. Should be able to lift more than 15 lbs, but not required.   Call Brittany Vokoun, 973-590-7670, assistantmanager@eastonfarmersmarket.com.

LEHIGH COUNTY SPECIAL OLYMPICS, Allentown LEHIGH COUNTY SPECIAL OLYMPICS, Allentown needs volunteers for their unified golf program on Saturday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. held at the Allentown Municipal Golf Course.  Also needed is a coach for the soccer program beginning in August at the Air Products’ Fields.  For more info, contact Harry Schwartz, 814-574-4924 or lehighcountyso@hotmail.com.

LEHIGH VALLEY ZOO, Schnecksville is looking for Education Volunteers to assist with non-direct animal experiences while engaging guests with valuable conservation messages. Volunteers (ages 14+) are needed Sunday through Saturday from 10am- 4pm. Call Timmi Fiske, 610-799-4171 x248, TFiske@lvzoo.org.

TABOR SERVICES, INC., Allentown is recruiting mentors! We focus on increasing graduation rates, decreasing homelessness, and providing a positive support to youth in the child welfare system. Help us make a difference on a local level by making an impact on local youth. Training is required. Join us on Monday, May 11 from 6-7pm to learn how you can become a mentor. Call Nykea Alvarez, 610-739-0524. Nykea.alvarez-macey@tabor.org.

THE MIRACLE LEAGUE OF LEHIGH VALLEY, Orefield needs your help to provide fun, safe baseball between May and October for children with special needs. Games typically last one hour. Visit our website www.miracleleaguelv.org to register and select the games that you can help with.

VOLUNTEER CENTER OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY, Bethlehem is recruiting volunteers who want to serve as board or committee members for non-profit agencies in the Lehigh Valley. Join us for a Speed Networking Event on Tuesday, June 2 at Penn State Lehigh Valley Campus, Center Valley. Volunteers will have the opportunity to meet with agencies that match their interests and who have a specific need. Registration is required. Call Karen Smith, 610-807-0336, karen@volunteerlv.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.