Needs From: United Way of Southwest Michigan

PACE is looking for medically trained volunteers to help support our staff and clients during the current COVID crisis. 

The PACE Nurse has the responsibility for providing direct and indirect nursing care to participants in the PACE Center and in the community. Works under the direct supervision of the Clinic Operations Manager or designee but is independent in the application of advanced nursing knowledge and skills in all settings. Manages complex clinical situations for which he/she is responsible.  Must hold a valid nursing license.

At the moment we are looking for candidates who are interested in Home Care – we do have permanent openings for this position if someone is interested in staying with PACE permanently.

PACE is looking for medically-trained volunteers to support their staff and clients during the current COVID crisis. 

The Certified Nursing Assistant performs participant care activities and other tasks as assigned to assist the primary care, therapy, and adult day health staff.  Works under the direct supervision of the Day Center Supervisor or designee but is independent in the application of nursing assistant knowledge and skills.

At the moment we are looking for candidates who are interested in Home Care – we do have permanent openings for this position if someone is interested in staying with PACE permanently.

The American Red Cross Hero Care Network enables us to provide critical services to military members, veterans and their families all over the world. Volunteers will support:

Training is provided and this position can be done remotely.

Use the Senior Center vehicles to drive local seniors to and from their local medical appointments. Your help for as little as 1/2 a day would be greatly appreciated! Must have valid driver's license. You DO NOT need a CDL or Chauffer's License to drive our vans, but you will be subject to a background check for driving. It is only 1 passenger in a household per run to medical appointments in our vans. 

This service provides so many area seniors as a means to get to their local doctor appointments, xrays, labs, eye appointments, etc. Clients who no longer drive or have alternative means of transport many times have to pay a company simply for a ride to their doctor for something as simple as a medication refill. This service is volunteer based mainly. All clients have to be able to transfer themselves and get in & out of the vehicle indpendently. We are not a transportation company that provide transfers, lifts, etc. It is easy! 

Please complete a volunteer application at the front desk to help local seniors. Must be 18 years or older. 

Renewed & Restored Resale Shoppe is looking for friendly people to assist customers with their purchases.  

Renewed & Restored Resale Shoppe is looking for friendly people to assist customers with their purchases.

Renewed & Restored Resale Shoppe is need of a driver to pick up surplus items from our store in Stevensville and transport them to Harbor Country Mission in Bridgman once a week.

Volunteers who are current Registered Nurses are needed to assist the Caring Circle team with providing COVID and Flu vaccines to our home-bound patients.  Volunteers must be willing to travel to patient homes and administer vaccines independently.  CPR, vaccine delivery, and other training will be provided as needed.

Caring Circle is part of Spectrum Health Lakeland, which requires all staff and volunteers to have COVID and Flu vaccinations, or approved exemptions.

This volunteer program is designed to fight against isolation for area seniors and disabled adults. Volunteers have ongoing, weekly calls with clients to provide companionship.

Born out of the COVID-19 pandemic, Area Agency on Aging launched the Friendly Caller Program for area seniors who needed someone to talk to. During these calls you will provide reassurance, help connect seniors to information regarding services they may need, and mostly, make sure they are not feeling lonely or isolated. This program can use any volunteer. We will train. Background check required.

Here's a quote from one of our dedicated Friendly Caller volunteers:

"I’ve been making “Friendly Calls” for almost five years. It has been a heartwarming experience. I started with two “callers”, sadly one of them passed away.  My remaining caller is quite a character.  We have laughed, cried, and prayed together.  She readily shares her joys and sorrows with me.  She lets me know what she needs, and AAA has been most helpful for her.  I’m a Stephen Leader and that ministry taught me a great deal about caregiver, care-receiver relationships. AAA Friendly Caller program is a wonderful way to get involved and help a member of our community. One phone call a week can brighten a day and impact a life!!!" 

Are you a compassionate person who would enjoy spending one-on-one time with a Hospice patient in need? Corewell Health Hospice and Palliative Care is seeking volunteers to provide companionship to Hospice patients who reside in nursing homes as well as their own homes. Volunteers may choose to go to a patient’s home while their caregiver leaves for a short time, or can visit patients in nursing homes to offer company and friendship. Volunteers sit with patients and talk, hear about their lives, play games, listen to music or just provide quiet company. No medical training is required. Hours are flexible can be tailored to a volunteer’s availability. Your presence provides comfort and support to the patients and their caregivers at a difficult time in their lives and is a deeply rewarding experience. For more information call (269) 429-7100 and ask for the Volunteer Coordinator.

This program surrounds a family with a group of people who provide monthly encouragement to that family.

What is a care team?

A care team is a group of volunteers who come together once a month to bless a family in our community. The care that the team provides could come in any number of forms! It could be a meal, or babysitting, or gifts, or anything else that would encourage that family.
Why Care Teams?

● Children in Foster Care experience high levels of instability, many of them moving homes frequently. One major factor leading to this high rate of turnover is Foster parents feeling overwhelmed and unsupported.
● Michiana Care Teams work to reduce these problems by matching foster families to a team of volunteers. These loving community members wrap-around the whole family unit providing hope, stability, support, and connections.
Care Team Basics

● This program requires a 1-year commitment.
● Support can look like monthly deliveries, activities, and/or communication.
● Estimated monthly financial commitment for a care team is around $25-30 per family member served. (Example: family of 4 being served would be around $100/month)
● The Care Team leader initiates monthly contact and develops a schedule that works for the Care Team members and the family.
● Monthly Care package drop off or activities can be held anywhere (restaurant, park, ice cream shop, your home, etc.), but will normally be at the family's home.
● The role of the Care Team is to show the children and caregivers that they are important, seen, and loved, as well as provide support emotionally and financially.
Time or Things?

Many families have other needs that don’t fall in material needs realm. We encourage volunteers to consider:

● Paying for an activity, camp, extra-curricular opportunity
● Provide babysitting to allow caregivers a break
● Bring the child(ren) along on a fun family outing

Support groups facilitated via MFC provide emotional and practical encouragement to foster and adoptive parents.

At Michiana Family Center we want to showcase the capabilities of the foster parents already engaged in this difficult, but extremely important and rewarding work. We bring encouragement every meeting and facilitate relationships among foster parents of different amounts of experience. Frequently, guest speakers attend in order to provide real tools these parents can use to help support all the children in their care.

Periodically we have special meetings as events and guidelines allow. Past events have included themes like pool and popsicles and cookouts. Members of all groups are welcome to join and continue to gain community at these events.

MFC has structure in place to support volunteer leaders, so you don't need to come up with the content for the meetings.  You'll be facilitating discussion and communicating any needs you have to MFC.

Greet people that come in the door, show bikes that are for sale, check out bike purchases either by cash, check or card (using Square), track inventory and more.  This is a good opportunity for someone looking to gain experience, we welcome young people to the team. The shop is open Wednesday evenings 5-8 pm and Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm.  

CASA of Southwest Michigan advocates for kids in foster care in our community. CASA is seeking a social media support volunteer to help expand our social media presence in the community. It's a great way to truly help children in need from your living room!  

The Berrien County Cancer Service hosts a variety of events throughout the year; we need someone to assist us with documenting these events and activities. 

There are 5-6 activities a year, commitment is between 2 hour to 4 hours. 

Are you savvy with Zoom? Interested in giving back to your community (from your own home!)? Area Agency on Aging and the Campus for Creative Aging are seeking a volunteer to facilitate its virtual classes!

Virtual classes, on topics like healthy cooking and computers, allow for increased access to learning opportunities not only across Southwest Michigan, but around the world.  The facilitator will schedule virtual classes based upon availability of coaches, volunteers and staff, and collaborate with staff to ensure online classes are appropriately marketed and promoted.

They will launch class sessions, manage participant access (‘admitting’ students to virtual platform) and monitor chat box and alert instructors of questions from the group. Other duties may include sending follow up emails/class evaluations to participants and collaborating to maximize class participants’ learning experience.

The commitment is 5-10 hours a week and we ask you serve a minimum of six months. Can't meet that commitment? Chat with us! We have a variety of volunteer opportunities available and can work with you and your schedule. If interested, respond here or contact Mistelle Lanko at 269-983-7058 or mistellelanko@areaagencyongaging.org.

Cycle-Re-Cycle receives donations of bicycles in a variety of conditions.  Some bikes just need some maintence to make them road worthy and other bikes need repair.  As a volunteer you can fix bikes and enjoy the reward of seeing the smile on the new owner's face and know you kept a bike out of the landfill.  You are welcome on the team whether you are a beginner or have years of experience.  Volunteers work together as a team to problem solve any issues.  

Looking for a way to bring a little hope to someone’s day?

Each encouragement card will be given to patient who’s battling cancer.

These letters of encouragement are meant to let cancer patients know they are never alone. You can help and provide hope, love, and support by making handmade encouragement cards.

Feel free to include just a message, add a drawing, picture or stickers, etc. Get as creative as you want! This opportunity is great for volunteers of all ages. 

Pick up cards from us and when you are done, you can drop off the cards to our office.

Office Hours:  Monday-Thursday 9am-4:30pm or Friday 9am-2pm.