You can help: Garden for a food bank, monitor kids for CASA, be a Best Buddie speech coach
The City of Bloomington Volunteer Network is your source for information about volunteering locally. For a complete listing, visit BloomingtonVolunteerNetwork.org or call 812-349-3433. The inclusion of an organization in this list does not imply City endorsement or support of the organization’s activities or policies. Information and registration information for the following opportunities can be found online at BloomingtonVolunteerNetwork.org.
Hoosier Hills Food Bank garden volunteering
Hoosier Hills Food Bank (HHFB) rents and operates a 1-acre plot of land at Will Detmer Park. The garden produces a variety of fruits and vegetables that are harvested in order to provide for those in need. No gardening experience necessary; come out and have a great time this summer and fall while helping feed the needy. Garden volunteers are needed from May 1 through Nov. 13, on Mondays and Fridays from 9 .am. to noon. This family-friendly opportunity is open to individuals between the ages of 10 and 79. Please wear close-toed shoes, no sandals or flip-flops. In the Summer months, it is recommended to bring water and sunscreen. Learn more and respond today at https://tinyurl.com/garden-volunteers. For additional questions, contact garden@hhfoodbank.org or call the food bank at 812-334-8374.
Child Visit Monitors needed; help monitor CASA's waitlist
Monroe County CASA is in need of Child Visit Monitors, a position created in 2018 to help observe the situation of children on CASA’s waitlist. A Child Visit Monitor (CVM) will help to monitor the children through monthly visits until a CASA advocate is available. The CVM will visit a child or sibling group each month in the current placement location and then report back to CASA staff. Community members interested in becoming a CVM must be 21 years of age or older, have access to the internet for visit reporting, and be willing to potentially travel outside of Monroe County for visits. This volunteer position requires approximately three hours per month of volunteer time and at least one year of service. This is a great volunteer opportunity for someone interested in the CASA program but unable to commit the time to be an advocate. Visit www.monroecountycasa.org/volunteer or call 812-333-2272 for more information and to sign up today.
Best Buddies International Leadership Conference 2023
Best Buddies Leadership Conference (BBLC) unites Best Buddies leaders, volunteers and community advocates from around the globe to connect, engage and lead this inclusive movement. BBLC needs 90-100 volunteers to join them at Indiana University in Bloomington, this July 21 though the 24 from approximately 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Volunteers will be serving as speech coaches, working with 2-3 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, who come to the conference with a speech, or at least an outline, and then work to help these individuals perfect and deliver their speeches by the end of the weekend. Volunteers will need to commit to the entire weekend. Anyone involved in academia, studying to be a teacher, or anyone pursuing a field in the disability arena would be an ideal match for this opportunity. Learn more at https://tinyurl.com/best-buddies-volunteers/. For additional questions, contact kathydirusso@bestbuddies.org.
Community Wish List Spotlight
Shalom Center Wish List
The Shalom Community Center, a program of Beacon Inc., is dedicated to relieving the plight of those experiencing homelessness and poverty in south-central Indiana. Wish List donations help support visitors to the day center.
Donations: Donations can be made 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday at 620 S. Walnut St.
For more information contact: Tory Crowe at 812-334-5734, ext. 113, or tory@beaconinc.org.
Featured Wishes: deodorant, razors, shaving cream, laundry detergent (liquid or in pod form), coats, jackets, sweatshirts, sweatpants, sweaters, jeans, belts, rain ponchos, umbrellas and more.
View their complete Wish List online at: https://tinyurl.com/shalom-wish-list
You can find current in-kind, material needs on the year-round Community Wish List at bloomingtonvolunteernetwork.org/communitywishlist.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington needs: garden help, CASA child monitors, speech coaches
