THIS WEEK’S VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY

BIG BROTHERS/BIG SISTERS LEHIGH VALLEY, Allentown seeks volunteers (age 18+) to mentor a Little Brother orLittle Sister at two schools in Allentown. Roosevelt Elementary needs Big Brothers/Sisters in a lunch program during 11am-1pm. Jefferson Elementary needs mentors for a breakfast program every Wednesday from 8-8:45am.   Volunteers spend time together doing what they enjoy: playing games, reading, painting/drawing, chatting, etc. For more info and requirements, call Maria, 610-391-1827, mocasio@bbbslv.org.

CAMELOT FOR CHILDREN, INC., Allentown needs volunteers for Gift Wrap Booth at either the Lehigh Valley Mall or The Outlets at the Sands. Invite your family, friends, etc. to make this a fun time while you wrap presents to raise funds to keep the Magic going here at Camelot. Sign up at www.camelotforchildren.org and click Gift Wrap Booth.

COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY, Allentown seeks individuals, groups, organizations to organize collections of items needed by our children. Items needed include notebooks, binders, calculators, folders, backpacks, hygiene products, winter wear (warm jackets, scarves, gloves, hats), and sneakers. Call Catherine Makoski, 484-834-8830, makoskic@cislv.org.

KIDSPEACE, Orefield is seeking local businesses and civic groups to secure gifts for the KidsPeace Angel Tree Program. These gifts are for the KidsPeace kids who can’t go home over the holidays. Each group takes on any number of gift tags that highlight an individual child and 4 wish list items of $20-$25 each. These gifts would have to be dropped off by Dec. 10. Call Patrick Slattery, 610-799-8326, kpadvancement@kidspeace.org.

LEHIGH COUNTY CONFERENCE OF CHURCHES, Allentown needs large/small groups, organizations, and individuals to organize drives for items for newly opened winter shelter in our basement. Items needed are blankets, coats, hats, gloves, new socks, toiletries (including toothpaste, soap, shampoo, and deodorant), printer paper and other office supplies. Call Laura Rowe, 610-433-6421 x6101, lrowe@lehighchurches.org.

SPIRIT OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY, Fogelsville needs help with a Christmas Eve meal at Fogelsville Holiday Inn Conference Center for clients of local non-profit agencies. Volunteers (age 12+) are needed to set up, serve/clear tables, and clean up. Volunteers needed to bake desserts and drop off in disposable containers. People to wrap gifts are needed Dec. 22 beginning at 4pm; must bring own scissors and tape. Donations of gift wrap and gifts for children always needed! Call Ed 610-530-4623.

THE SALVATION ARMY FOSTER CARE & ADOPTION SERVICES, Allentown is offering gift wrap service at Barnes and Nobel, Lehigh Valley Mall and needs volunteers for Dec. 20 4pm-8pm. All donations given for this service go directly toward helping kids within our foster care/adoption program. Great opportunity for families or high school community service projects! Call Jan Musser-Geier, 610-821-7706, jan.mussergeier@use.salvationarmy.org.

WESTMINSTER VILLAGE, Allentown needs volunteers who enjoy baking to help our health center residents bake cookies in our Multi-Purpose Room on Tues, Dec. 9 at 2pm or Fri., Dec. 19 at 2pm. Call Emily Whitmire, 610-782-8333, ewhitmire@presbyterianseniorliving.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.