THIS WEEK’S VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY

KIDSPEACE, Orefield needs volunteers for the KidsPeace 5K Family Fun Mud Run on Saturday, May 2^nd. Volunteers are needed to work concession stands, direct traffic and parking, man water stations, cheer, motivate and help participants at obstacles, and coordinate the bag drop area. Flexible times are available between 9:30am to approximately 3pm. Contact Gina Stano, 610-799-8071, gina.stano@kidspeace.org.

LEHIGH COUNTY SPECIAL OLYMPICS, Allentown needs volunteers for their unified golf program starting now, either Saturday mornings or Monday evenings, to be decided. The Allentown Municipal Golf Course sponsors this golf program. Also needed is a coach for the soccer program beginning in August at the Air Products Fields. Call Harry Schwartz, 814-574-4924, lehighcountyso@hotmail.com.

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

MEALS ON WHEELS OF LEHIGH COUNTY, Allentown is looking for volunteers (18+ years) to do grocery shopping for seniors who are homebound and adults with disabilities who can cook, but can’t get to the store themselves. Choose what area of Lehigh County works best for you. Flexible scheduling based on client’s needs for grocery shopping (weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly). Background checks at our expense. Orientations – Wed. 5/6 at 1pm and Fri. 5/22 at 10:30am. Call Lindsay Fly, 610-841-7132, lfly@mealsonwheelslc.org.

MILLER-KEYSTONE BLOOD CENTER needs Canteen Attendants (age 18+) in our Bethlehem or Allentown locations.  Canteen Attendants monitor blood donors after their donation, ensure donors are feeling well before leaving our site, and serve drinks and snacks to our donors.  Times are Bethlehem – 5:30-8:30pm Monday and 10am-1pm Saturday; for Allentown – 5:30-8:30pm Thursday and 7-10am Saturday.  Orientation and training provided. Call Janice Brown, 610-691-5850, jbrown@giveapint.org.

PLEASURE OF YOUR COMPANY THERAPY DOGS, INC., Kutztown has local volunteer opportunities for all breeds of dogs to become “Therapy Dogs” and visit nursing homes, hospitals, schools, and other facilities throughout the Lehigh Valley. Therapy dogs must have basic obedience training and obey basic commands, even when excited. They should be sociable, love meeting new people, get along well with other dogs, be gentle and polite, and under owner’s control at all times. Call Helene Skopek-Krygier, 570-814-6078, poycdogs@yahoo.com.

SACRED HEART HOSPITAL, Allentown –Our busy gift shop is in need of dependable, friendly volunteers. The choices of shifts are Monday, Wednesday, or Friday from 9am-3pm. Duties include assisting customers, completing sales transactions, and light stocking of merchandise. Training will be provided. Call Beth Fogel, 776-5413, bfogel@shh.org.

TABOR SERVICES, INC., Allentown invites you to join us on Mon. May 11 from 6-7pm to learn how you can become a mentor. Our mentoring program focuses on increasing graduation rates, decreasing homelessness, and providing a positive support to youth in the child welfare system. Comprehensive training and weekly support are offered to adults over 25 who have passed a background check and an in-person interview. Refreshments and a welcome packet will be included. RSVP required. Call Nykea Alvarez, 610-739-0524. Nykea.alvarez-macey@tabor.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.