Volunteer opportunities

A variety of volunteer opportunities are available in Douglas and Pope counties. For more information, call the numbers listed with each opportunity below. To learn about additional volunteer opportunities, call United Way of Douglas and Pope Counties at (320) 834-7800.

United Way:

 Traveling Tree House - Volunteers needed to help with summer enrichment program for children. The Traveling Tree House bus is staffed by an early childhood educator and volunteers and travels in communities throughout Douglas County for 10 weeks this summer, offering games and activities for children pre-K to 3rd grade.

Help needed:

Tuesdays: Fillmore Park, Alexandria (8:30 to 10 a.m.); City Park (10:30 a.m. to noon)

Wednesdays: Carlos City Park (8:30 to 10 a.m.; Miltona Community Center (10:30 a.m. to noon)

Thursdays: Garfield Park-A-While Gardens (8:30 to 10 a.m.); Brandon Lion's Park (10:30 to noon)

 Mobile Food Drop - July 26 at New Life Christian Church. Volunteers come at 9:30 a.m. and work until 2 p.m.

 Hog Wild Fest, a two day rib fest at Pete's County Market parking lot - Volunteers needed in shifts from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, July 12 and from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, July 13.

 Stuff the Bus - Volunteers needed to prepare boxes for annual school supply collection and to organize materials for stuffing. Help is also needed with distribution of collection boxes to various Alexandria businesses. Times are flexible.

 Coat Drive help needed within the office to organize existing coats.

Call (320) 834-7800.

Elder Network:

 Volunteers needed to meet with older adults in their homes weekly to provide support due to life changes, loss, loneliness or emotional concern.

 Volunteers needed to allow a caregiver to take a short break from their duties by spending 1-4 hours per week providing companionship and conversation to a care receiver.

Training is required for all volunteers. Call (320) 763-9084.

Grand Arbor/Knute Nelson:

Volunteers needed to start a walking group with the residents, to go on local shopping trips with residents and to visit residents at Grand Arbor.

Volunteers also needed to lead a men's group, to serve food at the Bistro at Grand Arbor and to help at The Coffee and Gift Shop at Knute Nelson.

Call Judy Thielke at (320) 763-1162.

Someplace Safe Thrift Store: Volunteers needed to help hang clothes, sort and price donations and clean Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Call Karen or Anna at (320) 763-4677.

United Methodist Church: Volunteers needed for the Free Community Breakfast held the second Saturday of each month.

Call (320) 763-4624.

Tags: volunteer opportunities, life, volunteer