THIS WEEK’S VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY

ALLENTOWN RESCUE MISSION – Join the fun and help us serve over 900 people at WAEB’s 14^th Annual Spaghetti Dinner to benefit the Allentown Rescue Mission.  The dinner will be Saturday, October 15 from 4-7pm at Asbury United Methodist Church in Allentown.  Lots of new fun positions available this year!  Event planners and prep opportunities are available now.  Call Deirdre, 610-740-5500, dfederico@armpa.org or sign up online http://signup.com/go/pHao5j.

COMMUNITY BIKE WORKS, Allentown needs “Earn-A-Bike” instructors for children ages 9-17.  Volunteers will mentor and assist children in repairing bicycles.  Commitment is 6-8pm one night a week for 12 weeks.  No experience necessary.  Training provided.  Call Dave Edinger, 610-434-1140, dedinger@communitybikeworks.org.

GOOD SHEPHERD REHABILITATION NETWORK has several adult volunteer opportunities available.  Allentown – Gift Shop, Newsletter Production, Photocopying and Hair Salon Transport; Bethlehem-teach Guitar Lessons to residents.  Bethlehem and Raker Center – help residents learn Reading and Math, and provide Companionship; and Raker Center – Organist.  Call JoAnn Frey, 610-776-3125, jfrey@gsrh.org.

GRACEDALE NURSING HOME, Nazareth is currently seeking volunteers to serve as cashiers at its coffee bar opening in early October.  No cashier experience required; training and orientation provided.  Volunteer opportunities from 8:30-10:30am, Monday through Friday.  Great way to get out of the house and work in an environment that values compassion and hospitality.  Call Gracedale Volunteer Department 610-746-5248.

LEHIGH COUNTY SPECIAL OLYMPICS, Allentown has a volunteer opportunity for a Recording Secretary to take minutes of monthly Management Team meetings.  Meetings are the 3^rd Thursday of the month from September through June 3^rd at 6:30pm.  Call Patty Feninez, 484-274-8544, specialolympicslehighcounty@entermail.net.

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 Carrie Yocum, 610-769-2096, carrie@miracleleaguelv.org.

THE PERFECT FIT, Allentown is looking for fashion-savvy volunteers to help low-income women choose appropriate and professional outfits.  Should love working with people; have patience, enthusiasm, and a love of fashion and how it can positively impact and empower women.  Other duties include sorting, tagging clothing donations, and keeping boutique organized and appealing.  Light lifting required, must be able to stand for approx. 3 hours, and be knowledgeable about current style and business casual clothing trends.  Call Heidi Lennick, 610-871-5060, manager@theperfectfit.org.

TURNING POINT OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY, Allentown is looking for volunteers to serve as client advocates.  Volunteer hours and days are flexible.  Duties include answer phone calls on a 24 hour helpline and counseling victims of domestic violence about their services.  Minimum of 1 year volunteer commitment is asked.  Experience handling crisis calls a plus.  Must successfully complete a 40 hour Domestic Violence Advocate training plus on -site training.  Call Sarah Latshaw, 610-797-0530×227, sarahl@turningpointlv.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.

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.