Agency: Four Winds Native Center

Contact: Joshua Anderson, 832-8111, or fourwindsnativegarden@gmail.com

Four Winds Native Center is looking for enthusiastic community members who are interested in — or want to learn more about — community gardening. Lots of people are needed to work from 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday morning in the Four Winds Community Garden at 15th Street and Haskell Avenue, and there is potentially more work each week as needed. The only requirement is that you desire to meet and work with other community members who like to dig in the dirt. Volunteers can just show up on regular work days, each Saturday morning, or contact Joshua Anderson with questions at 785-832-8111 or fourwindsnativegarden@gmail.com.

Immediate needs

• Just Food is in great need of volunteer pickup and delivery drivers every morning, Monday through Friday. Volunteer drivers should have a valid driver’s license, a good driving record and be able to lift up to 30 pounds. Help is needed between 8 a.m. and noon each weekday morning, and volunteers are asked to commit to one 2-hour shift each week after completing orientation. Volunteer drivers will use Just Food vans to pick up donated items from local retailers and deliver food to partner agencies as needed. For more information, and to apply to become a Just Food volunteer, visit JustFoodKS.org, or contact Carol Leffler at 785.856.7030 or cleffler@justfoodks.org.

• Big Brothers Big Sisters says summer is the perfect time to get involved with its Bigs in Schools program and become a mentor to a child. Many people think they don’t have time to be a Big Brother or Big Sister, but you may be surprised to learn that it only takes an hour a week to volunteer in the school-based program. It is a great way for busy people to make a long-lasting impact in the life of a child. The school-based program pairs volunteers with at-risk students in their community, providing the opportunity for homework help, game playing, and more. The “Big” and “Little” meet at the child’s school during the lunch hour or after school for about an hour once a week. Currently, Big Brothers Big Sisters serves children in all the public elementary and middle schools in Lawrence. There are just under 100 children in the program with about 25 still waiting to be matched. Sign up to be a Big now and help a child start the next school year right! For information, call 785-843-7359 or check out douglas.kansasbigs.org. Orientation sessions are at 5 p.m. Tuesdays and noon Wednesdays at BBBS Offices, 536 Fireside Court Suite D, and are open to the public, no appointment necessary.

• Recovery And Hope Network (RAHN) is in need of a volunteer to run its arts and crafts class twice a month. Currently, the class is scheduled from 1:30-2:30 on Tuesdays, but times are flexible to a certain extent. RAHN (pronounced like rain) provides a safe place for people living with severe and persistent mental illness where they can find and offer peer support, reduce the isolation of mental illness, and learn to advocate for themselves and others. All materials for the classes will be provided, RAHN just needs a great volunteer with arts and crafts skills, imagination, patience, and a sense of humor to lead the classes. To discuss more details about this opportunity, contact Kendall Simmons at 785.856.1222 or kendall@recoveryandhope.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.