THIS WEEK’S VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY

ARTSQUEST, Bethlehem needs your help on Sat. Sept. 26 to build 25,000 hygiene kits to be distributed to people who can’t afford to purchase these necessities or lack access to these basics. Sign up for a 2 and a half hour shift between 8:30am to 5pm. All volunteers will receive a t-shirt, a raffle ticket for great prizes, enjoy great entertainment, and more. This event is part of Clean the World’s initiative to build 200,000 kits in one day. It will take place in a tent in the parking lot at 3^rd & Foundry, behind SteelStacks and PBS39. To sign up, visit www.BethlehemCTW2015.eventbrite.com.

GRACEDALE NURSING HOME, Nazareth is seeking volunteer clerks for our Gift Shop on Thursdays from 9am-3pm. Training will be provided. Call Michael Colon, 610-746-5248, mcolon@northamptoncounty.org.

HAVEN HOUSE, Allentown is looking for a volunteer (age 18+) to serve as Front Desk Receptionist for our Outpatient Mental Health Services. Duties include greeting and signing in clients, supervising waiting room area, and assisting the support staff. Volunteer must have completed high school or GED program, work independently, and be polite and courteous at all times. Spanish language skills helpful, but not required. Call Lori Richardfson, 610-433-6181 x214, lrichardson@haven-house.com.

LEHIGH VALLEY HEALTH NETWORK MARATHON FOR VIA needs volunteers (12+ years) for race day on Sun. Sept. 13 between 6am-1:30pm. Shift times vary depending on location. Volunteers are needed to be course marshals, staff water stations, or distribute food to the runners at the finish line. Call Karen DeLuca, 484-239-4030, volunteers@vianet.org.

MIRACLE LEAGUE OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY, Schnecksville is gearing up for fall baseball games and needs volunteers to help children with special needs play baseball. Help needed for Friday night 7pm games and Saturday games at 10am, 11:15 am, and 12:30pm. Each game is no more than 1.5 hours. Assist players move around the bases, swing a bat, and play catch in the outfield. No prior experience working with special needs children required. Call Jerilyn Kronstadt, 610-769-2096, jerilyn@miracleleaguelv.org.

NORTHAMPTON CO. HISTORICAL & GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY, Easton has several openings for volunteers at the Sigal Museum. Admission and Store Clerks are needed to greet and assist visitors paying admission and purchasing items from the museum store. Receptionist and Museum Assistants need to work in the lobby welcoming visitors and dealing with inquiries on the phone and face-to-face. Museum Shop Attendants and Cashiers are needed. Training will be provided for all volunteers. Call Kenneth Wildrick, 610-252-8080, volunteer.nchgs@gmail.com.

ST. LUKE’S HOSPITAL-ALLENTOWN CAMPUS needs volunteer greeters at our West End Medical Center. Greeters provide personal guide service to guests (patients, families, visitors, vendors, residents, etc.) for getting to their specific destinations such testing areas, departments, and visitor waiting areas. Call Kate Fantasia 610-628-8495, kate.fantasia@sluhn.org.

THE COCO FOUNDATION, Bethlehem needs volunteers on Sat., Sept. 19 for its Annual Tee Time for Coco Golf Tournament at Willow Brook Golf Course, Catasauqua. Help with set-up and clean-up (multiple jobs), registration, food/beverage carts, and raffle/prize table. Volunteers are needed throughout the day to work flexible shifts between 8am-8pm. Sign up for specific time at www.thecocofoundation.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.