Agency: Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department
Address: 115 W. 11th St.
Contact Person: Shannon McCoy, 832-7946

The Adopt-A-Park program is seeking more volunteers to keep Lawrence clean. Individuals or groups can sign up with the Parks and Recreation Department to pick up trash at an assigned location four times a year. Volunteers tell the department when they’re available, and are assigned a location. Volunteers pick up empty trash bags from the department and leave bags at the location to be picked up by maintenance workers. Time commitments vary by location and size of the volunteer group, but they often take one to two hours each time volunteering. By picking up debris, volunteers give park staff time to focus on other maintenance issues. At the end of the year, volunteers receive certificates acknowledging their work.

Last week’s results

Mother to Mother filled the volunteer positions it had open in its office and received two new support moms. Support moms offer support and advice to another mother and her family. Pairs are matched based on common interests and views on parenting. Activities vary according to individual taste but often include things such as weekly coffee meetings, movies and taking children to the park. Mothers interested in becoming support moms can call Lequetta Diggs at 841-0838.

Immediate volunteer needs

• Audio Reader’s Sensory Garden for the Blind needs volunteers to help sweep the path, weed the garden and water plants from spring through fall. Contact Diana Frederick at 864-4600 or arnet@ukans.edu for more information.
• Three hundred volunteers are needed to help in the annual Clinton Lake Cleanup from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 26. Participants will meet at Shelter 1 in Overlook Park. Volunteers are encouraged to pre-register and will receive a free lunch. Contact Jim Franz at 843-7665 or james.d.franz@usace.army. mil for more information.
• Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence needs volunteers to help children with homework, read to small groups and help children learn how to cook. The club also needs volunteers to help with chess club, gardening, a recreational program and after-school snack. Groups that would like to carry out special projects for children at the club also are encouraged to volunteer. Contact Janet Murphy at 841-6854 or jmurphy@sunflower.com for more information.
• Operation Wildlife needs volunteers to assist with animal care and rescue. Internships are available. On-the-job training is provided to volunteers who have compassion for orphaned and injured animals. Volunteers must be 16 or older. Contact Laurie Doud at 542-3625 or opwildlife@aol.com for more information about volunteering, or visit www.owl-online.org.

For more volunteer opportunities, call the Roger Hill Volunteer Center, a service of the United Way of Douglas County, at 865-5030 or online at www.rhvc.org.