THIS WEEK’S VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY

CAMELOT FOR CHILDREN, INC., Allentown – The holidays will be here before you know it! Consider helping to wrap gifts with your friends and family at the Lehigh Valley Mall Gift Wrap Booth or the Outlets at the Sands. Shifts are about 4 hours daily. Proceeds benefit Camelot for Children. Sign up at www.camelotforchildren.org. Call Kristen Bond, 610-791-5683, Kristenb@camelotforchildren.org.

DAVINCI SCIENCE CENTER, Allentown seeks enthusiastic, curious people to be Exhibit Floor Volunteers.   Volunteers engage visitors in hands-on-exhibits and exciting science experiments. Should be comfortable speaking with individuals/groups and be able to be on exhibit floor for up to four consecutive hours. An initial training orientation and required quarterly training provided. PA Criminal Background Check and PA Child Abuse Clearances required. Call Jen Pors, 484-664-1002, jen@davincisciencecenter.org.

EPISCOPAL HOUSE OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY, INC., Allentown needs a volunteer to do some data entry into an Access database. The database is set up and easy to use; we just need someone who can type the information into the forms. Accuracy is critical. Some computer knowledge and typing skills are needed. Call Miki Weaver, 610-821-0311, mweaver@episcopalhouse.com.

LEHIGH COUNTY SPECIAL OLYMPICS, Allentown is looking for a volunteer coordinator to handle all aspects of volunteer management and non-sports training in the program area. Must be available to attend monthly management meetings during fall, winter, and spring. Must have computer and internet skills. A lot of the work may be done from home. A volunteer is also needed to create their quarterly newsletter. Call Patty Feninez, 484-274-8544, specialolympicslehighcounty@entermail.net.

LEHIGH VALLEY ZOO, Schnecksville has several volunteer opportunities available with their Annual Winter Light Spectacular on Wednesdays through Saturdays from November 14 through January 3. Create memories and have fun! Special activities scheduled for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Volunteers receive a free Winter Light Spectacular ticket for each time of volunteering. Call Timmi Fiske, 610-799-4171 x248, tfiske@lvzoo.org.

MEALS ON WHEELS OF LEHIGH COUNTY, Allentown Discover how easy and rewarding it is to deliver meals to our homebound clients.  Teams of 2 deliver on 33 routes throughout Lehigh County.  Drive a route or ride along as a visitor.  Bring a friend and form a team or let us provide a partner for you.  Times are Monday to Friday 11am-1pm.  Join us once a week, once a month, or whenever you’re available.  Call to register – Dawn Stillwagen, 610-398-2563, dstillwagen@mealsonwheelslc.org.

PEDIATRIC CANCER FOUNDATION, Bethlehem needs volunteers to help organize their busy office. Office organization skills helpful, but not necessary. Help also needed to put shelves together and organize a newly acquired storage area. We will provide the shelving. Must be able to lift 50 lbs. or more. Call Lisa Kappes, 610-297-7292, lisa@pcflv.orrg.

SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK, Nazareth is seeking volunteers (18 years+) to direct guest parking at our annual fundraiser dinner on Saturday, October 24 from 5-6:30 pm. Call Sharon Alexander, 484-287-4015, salexander@caclv.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.