THIS WEEK’S VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY

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.

CENTER FOR CAREER PATHWAYS & LITERACY, Allentown is hosting a volunteer tutor orientation for people interested in tutoring adult education students in math, science, language arts, and social studies in order for students to obtain their GED. Orientation will take place 1pm Wed. Oct. 7 and 6pm Thur. Oct. 8. Contact Allison Ludlow, 610-799-1216, volunteertutor@lccc.edu.

FAMILIES FIRST, Pen Argyl needs Facilitators for high school students 9^th through 12^th grades. Facilitators meet with a group of students once a month (7:40am-9:20am at Pen Argyl High School) to encourage higher education or vocational careers by selecting guest speakers and/or sharing their own experiences. Limited training sessions provided. Call Frank Jones, 610-863-3688, jones.frank@penargylsd.org.

HISTORIC BETHLEHEM MUSEUMS & SITES proudly announces its 13^th Annual Turkey Trot 5kRun, a competitive and fun walk, scheduled for Saturday, November 28.  Since this race has grown significantly, volunteers play a key role in assuring the success of the race.  Volunteers are needed Nov. 27 and 28.  Some of the roles include helping with registration, being a race marshal, handing out post-race refreshments, t-shirt handout and many more.  Call Melanie Depcinski, 610-882-0450 x13, mdepcinski@historicbethlehem.org.

LEHIGH COUNTY SPECIAL OLYMPICS, Allentown has several volunteer opportunities: Competition Coordinator, Newsletter Coordinator, Training Coordinator, and Volunteer Coordinator. Must attend monthly management team meetings during fall, winter, and spring. Training provided at convenience of volunteer. To discuss the role of any these positions, call Harry Schwartz, 814-574-4924, lehighcountyso@hotmail.com.

NORTHEAST MINISTRY, Bethlehem is in great need of tutors for their After School Homework Club held Monday through Thursday from 3-5:30pm during the school year. Tutors assist with homework, provide reading support, and work on basic math skills. Tutors are needed daily, and can participate as often as the program meets. Call Paula Johnson, 610-691-3355, johnsonp@northeastministry.com.

SIXTH STREET SHELTER, Allentown is looking for volunteers with FBI & Child Abuse Clearances to come in for 4-5 hours every Thursday from 10am-3pm, while the Family resource Center Coordinator takes parents to Career Link/Workforce for resume building and job search training. Call Jonathan Copeland, 610-435-1490, jcopeland@caclv.org.

THE SALVATION ARMY CHILDREN’S SERVICES, Allentown is looking for volunteers to join the Children’s Service Committee! The CSC plans their largest annual fundraising event, The Rock N’ Run 4 Kids, coordinates awareness events, cultivates relationships with for-profit organizations & much more! It is one evening a month for 1 ½ hour commitment. Call Jan Musser Geier, 610-821-7706, Jan.mussergeier@use.salvationarmy.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.