THIS WEEK’S VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY

ALLENTOWN RESCUE MISSION, Allentown is holding its First Annual Gala “Celebrating Lives Changed” to observe the Mission’s 115 years of service on Saturday, May 14 at 5:30pm at Muhlenberg College.  Volunteers (15+ years) are needed for all aspects of the event including immediate need for event planning and solicitation of donors.  Committee persons are needed as follows: Silent/Live Auctions, Greeting and Registration, and Decorations.  Volunteers needed the day of this celebration 2pm-10pm!  Call Deirdre Federico, 610-740-5500 x22, dfrederico@armpa.org.

EASTON AREA NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS, INC. will be conducting a Needs Assessment Survey on the Southside of Easton on Saturday, April 9 from 9am-noon.  Volunteers are needed to assist with data collection from residents on chosen streets in this area.  Training on how to present the survey along with clipboards, surveys, pencils, and water will be provided.  Bring a water bottle or a way to transport bottled water while canvassing neighborhoods.  Pizza for lunch will be provided.  Call Judy Matthewson, 610-253-4253, jmatthewson@eastonanc.org.

FEED THE CHILDREN, Bethlehem needs dedicated volunteers to fill various roles in their new Teacher Store, where local teachers can shop for free school supplies and new children’s books every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 2:45pm-6pm.  Positions include: Check-in — welcome, sign in, and direct teachers to entrance; Check-out — complete check out documents and weigh “purchases”; Assistant –- assist with purchases, restock items, carry purchases, must be able to stand for long periods of time and lift 30 lbs.  Call Kristen Mills, 610-419-9356, Kristen.Mills@feedthechildren.org.

MAYFAIR, INC., Allentown needs volunteers for the 2016 Mayfair Festival in the Events Center at The Allentown Fairgrounds, Friday, May 27 to Monday, May 29.  Roles are Ticket Sellers, Beverage Servers, Booth Sitters, Set-up/Tear-Down Assistants, Gallery Attendant, Information Specialists, Children’s Arts Activities, Parking, Floater, and Trashbuster.   Sign up at www.mayfairfestival.org or call Arlene Daily, 610-437-6900, Arlene@mayfairfestival.org.

PEDIATRIC CANCER FOUNDATION OF THE LV, INC., Bethlehem has many volunteer opportunities and shifts available for their 7^th Annual Run/Walk to Live to Spread the Gold on Sat. April  2nd at the Ironton Rail Trail, Coplay from 6am to 1pm.  Sign up at www.signupgenius.com/go/70a084fa5ac2da64-7thannual or call Lisa Kappes, 610-297-7292, lisa@pcflv.org.

SACRED HEART HOSPITAL, Allentown is seeking volunteers for their busy volunteer department.  Tasks include delivering flowers and mail to patients and assisting patients and staff.  This is a great way to contribute while making new friends.  Training is provided; all shifts available.  Call Beth Fogel, 610-776-5413, bfogel@shh.org.

THE GRESS MOUNTAIN RANCH, Orefield is looking for volunteers (18+ years) to serve as Camp Counselors during our annual Ranch Camp.  Enhance your leadership skills while mentoring children in grades 3 through 10 on basic care, feeding, and health of horses, donkeys, alpacas, goats, and pigs.   Sign up for one, two, or all three weeks (June 20-24, July 11-15, and August 1-5 from 9am to 2pm)!  Preferable that you volunteer for the entire week; we will try to accommodate partial week requests.  Call Kathryn Gress, 610-398-2122, GressRanch@gmail.com with “Ranch Camp” in subject line.

VOLUNTEER CENTER OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY, Bethlehem is looking for a volunteer to help manage and post on social media.  We are looking for someone to be in our office 3-4 hours per week to input and update our social media calendar and sites. Must be over 18 and have working knowledge of all social media sites.   Call Karen Smith, 610-807-0336, karen@volunteerlv.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.