Lunch and learn starts June 16
Central Minnesota Worker is still accepting registrations for the Joe Town Summer Lunch and Learn. The program helps kids and teens ages 18 and younger have access to a free lunch from mid June through mid August. People can pick up and return a registration form at the Minnesota Street Market Co-op. Meals will begin on Monday, June 16 and be served at Centennial Park on Mondays and Thursday and Klinefelter Park on Tuesdays and Fridays from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. For more information or to volunteer, contact centralmncw@gmail.com or call 363-7505 ext. 350.
Autism group to hold picnic June 18
Carson’s Kindness, an autism awareness nonprofit group developed to give back to the Central Minnesota community, will hold a free picnic for families affected by autism from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, June 18 at the Waite Park Community Park.
United Way volunteer opportunities
Celebration of Fatherhood set June 14 at Lake George
Volunteers are needed to assist with activities at the 20th annual Celebration of Fatherhood from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, June 14 at Lake George, St. Cloud. Volunteers are asked to arrive by 9 a.m. Spend your morning helping kids with arts and crafts as well as other play activities. Volunteers must have a pleasant demeanor when working with small children. Contact Thomas Schnabel, Roosevelt Early Childhood Center, at Thomas.schnabel@isd742.org.
Plant an extra row for the food shelf
Consider planting an extra row in your garden and donating the produce to your local food shelf. Favorites include carrots, beans, beets, kohlrabi, corn, potatoes, cabbage, peppers, onions and asparagus. Any produce that has a longer shelf life is accepted. This is an easy way to help our food shelves during the summer and fall. Catholic Charities Emergency Services at 320-229-4560 or the Salvation Army at 320-252-4552.
Mental health practitioner – YIP intern
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, St. Cloud offers community-based mental-health services for individuals and families to help them develop stability and wellness. LSS has been responding to community needs since 1865, committed to making life better for our citizens. They are in need of a mental health practitioner- YIP intern (June 10-Aug. 21: Tuesdays-Thursdays) Requirements: complete 130+ hours of clinically supervised experience working with pre-adolescent children with an Axis I mental-health diagnosis; increase behavior-management skills; develop curriculum skill development; lead group activities; participate in family communication; observe mental-health assessments/documentation; attend team meetings to review clinical cases. To apply, send a copy of your current cover letter and resume to Amy Halverson at amy.halverson@lssmn.org.
Volunteer for a great cause
Arc and ARISE annual golf event will take place Friday, June 10 at Blackberry Ridge Golf Course. This event has friendly golfers for a great cause. Volunteers will help with the raffle, silent auction and witnessing contests and more. Arc Midstate provides support and advocates securing and enhancing opportunities for people with developmental disabilities. Contact Cindy Owen, Arc Midstate, at 320-251-7272.
Community donation needs
Catholic Charities is looking for donations of dish sets, plus-size clothes, king- and queen-size sheets, spring boots and shoes for school-age children. Donations can be dropped off at Catholic Charities Emergency Services, 157 Roosevelt Road, St. Cloud. Contact Catholic Charities Emergency Services at 320-229-4560.
Intern at United Way
United Way of Central Minnesota is seeking a Community Impact intern (20 hours per week) to help with summer outreach events, assist with Day of Caring planning and other efforts related to achieving United Way goals. Gain hands-on non-profit experience, work with a great team, build awareness of community resources, and make connections in the community. Contact Betty Schnettler, vice president of Community Impact, at 320-229-3507.
Spend time with kids this summer
The Boys and Girls Club can always use volunteers at any of their 16 sites. Whether you’re interested in playing basketball with teens, reading to a child or doing paperwork in the administrative office, they need you. Just go online and fill out a volunteer application form. Contact Boys and Girls Club at 320-252-7616 or visit www.bgcmn.org.
Hands Across the World partnering with 4-H Youth Development
Hands Across the World is seeking volunteers who want to work with immigrant/refugee youth K-12th grade. Volunteers would help with individual and group 4-H programming. Any curriculum and basic training will be provided. No experience necessary. The summer program is Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-noon, starting June 16 through Aug. 15. Hands Across the World is located on the 2nd Floor of the Mary Center, 823 1st St. S, St. Cloud. Contact Sara Toenyan, program coordinator, at 320-203-6104 or stoenyan@umn.edu.
Foster grandparents needed in Cold Spring and Paynesville
The Foster Grandparent Program needs mentors for youth in Cold Spring and Paynesville for the upcoming school year. Foster grandparent volunteers might help students with a reading assignment, work with a small group on a craft, or help kids learn spelling words. Adults age 55 and better will receive an hourly tax-free stipend ($2.65) for volunteering 15 hours per week (or more if they wish) helping children with activities, reinforcing learning and more. This is a great opportunity if you have time to spare, love to be with children and could use some extra non-taxable income. Contact Emily, Catholic Charities Foster Grandparent Program, at 320-229-4597.
For Pets’ Sake
Volunteers will assist staff with sorting and categorizing donated merchandise, store stocking, customer service, and helping to maintain an overall presentable environment and pleasant experience for customers. Must be 18+ and have your own transportation. There is a required training prior to volunteering. Volunteers must be able to lift 20 pounds. Minimum two-hour shift per week. Proceeds benefit the Tri-County Humane Society. Contact Kim Williams, Tri-County Humane Society volunteer coordinator, at 320-252-0896.
Food shelf checkout
Catholic Charities Emergency Services needs volunteers to assist clients with groceries in the “check out” area of the food shelf. Volunteers will greet the client as they come to the auditing area, assist clients with the bagging of groceries, clean lobby and get boxes and bags ready for future use. Volunteers must demonstrate ability to empathize with low-income persons or others in crisis, must be willing to work with diverse groups of people and maintain client confidentiality. The commitment is variable, to be no less than three hours per shift and less than five hours per shift. Help is most needed from noon-6 p.m. Mondays and noon-7 p.m. Wednesdays and can be broken into smaller shifts. Contact Chad Kaushagen, program coordinator, at 320-229-4568.
Face painting at the Lemonade Art Fair
Volunteer opportunities are available to help at the Lemonade Art Fair Little Lemon’s Art Park during the St. Cloud Granite City Days Festival on Thursday, June 26 at St. Cloud State University. Volunteers will assist children with art-related projects at an outdoor art booth or provide face painting. The time frame is from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. or 2:45-6:30 pm.; 20 volunteers are needed per shift so please secure your spot today. Contact Jennifer at the RSVP office at 320-255-7295 or email RSVP@ci.stcloud.mn.us.
Project ASTRIDE sets training June 14
Project ASTRIDE is looking for new volunteers for their summer session. Project ASTRIDE (Adapted Specialized Training and Recreation Involving Disabled Equestrians) is an all volunteer, nonprofit therapeutic horse-riding program serving children and adults with developmental, physical or sensory challenges. The organization will hold its basic training at 9 .m. Saturday, June 14 at their barn near Avon. There are a variety of volunteer positions available. You’ve never touched a horse and never want to? That’s OK, they have the perfect job for you too. Check out their website www.astride.org for more details. Contact Marti, Project ASTRIDE, at martiastride@yahoo.com.
Drive the mobile food shelf
Catholic Charities Emergency Services is starting a mobile food shelf in July 2014, bringing food to people in the St. Cloud area who can’t access the food shelf. They are looking for volunteers to drive the mobile food shelf to and from distribution sites. Volunteer application, driving record check and physical will be required. Contact Catholic Charities Emergency Services at 320-229-4560.
Summertime fun fund
Anna Marie’s Alliance is looking for prizes and funds for their Summer Reading Club and activities for mothers and children to do together during the summer. They would love movie passes, certificates for Bounce Depot, AirMaxx Trampoline Park, Lake George boating, Summerland or any other cool ideas you might have. Prizes will be awarded when children meet their reading goals and will also be used to give moms and kids a chance to have some summer fun together. Certificates and passes can be mailed to Anna Marie’s, P.O. Box 367, St. Cloud, Minn. 56302 or visit www.annamaries.org to make a cash donation.
Answer phones and greet guests
Opportunity Matters is looking for front-desk volunteers to answer phones, greet visitors and assist with miscellaneous administrative tasks. Volunteers are needed as available Monday-Friday between the hours of 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Volunteers are asked to commit to a four-hour shift. Volunteers should be friendly and outgoing. Contact Brenda Eggerth, Opportunity Matters, at 320-240-1900 x 205.
Help grow skills of children, youth
Tutors are needed to help children and youth succeed in school by giving them the extra support they need to read and do math. Minnesota Reading Corps — the nation’s largest state AmeriCorps program — and Minnesota Math Corps train tutors to impact students in schools across Minnesota. They are looking to place more than 1,000 tutors in schools across Minnesota to commit a year of service and change the world of struggling students. As a tutor, you will implement research-based strategies to help children believe in themselves and succeed in reading by the end of third grade, or in math by the end of eighth grade – all while growing your career network and new skills. You will receive training, a living allowance about $484 (full-time), an education award of up to $5,645 and the reward of making a real impact in your community. Give a year of service to grow our communities and your own career. Apply today to become a tutor. Go to www.MinnesotaReadingCorps.org or www.MinnesotaMathCorps.org. Strong preference is given to tutors who can start serving Aug. 10, 2014. Send questions to recruitment@servemnaction.org.
Special event committee volunteer
WACOSA empowers more than 500 adults with disabilities in central Minnesota by helping them to reach their fullest potential, offer business solutions and build community. They are in need of special-event-committee volunteers to plan a benefit breakfast scheduled from 7:30-8:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 25. Volunteers can take on one or more of the following roles and the roles will vary depending on volunteers’ area of interest, expertise, experience, availability: registration, accounting, publicity, food and decorations. Contact Sarah Schulze, WACOSA volunteer coordinator, at 320-251-0087.
‘Baaa Baaa Black Sheep Have You Any Fleece?’
St. Cloud Hospital Volunteer Services is seeking donations of fleece to make LUV Blankets. The LUV Blankets are given to child and adolescent patients in the Emergency Trauma Center to provide warmth and comfort. Minimum fabric size accepted is 36″ by 30.” Bright colors and child-appropriate patterns for a hospital setting are appreciated. Fabric can be dropped off at the SCH Volunteer Office located near the Lakes elevator on A Level. Contact the St. Cloud Hospital for more information at 320-255-5638.
Donate your furniture to families
No child should sleep on the floor. You can help by donating gently used items to help out a low-income family in need. Items accepted include couches, love seats, lamps, recliners, rockers, kitchen tables and chairs, end tables, night stands, dressers and complete bed sets (no king). Furniture with rips, stains, rust, tears or mold cannot be accepted. Tax receipts and pick up is available. Contact the Community Furniture Program at 320-656-9004.
For more information, contact Mary Krippner, United Way Volunteer Engagement Coordinator at 320-223-7991 or mkrippner@unitedwayhelps.org.
‘Re-Planting Roots’ opens Sunday at Whitby
Local artists Anne Meyer (ceramics) and Mary Bruno (letterpress) present “Re-planting roots” in their home town with an opening and artists’ introduction at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 15 at Whitby Gallery, St. Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph. The show will go until July 27.
Celebrate 100 Days of Summer, 100 Days of Hope for Red Cross
The American Red Cross is celebrating the start of summer with its 100 Days of Summer, 100 Days of Hope campaign. This summer, you can bring help and hope to people in need, whether it’s being prepared for an emergency, keeping lifesaving blood in full supply, or taking a health and safety class. Choose your own way to spread hope as follows: help save up to three lives by donating blood; make a financial donation so Red Cross is ready to help those in need; take a class (first aid, CPR and more); be prepared with our mobile apps; become one of 400,000 volunteers making our work possible; or invite others to support the 100 Days Campaign using #ChooseYourDay. For more information visit http://www.redcrossblood.org.
Celebration of Arts, Caramel Roll Ride set June 14
The eighth annual Celebration of the Arts, presented by Avon Area Arts, will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 14 in the Wobegon Trailhead Park in Avon. This one-day free event highlights artists living in and around the Avon area who will exhibit, sell, demonstrate and teach arts and fine crafts including pottery, painting, drawing, photography, jewelry, fiber arts, woodcarving and more. The annual Caramel Roll Ride will also take place on the Wobegon Trail.
Chainsaw Man Mark Kurtz will perform his creative carving all day and has donated a bear carving to be raffled to benefit Avon Area Arts. Also performing are Radiant Moon Belly Dancers and Twistin’ Vixens Hooping. Anne Meyer will be creating caricatures with a select number of free drawings. A food court will be on site. Children’s activities will be provided by Avon Women of Today and balloon artist Baloo Baphoon will be creating balloon animals. Performing musicians include Nathan Ness, Cathy Kongloth, Elizabeth Alness, Mikko Cowdery, Jazz Dot Combo, Nigel Egg, Wayne Hamilton and BrakeAway/Second Fiddle (known as Broken Fiddle). Avon Area Arts is a 501c3 non-profit organization based in Avon. As a patron or artist, your support is needed and greatly appreciated. Monetary donations are tax-deductible. For a full schedule of activities or more information, visit www.avonareaarts.org.
To register for the Caramel Roll Ride, visit www.lakewobegontrail.com.
Living history day features Lindbergh
Meet the Lindberghs, a living history day, will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 21 at Charles A. Lindbergh Historic Site, 1620 Lindbergh Drive, Little Falls. Learn what life was like for Charles Lindbergh growing up on a farm during the First World War. Costumed characters portraying Lindbergh family members and neighbors will provide insights into young Charles’ interests in aviation, technology and nature. Hear inside stories about the Lindbergh family and try some of the chores Charles did around the farm.
The Charles A. Lindbergh Historic Site is a National Historic Landmark operated by the Minnesota Historical Society. It is located across from Charles A. Lindbergh State Park, 1.5 miles south of Little Falls at 1620 Lindbergh Drive. Call 320-616-5421 for more information.
Stearns History Museum hosts ‘Blood Run Artworks of the Big Sioux’ art exhibit
A traveling art exhibition by several prestigious South Dakota artists known as “Blood Run Artworks of the Big Sioux” will show through Aug. 19 at the Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S., St. Cloud.
The exhibit consists of the collaborative work of noted South Dakota artists Jerry Fogg, Ihanktonwan Nakota Oyate, mixed-media artist; Chad Nelson, printmaker and art educator; Angela Behrends, mixed-media sculptor, installation artist and arts educator; impressionist oil painter Nancyjane Huehl; and Chris Francis, who works with a mixed-media appreciation, constantly skirting a line between painting and assemblage, with an emphasis on exploring mechanical elements.
The majority of the exhibit features unique collaborative pieces that all five artists completed together. In addition, each artist contributed several individual original works. All of the art on display is also for sale. A closing receptions featuring a gallery talk by all five artists is scheduled for August. Please visit the Museum website for details as the date gets closer.
Chris Francis, spokesperson for the group said, “Our ongoing collaboration stems from a mutual friendship, respect and appreciation of one another’s work and process. Each artist draws heavily from a unique personal background and approach toward their own work, crafting stories and drawing relationships within each piece. It was a natural progression for us to pursue working together, and this exhibition represents the ongoing culmination of our collaboration.”
The use of the name “Blood Run” is a reference of honor and respect to an 8,500-year-old Paleo-Indian site which is located on the borders of Iowa and South Dakota, straddling the Big Sioux River. Blood Run itself is one of the oldest sites of long-term human habitation in the United States, and at one time contained 480 mounds, but after extensive looting by settlers and gravel quarrying, only 78 remain. This site was recently established as a co-state park in 2013, known as Good Earth State Park at Blood Run.
For more information about the Blood Run Artworks Collective, visit www.facebook.com/bloodrunartworks.
Founded in 1936, the Stearns History Museum has focused on preserving and interpreting the history of the region for 77 years. The mission of the museum is to engage people in the exploration of the county’s diverse heritage by providing connections to the past, perspectives on the present and inspiration for the future. The Stearns History Museum is nationally accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and is an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.
Board member sought for libraries exchange
Central Minnesota Libraries Exchange , the library multi-type region in Central Minnesota, is seeking a new volunteer to serve as a citizen board member beginning as soon as possible. The initial term of board membership is through 2015. Individuals with an interest in serving in this citizen boardmember position should demonstrate an interest and support for all kinds of library services. They must be willing to attend four daytime meetings a year (three in St. Cloud, one elsewhere in the region), and be willing to engage in email discussion of library issues.
CMLE is one of seven regional multitype library systems in Minnesota. The multitypes were organized in 1979 for the purpose of developing common ways for libraries of different types to work together. Each regional center tailors its services to the expressed needs in their region. CMLE serves 12 Central Minnesota counties, including: Aitkin, Benton, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd and Wright. The member libraries include K-12, academic, public and special libraries. CMLE’s offices are located in the James W. Miller Learning Resources Center at St. Cloud State University.
Candidates should submit a letter of interest via email, outlining their experience with libraries and why they believe they are suited to the position. The letter should be sent to Administrative Assistant Patty Waletzko at patriciaw@grrl.lib.mn.us. Applications will be accepted until July 2.