Agency: Lawrence Arts Center

Contact: Erika Gray at erika@lawrenceartscenter.org or at 785-843-2787

The Lawrence Arts Center provides arts performance, exhibition, and education to the Lawrence community. The Arts Center is looking for volunteers for a fun activity in preparation for its Art Tougeau event May 30. Volunteers are needed 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 27 – May 29th to assemble cardboard cars for children to paint during Art Tougeau. Volunteer anytime between 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday. The only requirement is the ability to use a glue gun (or learn)! If interested, please email Erika Gray at erika@lawrenceartscenter.org or call 785-843-2787.

Community Village of Lawrence strives to assist Lawrence residents who want to remain in their homes as they age. Community Village of Lawrence, in cooperation with Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging and Project ElderCool, is working to coordinate volunteers to help install 25 LG 5,000 BTU air conditioners in homes of low-income senior residents in Lawrence. If you are interested in helping with the installations, or know someone who might qualify for the program, please contact Community Village Lawrence at 785-505-0187 or info@communityvillagelawrence.org.

Just Food serves as the Douglas County food bank for more than 30 partner agencies. Just Food is looking for volunteers for a variety of tasks. Volunteers are needed to help sort the 24,000 pounds of food received from the Stamp Out Hunger Food Collection Drive. The hours are 1-7 p.m. Monday and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday. Just Food is at 1000 E. 11th St., northeast of 11th Street and Haskell Avenue. To volunteer to sort food, please contact Wayne Briggs at wbriggs@justfoodks.org or call 785-856-7030. Just Food also needs data entry volunteers to input data into various databases. Volunteers should be comfortable using the computer and programs similar to Excel. Volunteers may schedule shifts 1-7 p.m. Mondays and 9 a.m.-4p.m. Tuesday-Friday. For more information, please email info@justfoodks.org or call 785-856-7030.

Lawrence Meals on Wheels provides hot, nutritious meals to the homebound elderly and/or disabled residents of Lawrence. Substitute drivers are needed this summer to make sure all of our clients are fed each week day. Delivery is during the lunch hour, 11:15-12:15 p.m., Monday – Friday. Volunteers can sign up to substitute on a specific day each week, or on an as-needed basis. Routes generally take less than an hour to deliver to 6-8 homes. This is a great opportunity for families with young children. This also works well for businesses folks who want to take a break during the week during their lunch hour to do something meaningful for others. Please contact Kim Culliss at 785-830-8844 or at 4mealsonwheels@sbcglobal.net.

Visiting Nurses is a non-profit organization, providing home health care and hospice services for our community. Volunteer your musical talent by providing music to patients in nursing homes and memory care facilities in Lawrence, Eudora or Baldwin City. Volunteer regularly once a week or once a month as you are able. Volunteers should be skilled in their instruments and have a good repertoire of songs. Singers also welcome. Music/Music Therapy students encouraged to apply. For more information, please contact Sarah Rooney at sarahro@kansasvna.org or at 785-843-3738.

GaDuGi SafeCenter provides services to all people affected by sexual violence. GaDuGi will be holding volunteer advocate training beginning June 9. A volunteer advocate’s purpose is to be on a call-rotation for 24-hour comprehensive crisis services. Volunteers may also assist with awareness and prevention education, community programming and outreach services. For more information about volunteering with GaDuGi SafeCenter, please contact Ashley Arenholz at ashley@gadugisafecenter.org or at 785-843-8985.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Douglas County provides one-to-one relationships for children facing adversity. Have you always wanted to be a mentor to a young person? An 11-year-old boy is on the waiting list for a mentor. He is super creative with a great sense of humor and enjoys cooking and Tae Kwon Do. He is also open to being matched with a Big Family or Big Couple. He’s been waiting to be matched for over 3 years and is beyond excited to experience the gift of a mentor. To become a “Big” for this boy, please contact Stacie Salverson-Schroeder at 785-843-7359, ext. 112, or at sschroeder@ksbbs.org.