Volunteer Bloomington: Friend program, food pantry, city panels, wish list

Information and registration information for the following opportunities can be found online at BloomingtonVolunteerNetwork.org.

Bowling is better with a buddy! The Stone Belt Friendship Program is seeking a community member interested in bowling with a new friend from their program. Whether you are an experienced bowler or willing to learn, you have a friend waiting to go with you to the lanes.
Bowling is better with a buddy! The Stone Belt Friendship Program is seeking a community member interested in bowling with a new friend from their program. Whether you are an experienced bowler or willing to learn, you have a friend waiting to go with you to the lanes.

Stone Belt Friendship Program

Do you like to bowl? Are you in a bowling league or wanted to give it a try? Stone Belt has a friend for you! Stone Belt's mission is to prepare, empower, and support persons with developmental disabilities and their families to participate fully in the life of the community. Their friendship program pairs individuals with disabilities with community members to make friends and have fun. They currently have an individual looking for a friend to bowl with. Could that be you? This is an opportunity to meet new people, make friends, and have some fun. If you do not have experience in working with individuals with disabilities, that's OK, don't let your own fears or anxiety stand in the way of this opportunity. Volunteers are supported with training and must agree to an initial interview, background check, and driving record check. Contact Sarah McKenney at smckenney@stonebelt.org or 812-332-2168 ext. 153.

Stuff-a-bus for Area 10 food pantry

It's time to stuff the shelves for the Area 10 Agency on Aging Mobile Food Pantry on April 16 at two pantry locations, Area 10 in Ellettsville or First United Church in Bloomington. Help them with this important food-raising event. The Area 10 mobile food pantry serves hundreds of home-bound individuals in Monroe and Owen counties with monthly deliveries of supplemental groceries. The two pantry locations are seeking volunteers to help swiftly and safely unload all the donations from the buses to sorting tables. This opportunity requires the ability to bend, lift (no more than 10 pounds) and stack food items. Many hands will make light work! Unloading begins around 2:15 p.m. (or when first bus arrives) and continues until the work is finished, usually 60-90 minutes. Contact Rebecca Ball at rball@area10agency.org or 812-876-3383 ext. 535.

More: At the library: Youth activities, seed swap, dine out fundraiser and more

City board and commission openings

Involvement in the city of Bloomington’s boards and commissions gives residents the opportunity to provide input on the policies that shape their government and their city. There are currently more than 45 boards and commissions that focus on local topics or advise the mayor and city council on a vast array of issues. Applications are being sought to fill spaces on the Bloomington Commission on Aging, Commission on the Status of Black Males, Commission on the Status of Children and Youth, Commission on Hispanic and Latino Affairs, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration Commission, Housing Quality Appeals Board, Housing Authority Board, Commission on Sustainability, CDBG Funding Citizens Advisory Committee and Parking Commission. Prospective applicants are urged to attend a meeting of the board or commission of their choosing prior to applying. All meetings of the city’s boards and commissions are open to the public. More information about each board and commission — including an application link — is available on the city’s web page at bloomington.in.gov/boards. After applying, members must be appointed to each body by the mayor, city council or another board or commission. City residency is required for membership on most of the boards and commissions. Contact Sofia McDowell, chief deputy clerk, at 812-349-3408 or sofia.mcdowell@bloomington.in.gov.

Community Wish List Spotlight

MONROE COUNTY UNITED MINISTRIES

Monroe County United Ministries is open to all who need their assistance in Monroe Country. Through their programs, they seek to serve children, their families, and individuals who are in need of affordable childcare, basic needs assistance, financial support. Staff are on site at 827 W. 14th Court noon-4 p.m., Monday-Friday to assist in collecting donations through a contactless drop-off. Contact Mary Jean Holwager at 812-339-3429 or mjholwager@mcum.org with questions.

Featured wishes: Canned fruit, mac and cheese, helper meals, peanut butter, crackers, canned corn, Jiffy mix, paper towels, grocery bags, shampoo, dish soap, trash bags and more. 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: Many ways to make a difference by volunteering in Bloomington