THIS WEEK’S VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY

BETHLEHEM SPECIAL OLYMPICS needs volunteers to be Soccer Coaches for weekly practices 3-5:30pm on Sundays from August until November.  Gymnastics Coaches are needed for weekly practices at 7:30-8:30pm on Thursdays from January through June.  Basketball Coaches are also needed for weekly practice sessions at 6-8pm on Mondays from January through June.  Call Dana Lindsey, 267-221-7740, volunteers@bethlehemsopa.org.

CEDARBROOK NURSING HOME, Allentown is looking for volunteers (18+ years) to assist their residents with knitting and/or crocheting.   Residents love making hats, scarves, and small lap blankets.  Their “Needles & Hooks” group meets one morning a week on Tuesdays from 9:30-10:30am and their residents could use a little help.  Call Kerry Magliane, 610-336-5684, kerrymagliane@lehighcounty.org.

EQUI-LIBRIUM, INC., Nazareth needs volunteers (14+) to help as horse handlers or side helpers to assist the riding instructor and/or therapist in carrying out the riders’ Individual Program Plan.  Other volunteer opportunities are available such as office work, general barn assistance, fund raising, mailings, etc.   Training dates are 8/13, 9/10, and 10/15.  Call Yvonne Darlington, 610-365-2266, volunteercoordinator@equi-librium.org.

LEHIGH VALLEY ZOO, Schnecksville – Run Wild at the Zoo, an annual 10K and 5K run and a 1 Mile Family Fun Walk, will take place Sunday, August 14.  Volunteers are needed to help with registration, direct runners on the course, and help distribute water after the runners cross the finish line.  Call Timmi Fiske, 610-799-4171 x248, tfiske@lvzoo.org.

MEALS ON WHEELS OF LEHIGH COUNTY, Allentown needs 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 (weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly).  A 40 minute orientation is required.  Orientation scheduled for Friday 7/22 @1pm or call/email to schedule a one-on-one that fits your schedule.  Call Lindsay Fly, 610-841-7132, lfly@mealsonwheelslc.org.

MILLER-KEYSTONE BLOOD CENTER, Bethlehem is looking for Canteen Attendants every Saturday from 10am-1pm at their Allentown site 1255 S. Cedar Crest Blvd, Suite 1300.  Canteen attendants monitor blood donors after their donations, serve drinks/snacks to our donors, and ensure donors are feeling well before leaving the site.  Volunteers with flexible availability are also needed.  Orientations will be held.  Call Janice Brown, 610-691-5850, jbrown@giveapint.org.

THE MIRACLE LEAGUE OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY, Schnecksville – Volunteers are needed to help children with special needs play baseball.  Games last 1 hour and are scheduled for Wednesdays @6:30pm, Fridays @6:30pm, Saturdays @11am-3pm, and Sundays @12:30-4pm.  No prior special needs experience needed.   Register at website:  www.miracleleaguelv.org or call Jerilyn Kronstadt, 610-769-2096, Jerilyn@miracleleaguelv.org.

THE GRESS MOUNTAIN RANCH, Orefield needs volunteers for upkeep of the ranch and its large, small, and exotic animals.  Animal care involves cleaning pens, feeding, exercising and providing general care of animals, etc.  Grounds Maintenance volunteers do small repairs to pens, grounds clean up, and care for trees/shrubs, etc.  Camp counselors (18+ years) are also needed for Summer Ranch Camp (8/1-8/5).  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.

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.