Festival of the Falls - Oct. 17, 18

Bloomington's first Festival of the Falls will be Oct. 17 and 18 at Cascades Park and there are volunteer needs for every interest! This Bloomington Parks and Recreation event will include hayrides, Trick or Treat Trail, and a rock wall, as well as costume contests for children
and adults, and pumpkin carving and Guitar Hero contests. Duties may include overseeing the marshmallow roasting, serving cider, becoming a fairy tale character, or judging a contest. Volunteers are needed Friday from 6-10 p.m., Saturday from 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and from 5-10 p.m.
Minimum age is 16. Please contact Kim Ecenbarger at ecenbark@bloomington.in.gov or 349-3739. (www.bloomington.in.gov/parks)

International Walk to School Day - Oct. 8

Safe Routes To School Task Force volunteers encourage students who walk or bike to one of ten schools in Bloomington, Ellettsville, & Stinesville on October 8, International Walk to School Day. Each school's activities are different, but may include standing on the sidelines, cheering kids into school, handing out freebies and fun things, or helping maintain traffic patterns on school property. The event's aim is to encourage students to live an active lifestyle and
encourage families to try alternative transportation as a means of getting to school. Volunteers must pass a background check facilitated by the Monroe County Community School Corporation. Please contact Jennifer Staab at (812) 330-7700 or jstaab@mccsc.edu.
(www.bloomington.in.gov/alternativetransportation)

Volunteers Needed for MOSAIC Diversity Film Festival

October 27th

Opportunities include:

--Staff children's films, 11-12, 1-2, one person for each time period

--Staff registration table

--Staff reception room, 11-1, 1-3, 3-5, one person for each time period

--Usher and hand out programs, 11-1, 1-3, 3-5, one person for each time period

To sign up, contact Audrey Heller at hellera@indiana.edu

Volunteers Needed for Parents at MCCSC

My name is Gracia Valliant. I work with parents at MCCSC. Currently, we are beginning to offer childcare to families who are taking evening ESL, GED and Adult Basic Education classes at the Adult Learning Center. We hope to have as many as 15 school age children coming on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 5:45-8. These students will need help with homework and reading. If you or any of your volunteers are interested, please let me know. Thank you
Gracia Valliant
Family Literacy Coordinator
Literacy Services Office Monroe County Community Schools
812-330-7700, ext. 3498

Aquarium Caretaker

The Shalom Community Center aquariums are a pleasant and calming feature for visitors to the Day Center and an interesting attraction/distraction for the children who come with their parents to the Resource and Family Center, who are often in very stressful circumstances of financial emergencies or other crises. Volunteers will handle the weekly tasks of cleaning and changing the water, the filter and conducting periodic water testing. Minimum age is 15 or 12 if accompanied by an adult. For more information contact: Pam Kinnaman at 334-5734 or pkshalom@ix.netcom.com (www.hoosier.net/~shalom).

PALS 7th Annual Fun Show

Come cheer on the riders who benefit from equine-assisted activities at the PALS Fun Show on Saturday, October 27th. PALS or People and Animal Learning Services provides therapeutic horseback riding and hippotherapy to children and adults with disabilities, as well as to at-risk youth. Volunteers are needed throughout the day from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. to make this a successful event. Minimum age is 14. For more information contact: Fern Bonchek at 336-2798 or fbonchek@indiana.edu (www.palstherapy.org).

Trick or Treat Trail

Join Bloomington Parks and Recreation as they present children with a trick or treat, fairy-tale adventure through Olcott Park on Saturday, October 27th. Volunteers are needed between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. to act as fairy tale characters and hand out candy, assist with parking, facilitate arts and crafts, serve refreshments and assist with decorations. Character volunteers must attend a training on October 24th. All other volunteers will be trained before their shift. All costumes and a warm lunch are provided. Minimum age is 16. For more information contact: Kim Ecenbarger at 349-3739 or ecenbark@bloomington.in.gov (www.bloomington.in.gov/parks).

Monster Mash

The Monroe County YMCA Preschool will hold its annual Monster Mash on Wednesday, October 24th. Volunteer help is needed between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. for set up, activities and clean up. Activities include mummy making, ghostly games, ghoulish crafts and costumes galore! Come in costume (optional) and have a kooky, spooky good time. Families and all ages welcome! For more information contact: Lindsay Buuck at 332-5555 ext. 235 or lbuuck@monroecountyymca.org (www.monroecountyymca.org).

Monroe County Crop Walk

What is the Monroe County Crop Walk?
Neighbors walking together to take a stand against hunger in our world. Volunteers will raise awareness and funds for international relief and development, as well as fighting hunger locally on Sunday, October 21st beginning at 2 p.m. at Monroe County United Ministries. Five local emergency food providers will be supported with the proceeds raised. All five will be highlighted along the nearly six-mile walking route: Monroe County United Ministries, Hoosier Hills Food Bank, Community Kitchen, Mother Hubbard's Cupboard and Shalom Community Center. Individuals are welcome and groups are encouraged to participate together. All ages are welcome, but younger walkers should be accompanied by an adult. Contact Roger Heimer, 333-5664 or John Gaus, 333-2638 to receive your sponsor envelope and view the website for more information on how you or your group can participate in this event. (www.cwscrop.org/indianakentucky).

Habitat ReStore Volunteers

Support Habitat for Humanity?s mission by volunteering in its ReStore, which sells donated building materials and household items at discounted prices with the funds going to build decent, affordable housing for people in need. Volunteer with donation pick up, art and advertising
production, as a cashier or customer service representative or with special projects. Volunteers receive Restore Bucks and enjoy monthly volunteer appreciation events! Minimum age is 16. Please contact: Sandi Clothier at 331-2660 or clothier@monroecountyhabitat.org
(www.monroecountyhabitat.org).

Bargain Boutique Helpers

Do you love clothes? Then come volunteer for a four hour weekly or bi-weekly shift in the My Sister?s Closet store. My Sister?s Closet has been providing workforce attire to women seeking self-sufficiency since 1998. Tasks include processing donations, tagging and displaying clothing, and helping women select work attire. No retail experience needed; training provided. Minimum age is 16. For more information contact: JoAnne Bunnage at 335-6603 or jbunnage@indiana.edu
(www.mysistersclosetofmonroeco.org).

Bunny Buddies

The Indiana House Rabbit Society is a non-profit organization that helps to rescue abandoned and abused rabbits from local shelters. After rescue, we provide veterinary care, foster care and socialization, and with the help of the Bloomington Petco, we will be able to adopt the rabbits back out to loving homes. Every rabbit we adopt through Petco enables Indiana House Rabbit Society to rescue another deserving rabbit!

The success of this program hinges on the very important work of our Bunny Buddies. Visit adoptable rabbits in a pet store at least one hour at a time on a regular schedule, preferably once a week. There is flexibility, the visit may occur any time during normal business hours. Provide exercise opportunity, socialize with the rabbit, monitor disposition & basic health signs, and answer questions for the general public.

All supplies are waiting at the store. Just set up a play pen and toys, let the rabbits run around to play, and pet the rabbits and cuddle with them. Total time spent at store will usually be at least 1.5 hours per visit, which includes time before & after rabbit exercise to set up & put away supplies.

The Bloomington location is new and will launch as soon as we have a suitable number of volunteers. Some training will occur prior to that date, but weekly volunteering will not be needed until after that date.

No rabbit experience is necessary, a big heart and an animal lover is a must; Reliable transportation to volunteer location; good with people & animals; convenient email access is very helpful. Must be at least 18 yrs old or have a parent accompany you.

For more information, visit: http://www.indianahrs.org/

Brown County Relay for Life

Join the Brown County Relay for Life team this October 5th and 6th and support the efforts of the American Cancer Society to defeat cancer.

Volunteers serve meals, register participants, monitor games and participate in general set up and clean up. Shifts are available before and during the relay from 6 p.m. on the 5th to noon on the 6th.
All volunteers receive a free event t-shirt! Minimum age is 17.

For more information contact: Greg Anderson at 888-635-9254 or
greg.anderson@cancer.org (www.cancer.org).

24th Annual Book Fair

The 24th Annual American Red Cross Book Fair will be held October 4-8 at the Monroe County Fairgrounds commercial building east. Volunteers who are able to lift, haul and move books are needed for event set up days during the week of September 29-October 4. Event volunteers are also needed.

All volunteers will be given a free pass for the Thursday opening of the Book Fair.

Children as young as 12 can volunteer if accompanied by a parent.

For more information contact: June Taylor at 332-7292 or jtaylor@monroe-redcross.org (www.monroe-redcross.org).