Chamber Music comes to Sartell church
The Schubert Ensemble of London will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14 in First United Methodist Church, 1107 Pinecone Road S., Sartell. The ensemble consists of piano, violin, viola and cello. The group will perform piano quartets by Dvořák, Fauré and British composer Huw Watkins. For more information, call 320-292-4645, or head to chambermusicstcloud.org.
Benefit concert held for Place of Hope
The “Have a Heart” benefit concert to support Place of Hope will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, at Calvary Community Church, 1200 Roosevelt Road in St. Cloud. Proceeds from this event help Place of Hope Ministries provide food, shelter and long-term life solutions to those in need in central Minnesota. For more information, visit placeofhopeministries.org.
Tri-CAP now accepting energy assistance applications
Tri-County Action Program Inc. is now accepting applications for the Energy Assistance Program serving Stearns and Benton counties. The program is designed to assist income-eligible households to pay for winter energy services, in the form of a payment to the utility company that is applied directly to the household’s energy bills. Applicants may be eligible for one grant per household per program per year. Download an application online at tricap.org, or request an application by calling 320-251-1612 or pick one up at the Tri-CAP offices at 1210 23rd Ave. S., Waite Park.
United Way Volunteer Opportunities
Reading to children makes a difference
Reach-Up Head Start is seeking volunteers to come in and read to eager-to-learn preschool children. Reading to children positively impacts a child’s literacy development and helps them to be prepared and ready to learn as they enter kindergarten and beyond. They are looking for volunteers to read at least four times or more throughout the school year. They have various classroom locations in St Cloud and a few outlying locations in Stearns County. A $20 background check is required before a volunteer can begin in a classroom. Reach-Up Inc. provides Head Start, Early Head Start, kindergarten transition, child-care and family support services for eligible children and families in Benton, Sherburne and Stearns counties in central Minnesota. Contact Laurie Whitaker, parent literacy volunteer and projects specialist, at 320-253-8110.
Adult classroom assistant
Hands Across the World is a nonprofit organization that provides classroom instruction to English Language Learners and other skills to refugee and immigrant newcomers to St. Cloud. They are seeking volunteer assistants to help instructors with materials and activities, serve as resources for pronunciation, take part in discussions, and work one-on-one with students at their Bel Clare location. ELL classes are meant to be a valuable and fun experience for all involved, students and teachers. If you’re interested in ELL or if you would like to meet and work with people from other cultures, this could be a great opportunity for you. Contact Brianda Cediel, Hands Across the World executive director, at 320-260-1072.
Cook and bake
Quiet Oaks is a residential home for patients and families facing terminal illness. Quiet Oaks provides an experience that honors and respects the dignity of their residents and their families by focusing on a team approach to provide comfort and support for their physical, emotional and spiritual needs. They provide home-cooked meals for residents and their immediate family. If you like to cook prepared meals or bake breads and sweets, they could use your help. Quiet Oaks is located on 10 acres with many oak trees and an abundance of wildlife. Contact Eileen Bitzan, Quiet Oaks volunteer coordinator, at 320-255-5433.
Volunteer in the Gift Gallery
CentraCare Gift Gallery is looking for friendly, helpful people to volunteer. Volunteers assist with day-to-day operations and sales in the Gift Gallery. Three great locations where you can volunteer are the following: St. Cloud Hospital – from noon to 4 p.m. Mondays and Fridays and/or from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays; CentraCare Health Plaza – from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, from 1 to 5:30 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and/or from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays; Benedict’s Senior Community – from noon to 4 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 1 to 5:30 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and/or from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays. Contact CentraCare at 320-255-5638 or visit centracare.com/volunteer.
Interested in pet therapy?
Does your dog draw attention because of its personality, manners or compassionate attentive disposition? If the answer is yes, you may want to think about becoming part of a volunteer pet therapy team. There are many organizations, libraries and schools in the community that would welcome your time and furry friendliness. Consider the next step in learning what it takes to become a pet therapy team. St. Croix Hospice in Sartell is hosting a free informational session so you can hear what it takes to become a team. The instructor is an accredited pet therapy tester, evaluator and certified pet therapist. Pet therapy learning session is scheduled from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, March 21 at St. Croix Hospice. Contact Jodi Julseth, St. Croix Hospice, at 320-250-6899.
For more information, contact Mary Krippner, United Way volunteer engagement coordinator, at 320-223-7991 or [email protected].