THIS WEEK’S VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY

ALLENTOWN RESCUE MISSION, Allentown has an immediate need for 3-4 volunteers to help pack up food/groceries into boxes and help move boxes to warehouse under supervision of the Food Service Manager. Administrative help is also needed ASAP to help Development Dept.; volunteer must have working knowledge of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, feel comfortable making phone calls, proficient with mail merges, and do stuffing of envelopes, etc. Call Deirdre Federico, 610-740-5500 x22, dfederico@armpa.org.

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY, Allentown is recruiting for volunteers (18+ years) to mentor a Little Brother or Little Sister at McKinley Elementary School in the Allentown School District. Volunteers meet with their “Little” two-three times a month on a Monday or Friday starting at 7:45am. Volunteers must be high school graduates, must complete an application, as well as background checks. Call Melissa Moyer, 610-391-1827, mmoyer@bbbslv.org.

DRESS FOR SUCCESS, Allentown is looking for volunteers and committee members. Help empower women and assist women on looking and feeling their best that are trying to get back into the workforce. Committee members are welcome from all professional backgrounds that can relate to disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and career development tools to help them thrive in work and life. Call Tracie Springer, 917-838-6345, Allentown@dressforsuccess.org.

EPISCOPAL HOUSE OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY, INC., Allentown needs volunteers to help wrap gifts for customers who will then make a donation to our cause. Join us at Boscov’s Palmer Park Mall on Tues. 12/22 9am-12pm or 12pm-3pm, and Wed. 12/23 12pm-3pm. Call Miki Weaver, 610-821-0311, mweaver@episcopalhouse.com.

MEALS ON WHEELS OF LEHIGH COUNTY, Allentown is looking for volunteers (18+ years) to do grocery shopping for homebound seniors and adults with disabilities. Choose the area of Lehigh County that works best for you. Flexible scheduling based on client’s needs. A 40 minute orientation required. Tues. 12/22 @1pm, or schedule one that fits your schedule. Call Lindsay Fly, 610-841-7132, lfly@mealsonwheelslc.org.

NORTHEAST MINISTRY, Bethlehem needs volunteers to coordinate collections for balls (basketballs, footballs, rubber kickballs, etc.), board games (Connect Four, Uno Cards, Apples to Apples, etc.) and new or gently used winter coats for boys and girls in grades 1-12. Drop off items by January 1^st. Call Paula Johnson, 610-691-3355, johnsonp@northeastministry.com.

SACRED HEART HOSPITAL, Allentown needs reliable, friendly volunteers for the Hospital Gift Shop. Duties include light stocking, customer assistance, and completing sales. Weekdays, evenings, and weekend shifts available. Training provided. Call Beth Fogel, 610-776-5413, bfogel@shh.org.

SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK, Nazareth is in need of volunteers to help sort donations so items can be distributed to those in need. Help is needed 7am-2:30pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and 7am-12pm on Fridays. Volunteers will be trained upon arrival at their first shift. Call Maria Arcelay, 484-287-4015, shfb-info@caclv.org.

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, Greater Lehigh Valley is recruiting volunteers to serve as coordinators for their Road to Recovery program. Duties include organizing volunteer drivers who provide transportation assistance to/from appointments. Good communication skills, strong organizational skills, time management and computer skills are needed. Must have internet access, email, and a cell phone or land line. A short orientation and training session will be provided. Call Jennifer Washney, 570-562-9749, Jennifer.washney@cancer.org.

AMERICA ON WHEELS, Allentown needs volunteers (age 16+) for Gift Shop/Admissions Assistant (handling cash register required) and Museum Tour Guides to meet/greet visitors and share the museum’s story. Training will be provided. Gift Shop/Admissions Assistant needed weekdays and weekends 10am-1pm or 1pm-4pm. Hours for tour guides vary. Call Liz Hahn, 610-432-4200 x10, fund_development@americaonwheels.org.

BETHLEHEM SPECIAL OLYMPICS is in need of occasional photographers who can take photos at competitions, fundraising events, and other local events. Should be experienced with your own camera (preferably a DSLR) and some editing skills. Need to be willing to provide us with a CD/DVD of the photos or copies via email. Contact Dana Lindsey, 267-221-7740, bso.dana@gmail.com.

FORKS YMCA EDUCATION CENTER, Easton needs individuals, organizations, and groups to coordinate collection drives for (NEW) holiday gifts for families in need. Suggestions include toys, clothing, and games. Several families still need your generosity! Call Brenda Pickard, 610-250-7193, brendapickard@greatervalleyymca.org.

FOUNTAIN HILL CEMETERY needs volunteers for weeding, trimming of shrubs and weed-whacking in the Green Meadow Natural Burial Ground. Other outdoor projects available include marking of graves and other small projects. Get healthy exercise! Join us whenever you are available. Minimum age 16. Contact Ed Vogrins, 610-868-4840, info@greenmeadowpa.org.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY LV RESTORE, Whitehall – assist with receiving product donations, merchandising and providing excellent customer service. No previous experience is required. Volunteers are needed in four hour shifts 10:00am to 4:00pm on Tues and 10:00am to 6:00pm Wed – Sat. Training provided. Minimum age 16. Contact Camille Urbano, 610-776-7737, camille@habitatlv.org

TEACH RWANDA, Easton is introducing modern teaching methods to Rwandan preschools. We are seeking a treasurer who will work with a paid bookkeeper to handle our finances in the U.S. Our start date is mid-December, 2015. A Treasurer who is familiar with QuickBooks and wiring funds internationally can help us support our vision. Willingness to learn to handle currency exchanges and to wire funds abroad is necessary. Contact: Janet Brown, 484-542-7442 , jbrown@teachrwanda.org.

THE GRESS MOUNTAIN RANCH, Orefield is in need of volunteers to coordinate collections to help feed our animals by donating their holiday meals: lettuce of all kinds, vegetables, juices (OJ, apple, cranberry), canned pumpkin & vanilla pudding to help make the medicine go down. Help welcomed every day to feed & care for the animals, too! Call 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.