THIS WEEK’S VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY

DAVINCI SCIENCE CENTER, Allentown seeks enthusiastic, curious people to be Exhibit Floor Volunteers.   Volunteers engage visitors in hands-on-exhibits and exciting science experiments. Should be comfortable speaking with individuals/groups and be able to be on exhibit floor for up to four consecutive hours. An initial training orientation and required quarterly training provided. PA Criminal Background Check and PA Child Abuse Clearances required. Call Jen Pors, 484-664-1002, jen@davincisciencecenter.org.

DELAWARE & LEHIGH NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR, INC., Easton needs docents. Volunteers will receive resource materials and appropriate costumes, which you are responsible to clean. Training on Wed. Sept. 16 and Wed. Sept 23 from 6-7:15pm, bring notepad and pen. General site history and one lesson site will be covered each session. Call Dennis Scholl, 610-923-3548 x225 or 610-984-4753, dennis@delawareandlehigh.org.

EASTERN PA DOWN SYNDROME CENTER, Trexlertown is holding its 16^th Annual Lehigh Valley Buddy Walk on Sat., Sept. 26^th at Valley Preferred Cycling Center. Volunteers (age 13+) are needed to assist with set-up, registration, kid’s activities, and clean-up. Shifts are 4 hours between 10am-7pm. Sign up online at www.lehighvalleybudywalk.org or call 610-402-0184.

LEHIGH COUNTY CONFERENCE OF CHURCHES, Allentown – Help end hunger by participating in the Annual CROP Hunger Walk on Sun., Oct. 11. Volunteers (age 16+) are needed to assist with registration and crowd control from 12pm-3pm by guiding walkers to the registration table and to the starting line, working at the registration table, and answering walkers’ questions. Please wear a blue shirt, comfortable shoes, and a big smile! Call Laura Rowe, 610-433-6421 x6101, lrowe@lehighchurches.org.

LEHIGH VALLEY SCORE, LCCC-Schnecksville seeks experienced business professionals to offer in-person and online counseling and advice to start ups and owners of small businesses and non-profit organizations. Orientation and training provided. Call Tracy Damiani, 610-266-3000, tdamiani@lvscore.org.

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 (weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly). Background checks at our expense.   A 40 minute orientation required. Please choose from upcoming dates Tues. 9/22@10:30am, Wed. 9/30@1pm, or call to schedule a one-on-one that fits your schedule. Call Lindsay Fly, 610-841-7132, lfly@mealsonwheelslc.org.

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

THE GRESS MOUNTAIN RANCH, Orefield is hosting an Open Gate Farm Tour on Sun., Oct. 18 from 1-5pm. Volunteers are needed to help with set up/take down, do parking, run bake sale and raffle, and handle the animals. Horse volunteers must be experienced. Live music, educational talks, Petting Zoo, and horse/pony/donkey cart rides will provide entertainment for all. 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.