Event: Make a Difference Day

Contact: Shannon Reid at 785-865-5030 or volunteer@rhvc.org

The United Way Roger Hill Volunteer Center is gearing up for Make a Difference Day on Oct. 22. The volunteer center is coordinating more than 15 projects throughout Lawrence and Douglas County at a variety of agencies. Make a Difference Day was created by USA Weekend in 1992 and soon grew into the largest community service effort in the nation, rallying corporations, government leaders, charitable organizations and everyday Americans into action on one day. This is a great opportunity to gather your family, friends, co-workers, congregants and civic groups, and go volunteer for a few hours at one of the many projects available. Volunteers are needed to spruce up local school grounds, collect cans at the Kansas University football game, help vulnerable citizens with home-improvement projects, and much more. More than 200 volunteers are still needed. To register, visit volunteerdouglascounty.org or contact Shannon Reid at 785-865-5030 or volunteer@rhvc.org.

Immediate needs

— The Douglas County AIDS Project (DCAP) is looking for several volunteers to help with its 19th annual Red Ribbon Art Auction on Nov. 5. Volunteers are needed to help with a variety of opportunities. If you like interacting with the public, you can volunteer to help with registration, greet guests, check coats, or act as a bid spotter/recorder during the live auction. Help is also needed behind the scenes with setting up the event, wrapping art and cleaning up afterward. For more details, contact Chad Steele at 785-843-0040 or dcap@sunflower.com.

— The Douglas County Girl Scouts are in need of lots of volunteers to help with their annual cookie sale by sorting cookie orders. Two semi trucks will be bringing cookies to the arena at the Douglas County Fairgrounds on Nov. 7. Volunteers are needed from noon to 7 p.m. to help sort all those cookies into 75 different piles (orders). Throughout that time, those 75 troop leaders will arrive, count their orders, and then the volunteers will help the leaders load their cars; dollies will be available for moving boxes. If you’re interested in helping out, please send an email to Lisa Vanderbilt at dccookies@sbcglobal.net that includes your full name, contact phone number, the time that you can arrive and how long you can stay.

— AARP Tax-Aide is seeking volunteers to assist with tax preparations next year for low-income and senior residents throughout the area. Volunteers will help prepare and file state and federal income tax returns at no cost to qualified taxpayers. You do not need to be an AARP member or have previous tax-preparation skills, but should have basic computer skills. All volunteers will receive free training and materials in January 2012 and are reimbursed for program-related expenses. The program will run from Feb. 1 to April 15, 2012. For more information, contact the Lawrence district coordinator, Sarah Merriman at 785-832-0080.

— Ballard Community Services is seeking volunteers to help at its food pantry from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on weekday afternoons. Days are flexible as of now, but at least three afternoons a week still need volunteer coverage. Volunteers will perform a variety of tasks including entering data into a computer, answering phones and more. Additionally, volunteers must have the ability to carry 25 pounds up stairs. For more information, please contact Doug Davison at 785-842-0729 or doug@ballardcenter.org.

For more volunteer opportunities, contact Shannon Reid at the United Way’s Roger Hill Volunteer Center, at 785-865-5030 or volunteer@rhvc.org, or go to volunteerdouglascounty.org.