Summer Volunteering: Service Stay-cation

Are your friends going to exciting places for summer vacation while you have to stay home?  Are you depressed that you have no money for that plane ticket for an exotic vacation?  Do you think summer will be boring?

Never fear, we have a solution to cheer you up and make this summer memorable. This summer you have an opportunity to build self-esteem, develop problem solving skills, gain experience as you build a resume, and learn the value of helping others.

Volunteer in the Cedar Valley!

Interested in volunteering this summer because you want to try something new, gain some experience in a certain field, earn service hours, give back to your community, or just to get out of the house? Take a look at some of the opportunities below:

•         ASPIRE Therapeutic Riding: Class Helpers, Horse Leaders and Sidewalkers
•         Cedar Valley Arboretum and Botanic Gardens: Weed flower beds, water
•         Cedar Valley Association of Soft Trails: Clean trails
•         Hartman Reserve Nature Center: Clean trails, assist with property and trail maintenance
•         Northeast Iowa Food Bank: Sort food donations, stock shelves, pack food packs, and assist with weeding, watering and picking produce from community garden.
•         Country View Care Facility: Play games with residents
•         Grout Museum District: Assist with one-time events, help with mailings
•         North Star: Take part in crafts and activities and play games
•         Salvation Army: Help prepare and serve noon meal
•         Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging: Design and create cards, placemats, and other decorations to go with delivered meals

Here are some other ideas you can do on your own!

•         Make play dough and take to day care center
•         Volunteer to bag cat and dog food or make fleece blankets and pull toys for the Cedar Valley Humane Society
•         Collect cans and bottles to give money to agency of choice
•         Have a lemonade stand or bake sale and give money to agency of choice

The Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley has numerous current volunteer opportunities available with 159 local non-profit agencies. To secure volunteer opportunities call the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley at 272-2087 or email information@vccv.org.Volunteer opportunities may also be accessed at www.vccv.org.