Volunteer Bloomington: Exhibit docents, shelter help, garden workers

Submitted to the H-T
·4 min read

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.

Docents for 'Our Voice' exhibit at library

The Friends of the Library will host the inaugural Marian Armstrong exhibit at the downtown branch of Monroe County Public Library. The exhibit "Our Voice: Celebrating the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Awards," is an exhibit curated by the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature. It features 34 illustrations of the award winners since 1973. There will be activities and programs for all ages. Volunteers are needed as greeters, to answer questions and to provide directional guidance to visitors. Two-hour shifts are available Feb. 1-March 20 during the hours of 3-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday or 1-5 p.m. Friday-Saturday. The library will provide a brief training and orientation before the event 1-2:30 p.m. Jan. 28 or 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Jan. 29 in Meeting Room 1B/1C at the main library, and all volunteers will be given a volunteer badge to wear. Individuals or group volunteers are welcome. All volunteers must be at least 16 years old and fill out a library volunteer application if you have not done so already. If unsure, contact volunteer@mcpl.info or 812-349-3060 or 812-349-3050, ext. 1000. Sign up and choose your preferred days and times online at mcpl.info/OurVoiceVolunteer.

Friend's Place shelter volunteers

Friend's Place shelter is an overnight shelter operated by Beacon Inc. that provides essential shelter to community members without housing throughout the year. The shelter is open seven days a week to its guests between 5:15 p.m. and 7 a.m. the next morning. Volunteers can provide support to on-site staff by signing up for a 5-7 p.m. shift during the busiest time at the shelter, check-in time. Tasks include handing out supplies like laundry soap, dish detergent, over-the-counter medication and other first-aid supplies, and responding to guest needs as they arise. Shifts are available daily. Minimum age is 19. Contact Novella Shuck at novella@beaconinc.org or 812-334-5734, ext. 113.

There is a warm way to get involved in nature this winter at Hilltop Garden and Nature Center. Volunteers are invited to take part in assembling educational seed kits for delivery to area schools.
There is a warm way to get involved in nature this winter at Hilltop Garden and Nature Center. Volunteers are invited to take part in assembling educational seed kits for delivery to area schools.

Winter and spring at Hilltop Gardens

Come warm up at Hilltop as a volunteer to help get seedlings growing in the greenhouse during the chilly winter! Hilltop Garden and Nature Center, located on the Indiana University campus behind Tulip Tree Apartments, is a nearly all-volunteer-run garden program. In the colder months, volunteers can be a part of creating seed kits. These are kits of easy-to-grow vegetable seeds that are given out to teachers in local schools free of charge as an educational tool. As the weather warms, volunteer tasks shift to starting seeds in the greenhouse and eventually planting those starts in the gardens. Special Earth Day activities are also planned for April and volunteers will be essential to their success. Shifts and assignments can be viewed online. Up to 12 people can join a shift from either 1-3 p.m. or 3-5 p.m. every Friday throughout the spring semester. Both IU-affiliated and community volunteers are welcome! Reserve a space in a Friday shift here: https://bit.ly/3rtuwFi.

Community Wish List Spotlight

Monroe County Court Appointed Special Advocates

Monroe County Court Appointed Special Advocates mission is "To help ensure that the abused and neglected children of Monroe County live in safe permanent homes and have the opportunity to reach their full potential." Monroe County CASA is a volunteer-powered program which provides representation in juvenile court for child victims of physical abuse, sexual abuse and neglect. The items donated will directly benefit CASA volunteers and the children for whom they advocate. To arrange a donation contact Amber Shride, 812-333-2272 or amber.shride@monroecountycasa.org.

Featured wishes: Gas cards, restaurant gift cards, Starbucks gift cards, new dog toys for Jordy, the CASA courthouse facility dog, new children/teen books, three glass water pitchers, coffee (grounds/beans and k-cup pods), two 2-gallon glass beverage dispensers with stands. View their full wish list online.

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: Volunteer Bloomington: Exhibit docents, shelter helpers, garden workers