THIS WEEK’S VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY

HORSES & HORIZONS THERAPEUTIC LEARNING CENTER, New Ringold is looking for reliable volunteers (age 14+) to be horse leaders or side walkers during our lessons.  Prior horse experience helpful but not required; training provided.  Information and required forms are available on our website www.horsesandhorizons.org.  Volunteer Monday and/or Wednesday evenings between 4:45-8:00pm.   Mandatory training takes place at the farm on August 23 from 1-5pm.  Call Kasie Seymour, 610-349-6157, kasie.seymour@gmail.com.

KIDSPEACE, Orefield is looking for volunteers (age 13+) to help at Annual KidsPeace Soccer Invitational on Saturday, August 16 and Sunday, August 17.  Help with registration, traffic control, concession stands, field-marshaling, raffle, and awards.  Volunteers receive a free t-shirt and meal vouchers.  Volunteer in-service offered prior to tournament.  Contact Gina Stano, 610-799-8071, gina.stano@kidspeace.org.

LEHIGH VALLEY ACTIVE LIFE, Allentown is looking for a librarian to sort 400 books that have been donated. Must know which books are current & most popular so when new books are donated, books that have not been taken out often can be replaced with more popular books in alphabetical order. The volunteer should be an avid reader who can dedicate three hours a week. Contact Rick Daugherty, 610-437-3700, rick@lvactivelife.org.

LEHIGH VALLEY ZOO, Schnecksville – Run Wild at the Zoo – Our annual 10K and 5K Run as well as our 1 Mile Family Fun Walk takes place every August.  Volunteers are needed to help with registration, direct runners on the course and help distribute water after the runners cross the finish line.  Run Wild 2014 will take place on Sunday, August 17.  Contact: Alan Raisman, 610-799-4171×224, araisman@lvzoo.org .

MILLER-KEYSTONE BLOOD CENTER, Bethlehem has volunteer opportunities available for 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 – Monday 5:30-8:30pm and Saturday 10am-1pm; for Allentown – Thursday 5:30-8:30pm and Saturday 7am-10am.  Orientation and training provided as needed based on volunteer’s schedule.  Contact Janice Brown, 610-691-5850, jbrown@giveapint.org.

PHOEBE MINISTRIES, Allentown needs volunteers for annual Peach Festival, August 13 from 3:30-8:30pm.  Help residents to the event so they can enjoy peach tea, peach ice cream, peach shortcake, BBQ, and the Allentown Band.  Fun activities/moon bounce, games and prizes. Must be at least 13 years of age.  Call Donna Henry, 610-794-5362, dhenry@phoebe.org.

SPRING GARDEN CHILDREN’S CENTER, needs adult volunteers during Palmer Township Community Weekend event August 14-17 at Fairview Park. Booth set up 3-8PM August 13; food sales 6-10PM Aug 14, 6PM-12AM Aug 15, 5PM-12AM Aug 16, 3-10PM plus tear down Aug 17. Contact Pat Hunter, 610-252-0559, phunter@springgardenchildrenscenter.org.

TURNING POINT OF THE LV, Bethlehem is looking for a small group to do some landscaping at our building. We need shrubs trimmed and some weeding. Appropriate dress is needed. Bringing own gardening supplies would be helpful. Contact Kerry Magliane, (610) 797-0530×227, kerrym@turningpointlv.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.