Event: Bike MS

Contact: bike.msmidamerica.org

The National MS Society is bringing Bike MS to Lawrence for the first time, on Sept. 17-18. This event involves more than 2,000 cyclists and 1,000 volunteers. Several blocks on Massachusetts Street will be closed for the big Gears & Grooves for MS Festival starting at 12 p.m. on Sept. 17. This event will be in South Park and is open to the public. Volunteers are the bread and butter of this event, and there are tasks for people of all ages and capabilities. Volunteers are needed for various tasks, including setup, tear down, and rider check-in to name a few, at various times throughout the entire weekend. This is a perfect way to get the whole family involved in the community, and is a perfect fit for large groups of volunteers. If you are interested in signing up, contact Paige Weber at paige.weber@nmss.org. For more info about the specific volunteer needs, please visit bike.msmidamerica.org

Immediate needs

• Van Go Inc. is starting up its fall sessions, and is looking for volunteers. The Fall JAMS (Jobs in the Arts Makes Sense) session begins Sept. 19 and runs through Nov. 10; the JAMS work week is Monday-Thursday, from after school until 6 p.m. Volunteers are needed to work side by side with youth employees (apprentice artists) and assist them in their projects, helping to keep them on task as well as serving as a friendly source of assistance and information. Additionally, several volunteers are needed to transport artists from Lawrence High School and Free State High School to Van Go after school each day; drivers must have a valid driver’s license and provide proof of insurance. If you are interested in volunteering for Fall JAMS, contact Elena Froelich at 785-842-3797 or elena@van-go.org with your availability and your preferred day of the week to volunteer. If you are able to transport kids from LHS or Free State, please note that and indicate whether you would prefer to drive your own vehicle or one of the Van Go vans. There is a volunteer orientation at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12 , at Van Go, 715 N.J.

• United Way of Douglas County is in need of several volunteers to help with campaign mailings. Helping hands are needed to stuff and seal envelopes for the mid-September mailing. Volunteers will need to come to the United Way offices, 2518 Ridge Court, but times are flexible between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Contact Colleen Gregoire at 785-843-6626 or uwcamp@unitedwaydgco.org if you’re available to help.

• The Plymouth ESL Class is in need of several volunteers for its new class, beginning this Tuesday. Volunteers are needed to be door greeters for the Tuesday and Thursday classes, conversation partners for the Thursday classes, and promoters for the class. For more information, contact Joshua Spain at plymouthesl@gmail.com.

• Meals on Wheels is in need of volunteers to help with its annual fundraising event, “Meals on Wheels 2011 Premiere.” The event will take place at Maceli’s on Sept. 29 and several volunteers are needed to help throughout the day with setup prior to the event, checking people in at the event, assisting with the silent and live auction, and then cleanup at the end of the event. For more details on specific times that volunteers are needed as well as more specific volunteer tasks, contact Kim Cullis at 785-830-8844 or 4mealsonwheels@sbcglobal.net.

• Ballard Community Services is seeking volunteers who can commit to helping as administrative assistants between 1:30 and 5 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each week. Volunteers will perform a variety of tasks including helping people in need, entering data into a computer, answering phones and more. Additionally, volunteers must have the ability to carry 25 pounds up stairs. For more information, contact Eric Logan at 785-842-0729, ext. 106 or eric@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 www.volunteerdouglascounty.org.