#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.

*UPDATE* #VolunteerInCLE Where’s Vrere? Run For Recovery, Sat 8/22

****UPDATE****

I wanted to let you know of the upcoming Run for Recovery Kick-Off Rally happening Thursday July 23rd, 2015 at Music Box Supper Club (1148 Main Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44039), from 6pm-7pm. The event is FREE, and you can register HERE. I hope to see you there! 🙂

I know this is over a month away but I wanted to get a head start on seeing if others would like to volunteer with me. On Saturday August 22nd, I will help out once again with Recovery Resources’ annual Run For Recovery, taking place at Progressive Field. This event is put together by Recovery Resources, a nonprofit helping people triumph over mental illness, alcoholism, drug and other addictions. Additional event details can be found HERE.

I will be working a water stop along the route; nothing too challenging. If you would like to come along to volunteer with me please send a comment, or reach out to me via social media if we are connected; you can also send me email vreredai@gmail.com to let me know you want to help out. You can expect to volunteer between 8am-12pm (give or take 30 minutes).

#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.

 

#VolunteerInCLE Pop-Up Welcome Party, Sat 4/25

I wanted to share an opportunity brought to you by Destination Cleveland, a private non-profit organization whose mission is to drive economic impact and stimulate community vitality for Greater Cleveland through leisure and business travel. They provide a lot of ways for Clevelanders to show pride and to show those not so familiar all the city has to offer as a tourism spot:

On Saturday morning, April 25th, we will be holding a Pop-Up Welcome Party for a group of students from Canada touring Cleveland. Our welcome will take place at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, and we will be gathering there at 10 am.

For those of you who are new, all you need to do is show up, wear something celebrating Cleveland, say “Welcome!” and hold a sign that we will provide for you. It’s really easy, a lot of fun, and we’ll probably be wrapped up by 10:30 am. If you have kids or a pet that you’d like to bring, you are welcome to do so.

Weather permitting, we will be outside. If it rains, we may move inside the lobby of the Rock Hall, in which case, please do not bring pets.

These welcomes are a great way to show our pride and make an impression on visitors. Guests are always impressed by the welcome, and many take pictures, or want pictures taken with the welcome group. Frequently, we hear the comment, “No other city did that for us!” And that’s what makes Cleveland special!

Please note, this welcome will take place outside the Rock Hall and does not include admission, but we do encourage you to spend the day if you are able.

Please let me know that you’ll be joining us by e-mailing eembacher@destinationcle.org as soon as possible.

I think I will participate in this activity; hopefully I’ll see some familiar faces 🙂

My (Extended) #VrereDai Present to the Men’s Shelter

 

I want to say Thank You again to everyone who had something to do with celebrating my birthday (VrereDai) by giving back so far. I wanted to update you all on an additional component for this second round of donations for the 2100 Lakeside Men’s Shelter. My Sorority chapter (Kappa Gamma Sigma chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated) has decided to help me out along the way! My Sisters will be accepting donations and money from anyone wanting to contribute! Again, I am still accepting monetary donations with my PayPal account and I will do the shopping for you. Please send money to VRERE@AOL.COM and use the “Friends & Family” option so no fees will be charged. Every dollar equals one item from the following list of things needed:

Bar Soap
Toothpaste/Toothbrush
Shampoo
Hand Lotion
Chapstick/Lip Balm
Deodorant

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

I am wrapping up this drive on Thursday April 30th. The chapter and I  will deliver all donations to the shelter on Saturday May 2nd, in addition to serve lunch for the residents as our Day of Service Project. If you have any questions please connect with me at vreredai@gmail.com or at 216-236-5470.

I hope you can help me continue my birthday celebration for the month by giving back to those not in the best situation. If I may get personal for a moment, this has been the most rewarding birthday for me. At 31, I am truly grateful that I was blessed to make the decision to celebrate in a way that benefits others. I promise to keep this going for years to come and make it something bigger, and I look forward to the continued support of my friends and family!

#VrereDai Thank You…and Part Two.

I had my little brother and sister help me with donation delivery!

I just wanted to take time to thank everyone who took their time to support my special present to the 2100 Lakeside Men’s Shelter. I hope you know that am deeply humbled. I was able to collect a monetary total of $330 dollars from family, friends and colleagues via Paypal. That was used to buy 330 $1 items. I also collected many donations from people around town; I believe it was well over $200 worth of items, in addition to a box of books I selected from the bookstore in Gordon Square (Cleveland), Guide To Kulchur. There was so much to take over that I had my little brother ans sister help me out. It was good for them to participate in this kind of service and to see the impact it truly has on the community. It’s important that I expose them to giving back.

I did not expect to receive so much help-this was my first attempt to start my own drive for a cause. I have signed up tp participate in walks and other activities in the past in which I ask for donations…but this was something I started on my own. It was a LOT of work and I learned things about myself during the process. I’m so grateful I stepped up and followed through. To see so much praise and encouragement for a task like this was overwhelming; it felt really good to grab as much attention as I did and I hope I influenced you in some way to give back on your own.

There were many people who were unable to donate to this drive or simply missed my deadline, which was not a problem. Due to that response, I have decided to begin a new drive for the month of April. The 2100 Lakeside Men’s Shelter is always in need of items; they support up to 400 men each night. Although the donations collected for this drive was highly appreciated and more than the shelter expected, they will never stop needing our help. I want to extend my “Vrere Dai” celebration all month by collecting items, and monetary donations that I will use to shop on your behalf.

Here’s a reminder of the items needed for me to collect:
Small toothpaste & regular size toothbrush
Bar soap
Regular size deodorant
Small shampoo
Small hand lotion
Chapstick/Lip Balm

If you would like to send money, please use my PayPal account (VRERE@AOL.COM) and be sure to choose the ‘friends and family’ option so your donation is not deducted a fee.

The deadline for this drive will be THURSDAY APRIL 30TH.

If you have any questions or want to connect, please email me at Vreredai@gmail.com or send me a text at 216-236-5470. I may not generate the same numbers as the last go-round…but any and everything helps… 🙂

 

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! 🙂

#VolunteerInCLE Where’s Vrere? Homeless Stand Down 2015, Sat 1/24

On Saturday January 24th I will be participating in the 2015 Homeless Stand Down, a two-day event for individuals and families facing poverty and homelessness. On day #1 (Saturday, January 24, 2015) guests enjoy access to social service providers, haircuts, medical screenings, live entertainment, professional portraits, breakfast and lunch, and free winter clothing, personal care kits, bus passes and much more. During day #2 event(s) (January 31/February 1) the same services (e.g. haircuts, bagged lunches, winter clothing, etc.) are packaged into a CareVan and driven to guests permanent supportive housing sites around Greater Cleveland.

I will be volunteering with a few of my Sorority Sisters (Sigma Gamma Rho) & friends at the Cleveland Public Auditorium downtown . We will help with the distribution of materials and keeping the area clean for guests. Our shift will be 11:15am-3:00PM Saturday the 24th.

I have reserved a few spots for anyone wanting to Volunteer with the group. If you are interested please let me know at your earliest convenience. I simply need your name and email address. Spots are very limited. I would like to gather all participants by January 14th. Please note that Volunteers must be ages 16 and up. Please dress comfortably.

There is also still time to donate to the HSD 2015. Here is a link to find out what donations are most needed, as well as drop off locations.