Volunteer Opportunity Updates

Grand Rapids Wheelchair Sports Association If you are interested in this-PLEASE contact the contact provided ASAP July 28- August 1,the Grand Rapids Wheelchair Sports Association holds a camp for kids with physical disabilities- it is all wheelchair and adaptive sports we teach... It is a GREAT opportunity.they need volunteers for a couple hours at a time.Basic duties include: encouraging/ motivating the participants, providing 1:1 assistance as needed for campers during sport instruction (remind them of techniques, hands-on assistance with follow-through, etc.), picking up / chasing balls of various forms (tennis, basketball, handball), helping in pool, helping in dressing room before and after pool sessions, riding alongside campers during cycling (if volunteer has a bike to bring, that is encouraged), assisting at meal time w/ getting food/beverage, clearing plates, escorting to and from sports, and escorting to and from the restroom. **If you are interested in this great opportunity, please fill out the following volunteer form and return it as soon as possible. **Please indicate if you would like to volunteer during the days or as an overnight volunteer. Overnight volunteer positions are limited. If you have any questions, please call Tanya Campbell at (616) 242-0352

Habitat For Humanity

We have been talking about The Dawes Ct. Condos (near 28th and Kalamazoo) for a long time. The time has arrived to begin the process. Eventually there will be four 4-unit condos, housing 16 families by the end of 2009.
A special invitation has been made by the (Anonymous) Sponsor of the first four 4 unit condo, from July 19 - Sept. 20. After their own internal volunteer recruitment and scheduling, they graciously invite the broader community to join their effort. This is "SUMMER with HABITAT" with little else going on, because of how GRAND this is!

We need:
-Construction volunteers
-Site Hosts - helping register volunteers - most dates open
-Medical Assistants - general first aid - most dates open
-Data Entry - enter information in the office for this project (training provided)

Colleen Mahon-VanDoren
Volunteer Coordinator
616-262-6974
cmahonvandoren@habitatkent.org
www.habitatkent.org

Tues. July 22, 8a-4p/12p-4p/4p-8p, framing

Wed. Jul 23, 8a-4p/12p-4p/4p-8p, framing

Thurs. Jul 24, 8a-4p/12p-4p/4p-8p, framing

Sat. July 26, 8a-4p, framing

Tues. July 29, 8a-4p/12p-4p/4p-8p, framing

Wed. July 30, 8a-4p/12p-4p/4p-8p, framing

Thurs. July 31, 8a-4p/12p-4p/4p-8p, framing

Sat, Aug. 2, 8a-4p, framing

Wed. Aug 6, 8a-4p/12p-4p/4p-8p, vinyl siding

Thurs. Aug 7, 8a-4p12p-4p/4p-8p, vinyl siding

Sat. Aug 9, 8a-4p, vinyl siding, deck building, misc.

Tues. Aug 12, 8a-4p/12p-4p/4p-8p, vinyl siding

Wed. Aug 13, 8a-4p/12p-4p/4p-8p, vinyl siding

Thurs. Aug 14, 8a-4p/12p-4p/4p-8p, vinyl siding

Sat. Aug 16, 8a-4p, vinyl siding, deck building, misc.

Tues. Sept 9, 12p-4p/4p-8p, paint and trim carpentry

Wed. Sept 10, 12p-4p/4p-8p, trim carpentry

Thurs. Sept 11, 12p-4p/4p-8p, trim carpentry

Fri. Sept 12, 12p-4p/4p-8p, trim carpentry

Sat. Sept. 13, (no time listed) Final paint

Sat Sept 20, (no time listed) final details and cleaning

Ronald McDonald House
We will be serving dinner to the families staying at the House on August 7. We will need to be there around 4:30pm to start cooking to serve by 5:30 or 6pm. I need about 8 - 10 volunteers per date! Please email me directly if you are interested in this event.

Assisted Living

We are also looking for volunteer Nursing Students to assist with feeding the residents in Assisted Living (building next door). This would be any day of the week, breakfast 7:30-9:00am, lunch 11:30-1:00pm, or dinner (4:30-6:00pm).

Dawn Smits the Director of Nursing in Assisted Living said the number of volunteers would vary depending on the number of residents that require help each week. If it is something some of the students are interested in they can contact me and I will set them up with Dawn.

Assisted Living is also looking for Nursing Students to help out on Tuesdays from 10:45am - 11:45 am, downstairs in the nursing department. They are going to be doing a "pampering hour" each week, which would mainly be trimming nails and nail polishing. They plan on doing a more extensive pampering day, which would include hair washing, hair styling, make-up and manicure etc. one Saturday per month. Again, if anyone is interested they can contact me and I will set them up with the appropriate supervisor.

Elizabeth Thomas
Volunteer Coordinator
Covenant Village of the Great Lakes
2510 Lake Michigan Drive NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616)735-4541
eathomas@covenantretirement.org

Habitat For Humanity

-A mission trip to Armenia, in Aug for a week (exact week is being determined). One of our loyal local volunteers is organizing this trip (her fourth year in a row to Armenia). If you would like more information, please contact Colleen and she will connect you with Susan, for an experience of a lifetime, for you and for the people she loves so much.

Colleen Mahon-VanDoren
Volunteer Coordinator
616-262-6974
cmahonvandoren@habitatkent.org
www.habitatkent.org

Home Health Care for Elderly Woman

My name is Kim Olewinski, and I am a nursing student in 350/351 semester. In discussion with my clinical group a couple weeks ago, my family has recently made a decision to accept my grandma into a hospice program. She lives at home with my mom, is 77 years old, has dementia and schizophrenia. She is not dying so to speak, but she has been in a declining state for a few years now, and my mom is unable to care for her as much as she needs. Hospice has been recommending that we get more help to care for her.  So I was wondering if anyone would be interested and willing to visit with her. We need help 3-4 times a week, for an hour or two around lunch time(and we could sign up people for different dates and times that work if enough people are interested). She is not very active, and quite content just having someone sit with her. She usually lays in her bed, or sits at the counter. She may or may not have much to say, depending on the day. She usually opens up more as she gets to know people. Your role would be to keep her company for 1-2 hours, and make sure she eats lunch (my mom prepares something the night before so you would just have to warm it up).  She lives on the NE side of Grand Rapids, off of Plainfield, near the 5 mile intersection (right across the street from Lowes).  This would be strictly volunteer.  But if you are interested and/or would like to know more about how you can help please email me (olewinsk@student.gvsu.edu) or call me (616-260-2057). We would greatly appreciate anything you have to offer. Depending on the response I get, I will figure out the best way to organize it. Like I said, you wouldn't have to be commited to once a week, or anything like that. Anything you can contribute is helpful.

Habitat For Humanity

WANT ADS: Go to our web site (www.habitatkent.org) to read up on current special requests. One additional one will be added:

SEEKING VOLUNTEER TO PRODUCE A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION REGARDING HOUSE COSTS AND ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDING. Experience Required. Appointment will be short term.

Habitat For Humanity

Please check all dates you would like to work (we request 8am to 4pm shifts).

Mail: 539 New Ave SW. Grand Rapids.MI.49503        Fax: 616-774-4120 or email:cmahonvandoren@habitatkent.org, this form to Habitat for Humanity.  Then we will send back a confirmation with directions.  If you have any questions, call Colleen at 919-774-2431 ext.224

All times are 8am-4pm unless otherwise noted.

Thurs Aug 7 Punch List

Tues Aug 12 Punch List

Sat Sept 27 Framing

Tues Sept 30 Framing

Wed Oct 1 Framing

Thurs Oct 2 Framing

Sat Oct 4 Framing

Tues Oct 7 Framing

Wed Oct 8 Framing

Thurs Oct 9 Framing

Sat Oct 11 Framing

Tues Oct 14 Framing

Wed Oct 15 Framing/Punch

Thurs Oct 16 Vinyl Siding

Sat Oct 18 Vinyl Siding/build deck

Tues Oct 21 Vinyl siding

Wed Oct 22 Vinyl siding

Thurs Oct 23 Vinyl siding

Sat Oct 25 vinyl siding/build deck

Tues Oct 28 siding/punch

Sat Nov 22 prime/paint

Tues Nov 25 paint/trim carpentry

Wed Nov 26 Trim carpentry

Thurs Nov 27 Trim carpentry

Tues Dec 2 trim carpentry

Wed Dec 3 trim carpentry

Thurs Dec 4 trim carpentry

Sat Dec 6 final paint

Wed Dec 17 Final details

Thurs Dec 18 final details

Sat Dec 20 punch list/cleaning

Volunteer Babysitting

Kelly Duffy- mother of 5 month old triplets

Graduate of GVSU KCON

kd101604@yahoo.com

Food Distribution

Eastern Ave Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, has a Saturday food distribution program for those in need. Many of the individuals who come for food are from the nearbycommunities located around Eastern and Wealthy. The committee who runs this program at our church is interested in trying to expand the service opportunities to this population of people which is largely African American and Hispanic.  They are wondering if there might be an opportunity for nursing students to do things like BP checks or share information on Diabetes or heart disease or any number of other things on whatever basis they would like.  Currently, nothing like this is happening and these people are at the food distribution program every Saturday from around 7AM to 10AM.  With the current economic climate, our church is trying to do whatever we can and taking advantage of the opportunities that we do have with these families of need to offer as much service as we possibly can at the time that they are present.

MDA Home Respite Assistance

The Muscular Dystrophy Association of West Michigan has several area families in need of home respite assistance. Situations vary, but most are single mothers of children with some form of Muscular Dystrophy in need of a good night's sleep, or the chance to go shopping or to a movie, or get help with morning or night care assistance. Families are completely flexible according to your availability. No amount of time or commitment is too small! If you have a desire for some real world experience that will fill a tremendous need and make a world of difference in the lives of these families, this may be for you.

For more information contact

Lois Flaig - Health Care Services Coordinator - MDA West Michigan

616 459-4331 or lflaig@mdausa.org

Kids Food Basket

Kids Food Basket is a hunger relief program for kids that currently provides a sack supper to approximately 640 elementary school children in Greater Grand Rapids; these children who have been identified by school officials as being nutritionally at-risk and would not otherwise be receiving an evening meal. Kids Food Basket is the only hunger relief program working with the school systems to assist undernourished children. For more information or to volunteer contact 235-4532.  www.kidsfoodbasket.org

Degage Ministries

Degage works with residents of the Heartside Neighborhood. A variety of volunteer opportunities are available. Please call Dégagé at (616) 454-1661, or email joy@degageministries.org for more information on volunteering. www.degageministries.org

Job Opportunities

Babysitting

Amy Anstett, a local certified nurse midwife is looking for periodic assistance with childcare. She is looking for someone who would be interested in being on call for her for a period of 24 hours possibly 1-2 days a month. Amy would also like to have someone for occasional babysitting. Her home is set up with an apartment type room in the basement you could stay in if she gets called in to the hospital overnight. Amy has 2 great boys, Aaron who is almost 3 years old and Nate who is 7 months old. They live in the Breton/Burton area. If you are interested, contact Amy at amy.anstett@sbcglobal.net

Personal Care

Lynn March is looking for some people to give part time personal care in her home to a 21-year old male with a spinal cord injury. This would be a paid position, therefore, not applicable for LIC points.