Manchester Communicator February/March 2010
VOLUNTEER
OPPORTUNITIES
Reaching Beyond Ourselves
Local:
Lend the Library a Hand – 2 Hours a Week in Late Afternoon or Early Evening
Manchester District Library needs the help of a couple reliable volunteers to assist with re-shelving books. Helpers will use their strong reading skills and attention to detail in using the Dewey Decimal system. Commitment is for two hours a week in late afternoon or early evening. For more information, call Heather Sturm at 428.8045 or visit www.manchester.lib.mi.us.
Early Childhood Extravaganza – March 18th
Early Childhood Extravaganza- Volunteer at this one-day event designed to celebrate young children.and provide their families with resources to support their intellectual
growth and physical well-being. Areas needing adult or senior high student assistance include:
• Set-up before event (morning of 18th)
• MI Child Identification stations (1:30 to 7:30 p.m. shifts)
• Mobile Dentist (runner to gather children during school hours)
• Children’s Activities (1:30 to 7:30 p.m. shifts)
• Children’s Items Exchange (“take in” days and day of event)
• Clean-up after event (evening of 18th, after 7:00 p.m.)
For more information and to lend a hand, call Beckie at 428.9711 ext. 1343.
CONNECT!
Looking for an opportunity to add value in the life of a local student? Cheryl Call is looking for a few dedicated tutors and mentors. She writes, “Increasing student achievement is essential for continuous improvement and the success of our students. The purpose of ‘Connect!’ is to provide struggling students with additional academic/emotional support from caring community members. Please become an active participant in the Manchester Community Tutor/Mentor
program. Connect!” Commitment is for two hours weekly for one semester. More information is available by e-mailing Cheryl at ccall@mcs.k12.mi.us.
Reaching Beyond Manchester
State Park Stewardship Workdays
Enjoy activities in the great outdoors? The DNR is looking for individuals interested in volunteering once a month for stewardship projects in the Waterloo Recreation Area. This is a perfect opportunity for families with teenagers to work together to restore native ferns, tall grass prairies, lake plain prairies and oak savannas on state park lands. (Sorry, these workday activities are not suitable for children 12 and under.) Contact Laurel Malvitz, Natural Resource Steward, 248.359.9057 to get involved. Visit www.michigan.gov/dnrvolunteers for further information and a calendar of workdays.
Reaching Beyond Michigan
Random Acts of Kindness Week
February 15–21, 2010
Random acts are those unplanned and unpredicted gestures or efforts we make in the spirit of the moment. They can be for better or for worse. We often hear or read about random acts of senseless violence, the crimes of passion or
opportunity. We also read about, perhaps less frequently, extraordinary acts of kindness such as the heroic passerby who risks his safety to save another. The third week in February is set aside by the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation
to focus our attention on the everyday opportunities we have to commit a random act of “senseless” kindness, a R.A.S.K. if you will. Numerous scientific studies show that acts of kindness result in significant health benefits, both physical and
mental, for those who perform them. Are you ready to risk a R.A.S.K.? It may take courage to risk a R.A.S.K.; it can require that we move outside our comfort zone when others are watching. In the coming week, you might risk:
• Sending an encouraging note to your parent, guardian or teacher
• Purchasing a snack, a soda or a school supply for someone in need
• Volunteering to read to younger students or your younger siblings
• Tutoring another student
• Sending a praise or an encouraging note to a fellow student
• Hosting an after school study session at your house and serving snacks
• Thanking the school principal, secretary, nurse, or custodian for the work they do
everyday to make a difference
• Sitting next to a lonely or unpopular student in your cafeteria
• Befriending a new student at your school
We’ll never know the final impact of a random act of kindness, but that’s part of the risk!
Reaching Beyond Our National Borders
Helping Haiti
Looking for specific ways to help the victims of the recent earthquake? Experts tell us the most efficient and effective means to get help where it is needed most is to make a financial contribution to an organization with a sound track record in relief work, such as the American Red Cross or Church World Service. Go to www.independentsector.org for a complete list. Organize a small fundraiser at your school or place of work to raise money. How ‘bout a brownie sale, a raffle or a simple coin harvest before class. Every coin and dollar count! Then visit www.redcross.org or www.churchworldservice.org or the site of another recommended organization to donate your dollars. Click on www.mnaonline.org to obtain more information about relief efforts in Haiti.
