Agency: Family Promise

Contact: Becky Peters at becky@lawrencefamilypromise.org

Family Promise of Lawrence is in need of volunteers who can provide one to two hours of general office support each week. Family Promise works with families experiencing homelessness, providing them with shelter, food and support while transitioning them into permanent housing. General office help is needed at its Day Center throughout the week, and it is currently in need of a few more helpers to keep up with the work. If you have a couple of hours to offer on a weekly basis, please contact Becky Peters at becky@lawrencefamilypromise.org.

Immediate needs

• Ballard Community Services is looking for volunteers to come be a part of its Strengths Program, a volunteer program unlike any other that matches low-income community residents with Strengths Coaches who provide support and community insight for their clients. Once appropriately trained, coaches will help clients assess attainable life goals, mobilize community resources that promote lasting change, and most importantly, instill hope in the future. If you have a passion for social justice and an understanding of your community’s needs, please consider joining the Strengths Program at Ballard Community Services. For more details, please contact Kyle Roggenkamp at 785-842-0729 or kyle@ballardcenter.org.

• The Lawrence Fair Trade Holiday Market is in need of volunteers to staff its annual market at Ecumenical Campus Ministries, 1204 Oread Ave. The market sells Fair Trade handcrafts and products that benefit artisan cooperatives in the poorest parts of the world. This year, the market will run from Nov. 23 through Dec. 1. Volunteers are needed to help set up tables, unpack boxes and arrange items for sale into a display today from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. During the sale, volunteers are needed to run the cash register and help shoppers. All shifts are available, and you can sign up by visiting http://vols.pt/1WZ8hA. Additionally, cleanup volunteers will be needed immediately following the last day of the sale on Dec. 1 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. For questions, please contact Sarah Stern at sarah.stern@yahoo.com.

• The Salvation Army is seeking volunteers for its annual Red Kettle Christmas Campaign. Bell ringers are needed at various locations throughout the community until Dec. 24. Shifts are available between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. For more details, please contact Marisa McCluer or Liz Coleman at 785-843-4188.

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Douglas County is looking for volunteers to help run the 18th annual Gingerbread Festival, Nov. 30 to Dec. 2. Volunteers are needed to work the event, which will involve monitoring the gingerbread houses on display and greeting and interacting with the public, who will be viewing the houses. Volunteers are needed for two-hour shifts throughout the weekend. For details about available shifts, please contact Angie Stewart at 785-843-7359, ext. 117.