#VolunteerCLE Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities in October

I’ve had a few parents approach me asking for opportunities for their children to rack up some community service hours for school, so I thought I would share a few upcoming ways to give some of your time back before the Cleveland weather we have all come to love (did I spell hate wrong?! LOL) does its thing…if you have any questions about the contacts I’ve listed at the end of each opportunity in bold, let me know!

On Thursday October 1st, help middle school and high school students with their math homework after school at the University Heights branch. Under the supervision of library staff, volunteers will be available at least one hour a week to help students with their math homework on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Volunteers must be age 18 or older and must submit to a background check, and must have demonstrated experience working with high school students and/or math tutoring experience.
Volunteers must be available at least one hour a week at a predetermined time after school at the University Heights branch, and commit to helping through the full school year. Contact Julia Murphy at JMurphy@heightslibrary.org.

Sunday morning, October 11^th is the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk taking place at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Many volunteers are needed, and responsibilities include:
-check in tent
-route marshalls
-water stop
-food and beverage set up
-banking
If interested, please email Christine Grapo at ClevlelandOHStrides@cancer.org

Saturday morning, October 17^th is the Out Of The Darkness Community Walk with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention at Wade Oval in University Circle. Many volunteers are needed for this also. You can register as a volunteer HERE or reach out to Emily Siegel at afspcle@gmail.com

On Tuesday October 20th, volunteers can help give out fresh produce with the Cuyahoga County Department of Public Health. This opportunity takes place the 3rd Tuesday of each month from 3:30pm-6:30pm at the J. Glen Smith Mobil Food Pantry (11100 St. Clair Ave. Cleveland OH 44108). Connect with Kathy Rothenberg-James at krothenberg@city.cleveland.oh.us or at 216-664-2362. *This is a great opportunity for students in need of community service hours and happens once a month!

Saturday evening, October 24^th is the Halloween Boo-tanical Bash at Cleveland Botanical Gardens. Volunteers are needed to pass out candy to trick-or-treaters; assist with crafts, activities, or games; face paint and help pass out snacks & cider to guests. **They also are in need of volunteers to help set up for the Holiday Show taking place the week before Thanksgiving, November 21^st-25^th. Contact Sarah Hartley-Volunteer Coordinator at 216-707-2822 or shartley@cbgarden.org

Saturday evening, November 21^st is the fundraiser for PAWS-Public Animal Welfare Society at St Michael Woodside Party Center in Broadview Heights. They are looking for help with the reverse raffle/silent auction that night during the dinner. Volunteers will be shown what to do when they arrive. Please contact Susan Boyle-Treasurer at treasurerpawsohio@yahoo.com for additional information.

#VolunteerCLE Alice in Wonderland & Homework Help with Heights Libraries

On Thursday October 8th, the Lee Rd. library branch (2345 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights OH 44118) has put together a fun-filled evening celebrating Alice In Wonderland’s 150th anniversary.  Families register for a 30 minute time slot in this “walk-through” program and 12 volunteers are needed that evening (5:30-9pm) to help with crafts, reading stories, working at the sign-in table, passing out cookies and juice, dressing up as characters, running the croquet game, and running other games.
If you’re interested in volunteering for this one-time family program, please email Julia Murphy at JMurphy@heightslibrary.org. Feel free to include your job preference.

The University Heights library branch (13866 Cedar Road, University Heights OH 44118) is looking for Math homework help volunteers who are available to assist with middle and high school students at least one hour a week for the 2015-16 school year. Volunteers must be age 18 or older and must submit to a background check. Volunteers must have demonstrated experience working with high school students and/or math tutoring experience. If you’re interested in volunteering for this position, please send a resume of relevant experience to Julia Murphy at JMurphy@heightslibrary.org. A volunteer application will also need to be filled out, which can be found HERE.

#VolunteerCLE Run For Recovery Volunteering (Final Details) Sat 8/22

First I want to thank those who have decided to come volunteer with me! I appreciate that you feel like doing something simple to give back and the participants will be grateful! I am still looking for a few more people who would like to help out Saturday August 22nd at Progressive Field for the Run For Recovery held at Progressive Field. Here are final details and the schedule for the event:

Volunteers will assist Peace Racing with the set-up, maintenance and breakdown of a water stop. Volunteers will ensure participants receive water and will help maintain a smooth traffic flow to avoid congestion near the water stop. Volunteers should cheer participants on as well!
Team: Vrere Bunkley and friends 🙂
 Time: 7:30am-10:30am
Location: Outside Stadium – East 9th and Carnegie
Check In/Volunteer Assignment:
Please check-in at the information/volunteer station upon your arrival to receive your assignment and t-shirt. Please try to arrive a few minutes before you scheduled shift time.
Entrance is at Gate A off Eagle Ave. (Home Run Porch)

Timeline
7:00 am Packet Pickup/Registration Opens
8:15 am Welcome
8:30 am Kids’ Fun Run begins
8:45 am 5k Run begins
9:15 am 1 mile Wellness Walk begins
10:00 am Awards Ceremony
10:30 am Raffle Prize Drawing

#VolunteerInCLE 1-2-3 Read! Program and Homework Centers; Various Dates & Locations w/Cuyahoga County Public Library

This Summer, I will be tutoring first and second graders at risk of not reaching the state mandated Third Grade Reading Guarantee. I initially posted a status on Facebook to see if anyone wanted to help out, and there was a pretty good response so I am listing all additional details here.

1-2-3 Read! provides free one-on-one tutoring in reading skills and small group tutoring with literacy games.
This 1-2-3 Read! Program is at the Brooklyn, Garfield Heights, Maple Heights and Warrensville Heights branch libraries. There is a particular need at Garfield Heights and Maple Heights. The program starts June 29th and runs through August 6th.

During the summer, 1-2-3 Read! is offered 2 days a week, per location. The upcoming schedule is as follows:
Brooklyn: Tuesday & Thursday from 1:00-2:15pm
Garfield Heights: Monday & Tuesday from 12:45-2:00pm
Maple Heights: Tuesday & Thursday from 12:45-2:00pm
Warrensville Heights: Wednesday & Thursday from 1:00-2:15pm

Upcoming training times for 1-2-3 Read! being held at the Garfield Heights Library (5409 Turney Road) are:
Monday, June 22nd from 7-8:30pm
or
Sunday, June 28th from 2-3:30pm

There will also be 10 Homework Centers with a need for volunteers to help tutor students in Grades K-8 with their homework. Homework Centers are located at: Brookpark, Brooklyn, Garfield Hts., Maple Hts., North Olmsted, Parma, Richmond Hts., South Euclid, Southeast, Warrensville Hts.

If you have an interest in volunteering or know someone who does, an application form will need to be filled out. You can access that HERE.

Please feel free to connect with Nicole Joy Beleske, Volunteer Coordinator at 216-749-9400 or nbeleske@cuyahogalibrary.org to send your application and set up a training time.

 

“Community, Race and the Police: Just Get Home” Thurs 6/25

Time: Thursday, June 25th at 7:00PM-8:30PM
 Location: University Circle United Methodist Church (1919 E. 107th Street, Cleveland OH 44102)

Here is an upcoming conference I invite all parents, teachers, guardians, youth group leaders, and anyone with questions/concerns with recent happenings in the city of Cleveland, to attend. There have been many avenues in which some form of action has taken place in opposition with what all is going on. This particular avenue has been set up for dialogue, learning and understanding for everyone. I hope that what is created here can spark another change in the right direction…

The goal of this event (hosted by the University Circle United Methodist Church) is to educate young people in our community  on how to deal with encounters with law enforcement with the singular purpose to “JUST GET HOME”. We want our children and neighbors to know that they can work inside the system to promote positive change. We want to work to enhance the relationships between the community and members of the Division of Police.

This is event is FREE and is sponsored by the Kappa Gamma Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated.

 

Update on How to Help Celebrate my #VrereDai (Birthday Donation Drive for the Men’s Shelter)

…a few of my own donations to the Men’s Shelter 🙂

 

First off, THANK YOU to everyone who has given me items and/or cash towards this project! I’m really excited for the 2100 Lakeside Men’s Shelter. They should expect over 100 items for my VrereDai (birthday-April 4th)! I just wanted to do something out of the norm of celebrating for myself. Based on the success of this drive I may do this every year, and I hope I influence you to do something similar some day 🙂

I want to let you know that if I’m unable to connect with you or you’re unable to collect/purchase items, I have a PAYPAL Account that you can send money to, and I will use that money to shop for the toiletries needed by the Shelter. In case you forgot, here is what they are asking for:

Small toothpaste & regular size toothbrush
Bar soap
Regular size deodorant
Small shampoo
Small hand lotion
Chapstick/Lip Balm

My PAYPAL Email is VRERE@AOL.COM. Please send all monetary donations to this email only. Each dollar donated equals one item from the list above. If there is a particular item you would like me to use your funds for, please send me a note with the donation. I know that not everyone has a Paypal account so let me inform you of a few things…

1. Sending money from your Paypal account to my account is FREE.

2. If you do not have a Paypal account and want to send money for free, you will need to sign up for one. Signing up is free; you are simply being asked to link your personal bank account to the site.

3. There are two options for who you are sending money to. Please choose the “FRIENDS OR FAMILY” option! This is not a business transaction in which I am sending you anything.

4. If you send money using a debit or credit card, you will be charged a fee, like with most sites.

Information on Paypal use can be found HERE.

Again, if you have questions or want to connect because you have items, I can be reached at vreredai@gmail.com (please note-this email IS NOT the same email linked to my PayPal account; please don’t get confused) or send me a text at 216-236-5470.

I can’t wait to do all this shopping and donate for my VrereDai! I may eat some carrot cake or ice cream cake in between…or maybe a nap! 🙂

Where’s Vrere? Fight for Air Climb, Sat 3/7

On Saturday March 7th, I will be Volunteering with the American Lung Association for the 2015 Fight for Air Climb. The event takes place inside of the Terminal Tower (50 Public Square, Cleveland OH 44113). The Climb is 42 floors, a total of 804 steps, and the Climb is timed for all participants.

I am currently rounding up volunteers from my place of employment, Progressive Insurance, to come along and help; however I wanted to pass the info along for anyone else looking for a fun Volunteer opportunity taking place indoors. The majority of Volunteers are needed between 8:00AM and 1:00PM, depending on your position.

Volunteer duties may include:
Event set up or take down
Register participants
Pass out t-shirts
Pass out water
Monitor reception area
Stairwell supervision
Cheerleaders
Pass out climber bibs

If you decide to volunteer, please register HERE. Once you have registered you will receive additional information/instructions via email.

Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions at vreredai@gmail.com. Hope to see you there on the 7th! 🙂

#RAKE Random Act of Kindness Day, Tues 2/17

Happy Random Act of Kindness Day! In case you aren’t aware, Today is #RAKE Day. #RAKE, or Random Acts of Kindness Everywhere, is a movement/nonprofit created by Cleveland native Ricky Smith. RAKE’s objective is to improve the world one random act at a time. Buying lunch for the person in line behind you, shoveling a neighbor’s snow out the driveway, paying a compliment to someone you know is feeling down…all RANDOM acts. You can find more information on the mission of R.A.K.E. HERE. We should all take some time to find the importance in doing something positive for another out of the kindness of our hearts. I personally find it to be a great healing process because it really makes me feel good helping out others (even though I don’t consider my helping of others to be so “random”, but I do a lot of organized/structured Volunteering and that’s just as helpful too).

To celebrate, you can check out the website and purchase select RAKE t-shirts for just $2.17! That’s a pretty good deal in my opinion; I grabbed myself a shirt 🙂 All proceeds go to the R.A.K.E. Fund.

Be sure to take advantage of the sale, and do something Random for another before the day is over! As always, spread the word…:)

 

#VolunteerInCLE Be A Listener At 2100 Lakeside Emergency Men’s Shelter (Ongoing Opportunity)

Here is a really special opportunity to give some of your time at the Shelter. By simply coming in during the week to lend an ear to residents you provide a more safe space for dialogue, an opportunity to ‘vent’, and put smiles on faces. It is important however, to know how to effectively listen to others in a way that they are comfortable with sharing thoughts and feelings with you. I believe we live in a society in which we talk first and do little to understand another’s point of view. There is a lack of Active Listening not because it’s intended but the concept is not one that is discussed or heavily promoted. We make getting our own points across a top priority. This volunteer opportunity can help provide some practice that you can apply to your everyday life. Instead of having a desire to want to fix a problem, all some of us truly need is someone to listen…and that includes the homeless. You would be surprised at how listening can end up solving a problem!

If you think you are interested in spending an hour or two each week coming to the Shelter to simply provide an outlet to the residents and nothing else or you have additional questions, please let me know so that I can send your information (name and email) to the Coordinator of Volunteers. Times are very flexible. I can tell you that after attending a Listening Training I have a desire to do more than serve food at the Shelter. I hope to get some friends and colleagues involved. 🙂

Where’s Vrere? 2100 Lakeside Men’s Shelter (Thanksgiving Breakfast or Dinner) Thurs 11/27

Thanksgiving Day will be here before you know it! This year I will help out by serving breakfast at 2100 Lakeside Emergency Men’s Shelter (2100 Lakeside, Cleveland OH 44114) Thursday the 28th from 6:30-8pm. There is also an option to serve dinner that evening from 5-7pm. If you have some free time to help for either shift (or both), please let me know and I will place you on the list. I have a lot of fun at the shelter; everyone is extremely appreciative of the time taken to help out for the holidays. Food items are also being accepted for breakfast and/or dinner; so if you can’t come out but have something to donate please let me know.

Becuase more individuals/groups tend to volunteer for the holidays, this opportunity will fill up rather quickly; so just be sure to let me know. I will share other volunteer opportunities as I receive them between now and the end of December.