THIS WEEK’S VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, Bethlehem is looking for male volunteer callers to make Santa Calls on Dec. 1, 2, 3, and 4 from 6-8pm each night. Get in the holiday spirit in our holiday decorated office while we serve cookies and hot chocolate, and provide Santa hats and jingle bells. Try to come a bit early for instructions. Deadline for volunteer inquire is Nov. 17. Call Catharine Lee, 610-921-2329 x3017, Catharine.lee@cancer.org.

CAMELOT FOR CHILDREN, Allentown needs volunteers to help wrap gifts at the Lehigh Valley Mall from Dec. 5 to Dec. 24.   Booth is located on 2^nd floor outside of Boscov’s. All proceeds benefit Camelot for Children, Inc. To sign up,go to http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0945ada62aa5fc1-gift.

CENTER FOR VISION LOSS, Allentown is looking for volunteers to be “Annie’s Angels” to do home visits, read mail, and provide companionship.  We also need Volunteer Drivers to drive customers to doctor appointments, shopping, or center activities.  Hours are flexible and are determined by need.  Training provided.  Call Rita Lang, 610-433-6018, rita.lang@centerforvisionloss.org.

FAMILY CONNECTION OF EASTON is looking for volunteers to assist with a “Cookie with Santa” night at Paxinosa Elementary School on Thursday, Dec. 11 from 5:30-8:30pm. Volunteers are also needed to sponsor drives for toys, drives for non-perishable food items to be used in our Backpack Pals program in the Easton Area School District, and to adopt-a-family. Call Carolyn Serva, 610-250-2551 x24075, servac@eastonsd.org.

HOLIDAY HOPE CHESTS is a great project for large or small groups, clubs, classes, families, and individuals coordinated by the Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley. Volunteers are needed to donate shoeboxes filled with age appropriate items for Lehigh Valley’s less fortunate children. To participate, go to www.volunteerlv.org and fill out a Holiday Hope Chest Donation Registration form.   Filled shoeboxes may be dropped off at 2121 City Line Road, Bethlehem from 12 noon-7pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday December 2, 3, & 4 or 10am-3pm ONLY on Friday, 12/5.

KIDSPEACE, Orefield is seeking local businesses and civic groups to secure gifts for the KidsPeace Angel Tree Program. 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.

THE GRESS MOUNTAIN RANCH, Orefield needs animal caregivers to take care of small/large, and some exotic permanent residents – feed, water, ground maintenance of their living quarters, grooming, and brushing. Schedule a 2 hr. orientation with hands-on training. Call Kathryn Gress, 610-398-2122, gressranch@gmail.com.

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.

CARE & SHARE THRIFT SHOPPES, Souderton is looking for volunteers to work in shoppe or workroom to sort, organize, price, restock and sell merchandise 9am-5pm Saturdays, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays and 9am-8pm Thursdays and Fridays. Volunteers especially needed for Sat., Thurs., and Fri. evenings. Call Sue Miller, 215-723-0315 x113, smiller@careandshareshoppes.org.

DAVINCI SCIENCE CENTER, Allentown seeks retirees, professionals, and college students with experience in science, technology, engineering, or math, to provide skills-based mentoring to Allentown youth through exciting programs. Opportunities can occur at any time and range from leading nature hikes with the zoo, to assisting a child with their science fair project. Sign-up at MentorAllentown.org today! For more information call Darryl Alexander, 484-664-1002, Ext. 113, Darryl@davincisciencecenter.org.

HISTORIC BETHLEHEM MUSEUMS & SITES – Spread the spirit of the season by assisting at our sites, caroling in costume, greeting out of town visitors, or decorating our historic buildings. We will be decorating the week of Nov. 17^th, and will be accepting donations of white Christmas lights at the Kemerer Museum. Volunteers are needed every day of the week from 12-5pm. Historic sites include Moravian Museum of Bethlehem Gemeinhaus, Burnside Plantation, Single Sisters’ House, Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts, 1750 Smithy, and Historic Bethlehem Visitor Center. Call Melanie Depcinski, 610-882-0450 x13, mdepcinski@historicbethlehem.org.

LEHIGH VALLEY FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES, Bethlehem needs volunteers to help with the Christmas City Classis 5-Miler and Candy Cane 5K on Sat., Dec. 13 beginning at 9:00am. Tasks include giving out supplies to runners and helping at the finish line. Race starts and ends at the YMCA Bethlehem, 430 E. Broad St. Respond by Dec. 9. Call Rick Weaver, 610-787-0717, rw262@yahoo.com.

LIBERTY BELL MUSEUM, Allentown is looking for help for our Pip the Mouse Breakfast on Sat., Dec. 6 from 7:30am-12pm. Volunteers will seat people, set places as people finish eating, and help to prepare and serve food such as pancakes, eggs, and sausage. Deadline to sign up is Mon., Nov. 17. Call Sara Jane Brace, 610-435-4232, sarajane.brace@libertybellmuseum.org.

MEALS ON WHEELS OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY, Bethlehem seeks volunteers (large/small groups or individuals) to organize collections of the following items for their clients: bath towels, lap robes, shawls, blankets, stamps, note cards, toiletries, men’s socks, ladies’ slipper socks, as well as gift cards to department stores. Deadline for collections is Dec. 3. Call Monica McCandless, 610-691-1030, monica@mealsonwheelspa.org.

SALVATION ARMY CHILDREN’S SERVICES, Allentown seeks volunteer help with Foster Family Christmas Party on Sat., Dec. 13 from 11am-1pm in Coopersburg. Volunteers are also needed on Fri., Dec. 12 for set up and on the morning of the party 12/13. Donations of holiday food baskets made up with goodies (crackers, jams/jellies, cookies, and other non-perishables) would gratefully be accepted. Call Jan Musser Geier, 610-821-7706, jan.mussergeier@use.salvationarmy.org.

VALLEY YOUTH HOUSE, Allentown needs volunteers (organizations and individuals) to sponsor drives to collect items that would make our clients’ holidays a bit brighter. Items needed would be gift cards to local businesses/stores/restaurants, journals and pens, art supplies, personal hygiene and beauty products, sports memorabilia, tickets to local movie theaters and sports/entertainment events, and individually wrapped/bagged candy. Call Christina Schoemaker or Mary Link, 610-820-0166, mlink@valleyyouthhouse.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.