THIS WEEK’S VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY

CANCER SUPPORT COMMUNITY GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY, Bethlehem is looking for volunteers for its 41^st Annual Boutique at the Rink, a sale of new and gently used clothing, household goods, antiques, collectibles, vintage clothes and accessories, toys and much more. To learn more, attend an informational meeting at Wesley United Methodist Church, 2540 Center St., Bethlehem on Wednesday, April 2 at 2:30 or at 6:30pm. For more info, visit www.BoutiqueattheRink.com or call Deb Post, 610-861-7555 x39. boutiqueattherink@gmail.com.

COMMUNITY BIKE WORKS, Allentown needs “Earn-a-Bike” instructors for children ages 9-17. Volunteers will mentor and assist children in repairing bicycles. Commitment is one weeknight 6-8pm for 12 weeks. No experience necessary. Training provided. Contact James Williams, 610-434-1140, james@communitybikeworks.org.

DELAWARE & LEHIGH NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR, INC., Easton is in need of Archival Assistance. Volunteers will scan glass lantern slides into our photo database. You will be trained to use a scanner, and learn basics of Adobe Photoshop; previous experience even better. You will also catalogue artifacts, books, photos, etc. We will train volunteers to use our software program to update our records. Experience with cataloguing or knowledge of local and canal history is helpful, but not necessary. Contact Martha Capwell-Fox, 610-923-3548 x227, archives@delawareandlehigh.org.

DA VINCI SCIENCE CENTER, Allentown will be opening a new exciting traveling exhibit “Space, A Journey to Our Future”. Volunteers are needed to be Adult Floor Educators for this special exhibit, as well as on our main exhibit floor. Volunteers should be able to commit to one four hour shift a week. All volunteers must have Child Abuse Clearances and Background Check, and attend a mandatory safety training and orientation. Contact Jen Pors, 484-664-1002, jen@davincisciencecenter.org.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY, Whitehall is looking for outgoing volunteers who have experience or have a desire to run the cash register during our ReStore’s operating hours. Cashiers greet customers, enroll them in our rewards program and check out customer’s purchases using our POS system. Volunteers should be able to commit to 4 hour shifts. For more info, call Emily London, 310-776-7499, Emily@habitatlehighvalley.org.

PHOEBE RICHLAND HEALTH CARE CENTER, Richlandtown has several volunteer needs: assistants for Ice Cream Socials every Tuesday from 2-4pm; in-house transporters to push resident wheelchairs to
Rehab Monday, Tuesday, or Friday from 1-3pm, and on 2^nd and 4^th Wednesday from 9am-noon; and someone to do nail polishes 1-2 hours any day of the week. Call Suzanne Sabo, 267-371-4504, ssabo@phoebe.org.

THE SAUCON VALLEY CONSERVANCY, Bethlehem is looking for volunteers to help with activities and events at the historic Heller Homestead. Some of the ways to help are to serve on one of our committees, staff the gift shop and art gallery, help with September barn tour, newsletter, mailings, artist receptions, or give tours of the homestead. Call Priscilla DeLeon, 610-216-0566, svconservancy@aol.com

THE GRESS MOUNTAIN RANCH, Orefield, “where animals help people and people help animals” needs volunteers to serve on their Board of Directors. We have quarterly meetings in the evenings that last approximately 2 hours. It would be helpful to have some marketing, grant writing, event planning, and/or fund raising experience. Contact 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.