United Way of Greater Lafayette
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Current Volunteer Needs

 

Volunteer Needs Column

December 2, 2011  

 

What's New This Week?

Holiday Group Project! 

The Salvation Army needs a group or family to help deliver Christmas gifts to the 260 residents at the Indiana Veterans Home. No specific date has been set and can be determined by the volunteer group's schedule. If interested, contact Major Pat Irvine for more information.

    

If interested in learning about more volunteer opportunities, contact Amy at the United Way Volunteer Center or visit:

www.uwlafayettevolunteer.org   


While earning your daily bread,
be sure you share a slice with those less fortunate. 

~Quoted in P.S. I Love You, compiled by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.



*Still Needed*

 

Librarian Call Out  

Hershey Elementary is asking for library helpers on Thursday & Friday mornings, & Friday afternoons. Hershey Panthers are simply....READERS so the shelves are in need of restocking!  If you have an hour a week to give, contact Kris or call 765-269-8289.  

 

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

Reading Buddies, a program of United Way, is looking for stuffed animals to replenish the supply for 2nd grade classrooms. If you would like to sponsor a drive or just supply a stuffed animal or two, email Amy or call 765-742-9077 x 222

 

All that Paperwork!

Bauer Family Resources Food Pantry is looking for volunteers to assist with completing intake and eligibility paperwork on Thursdays 12 - 2:30pm. For more information contact Cassie at 765-742-5046. 

 

Do you Like Reading and Children? 

Cole Elementary is asking for library helpers on Tuesdays between 9am - 3pm. Don't let a child go without books because there is no librarian. If you have an hour a week to give, contact Mike Pinto today!   

Ring, Ring, Ring....Ring the Bell 

The Salvation Army is scheduling volunteer bell ringers to help raise funds throughout the holiday season! Mulitple red kettle locations are available throughout the greater Lafayette area and individuals, families, groups and organizations are welcome to sign up. Bell ringing begins on November 18 and continues through December 24 (no ringing done on Sundays). to schedule, contact Audrey or call 765-742-0006 x 4.

 

Trains, Trains and more Trains

Linden Depot Museum is gearing up for their Christmas Season. Remember what is was like to play with trains as a child? Go back in time at the museum and volunteer to help keep the trains running, greet and welcome visitors or maybe run a cash register. The museum is open December 10 - 21st from 1 - 7pm. If you would like to volunteer, email Gary or call 765-427-3630.

 

Everyone deserves a hot , nutritious meal 

Meals on Wheels delivers hot, nutritious meals to home bound individuals and are in need of volunteer drivers to deliver just one day a week from 10:45-12:30. If you have a couple hours to give a week, contact Nichole or call her at 429-6325.

 

Be Part of the Team

Families and Schools Together (FAST) is looking for one more volunteer to join the team. FAST is a dynamic process to empower and involve all parents and to foster family development and cohesion. Its ultimate purpose is to help all children succeed at home, in elementary school, and in the community. Must attend a two day training to become FAST certified. For more information, email Amy or call 742-9077 x 222.

 

Did you say Chair Zumba?

Bickford Cottage is looking for volunteers who love helping people exercise. Fitness leaders are needed to help the seniors get and stay mobile! 1/2 hour classes run at 9:30am Monday-Friday. If you would like to run a class or two then e-mail Rachel or call 490-6290.


Things of the spirit differ from things material in that the more you give the more you have.
~Christopher Morley

Children's Literacy Coalition

 Barnes & Noble Bookfairs

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Barnes & Noble, Lafayette

 

Special guests will be reading children's books and performing!

 

Our guests include:

12:00 Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres

1:30 WLHS Cheerleaders

2:00 Hershey Elementary Choir

2:30 Toy Story's Woody (aka Matt Bandelier)

3:00 JHS Cheerleaders

3:30 Santa Claus

4:30 Kids First Puppets

5:00 Josh Lindblom, Los Angeles Dodgers

 

Can't attend our bookfair at Barnes & Noble?

 

visit BN.COM/bookfairs to support us online from 12/04/11 to 12/09/11 by entering Bookfair ID 10583706 at checkout.

 

Or use your voucher in the store on Monday, December 5, 2011

 

A percentage of your Barnes & Noble purchases will benefit our organization.


Learn more about the United Way

Do you want to find out more about what the United Way of Greater Lafayette is all about? Visit the website

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vita

Now accepting applications for United Way's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Last tax season we were able to assist in over $205,500 in returns to low income families. Now we need your help to ensure this program is a success again. VITA is your opportunity to help low income families in our community. We will provide free training and certification to prepare taxes beginning in January 2012. VITA is a WIN WIN WIN program. Our community wins because tax dollars that are saved can be spent locally to boost the economy. The client wins because taxes are prepared accurately and for free saving an average of $200. As a volunteer you win because this is a great opportunity to give back while also learning how to prepare your own return. To volunteer or for more information about VITA contact Jennifer Million at (756) 742-9077 ext. 227, text (765) 237-2344 or visit our website.

   

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The Season of Giving: Holiday Volunteering Ideas
christmas

                                           by Anna Weinstein 

 

Families are counting their blessings this holiday season, perhaps more so than in years past. With the economy in shambles, many parents are particularly cognizant of the need to help their children understand the true meaning of gratitude. And with gratitude, of course, comes the spirit of giving.

 

"This is really what the holidays are all about," says Doreen Stephens, Vice President for Programming and Marketing of The LEAGUE, a non-profit service learning program. "It's important for children to understand that they are a part of a community and that they can impact or influence their community," Stephens says. "They can give back."

 

The LEAGUE works with schools to combine state standards-based lesson plans with community service events. The goal is to teach students the value of giving and to recognize them for their efforts. "We feel that it's really important to develop the next generation of civic leaders," Stephens says. "Especially around the holidays-it's even more important that we balance the other things young people may see."

 

Volunteering at soup kitchens or food banks is often the first thing to come to mind. But there are countless ways children and their parents can give back during the holidays. Barbara Dillbeck, Curriculum Director for the LEAGUE, suggests the following volunteering activities for the holidays. "Activities that include friends," Dillbeck says, "are very motivating for both young children and teens."

 

Holiday Cooking Party

Hold a holiday cooking party with friends and family (cookies, soup, bread) to contribute to a food pantry or shelter. Have party guests cook or bake together, or make healthy bags of snacks (pistachio and dried cranberry mix), and have the children wrap with a festive bow and include a handwritten holiday greeting. Set aside time to accompany your child to distribute the gifts to individuals in a local homeless shelter.

 

Holiday Craft Party

Have your child invite friends to a craft party. The children can make braided or beaded friendship bracelets, blank journals, small containers for pencils, or keepsakes for children in Iraq or Afghanistan. Have the children decorate the crafts in the colors of the U.S. flag and colors of the Iraq or Afghanistan flag, and help the kids include personal messages of friendship. After the party is over, help your child mail the crafts to U.S. service persons in Iraq or Afghanistan to distribute to children they encounter.

 

Holiday Game Party

Encourage your child to hold a holiday game party (card games, board games) for her friends. Admission can be a food, clothing, or toy item to be donated to a designated charity. Arrange to take your child to the charity so she can see how her efforts will help those in need.

 

Gift Wish List

Talk to your child about what he cares deeply about-perhaps the environment, animals, hunger, literacy, or health. Help him research organizations that address that interest and encourage him when writing his gift wish list to include contributions in his name to the charitable organization of his choice.

 

Gift Wrapping

Suggest that your child raise money for a charity of choice by offering a gift-wrapping service or "babysit while you shop" service for friends or family. Have your child team up with friends or children in the neighborhood to make this a social event.

 

Showcasing Children's Talents

It's always a good idea to encourage children to put their talents to good use. A holiday-related play, music performance, or poetry reading can entertain children and adults who are in difficult situations. Encourage your child to spend time with friends perfecting a performance or reading, and then help facilitate a performance for those in need. Children in hospitals, seniors in nursing homes, individuals in homeless shelters-all of these people would enjoy watching young people perform. Budding artists can create a series of holiday paintings to display at a hospital; beginning readers can read aloud to children in a daycare or preschool; young dancers can put on an abbreviated version of The Nutcracker.

 

The possibilities are endless....Happy Holidays.