Agency: United Way of Douglas County

Contact: Colleen Gregoire at development@unitedwaydgco.org or at 785-843-6626, ext. 340.

The United Way of Douglas County brings community resources together to support a better life for residents by focusing on improvements in health, education, and financial stability. The United Way is looking for volunteers interested in making an impact on educational needs of local school children by assisting with the annual school supplies collection drive.

Donations have been collected and now the supplies need to be sorted, counted, packed and distributed to qualifying families of The Ballard Community Center, ECKAN, The Salvation Army, and Penn House. Sorting and counting donations will occur July 25 and 26; packing supplies into backpacks on Aug. 5 and 8, and distribution to students on Aug. 10, 11 and 12. This is a great opportunity for business groups, civic groups, book clubs, groups of friends, or families. To register to volunteer, please go to www.volunteerdouglascounty.org or contact Shelly Hornbaker at volunteer@unitedwaydgco.org or at 785-865-5030, ext. 301.

Help the community

Lawrence Public Library is recruiting volunteer surveyors to assist in administering a Community Needs Assessment.

Volunteers will attend community events, meet with community members, explain the project, and encourage people to participate. Volunteers should feel comfortable talking to people they don’t know, have a passion for community engagement, and have superb customer service skills.

This position requires a brief interview, on-site training, and a commitment to help with at least one event each month. Please contact Kelly Francis at kfrancis@lawrence.lib.ks.us or at 785-843-3833 x125 for more information.

ConfabuLarryum

ConfabuLarryum celebrates the power of making and creativity and is designed to be highly participatory with many “make and take” activities and interactive activities and workshops for both kids and adults. Activities usually include arts and crafts and hands-on making activities, creative dance, martial arts, high tech 3-D printing, drones, robotics, coding classes, digital lab workshops and more. ConfabuLarryum is looking for volunteers for a variety of jobs on Aug. 12 and 13. Help is needed for setting up vendor exhibits, serving lunch, working at the information table, and providing hospitality to guests and vendors. Volunteers receive lunch and a free T-shirt. Go to https://signup.com/login/entry/8160273880112 to choose a job and time you’d like to help.

Deliver meals

Lawrence Meals on Wheels provides hot, nutritious meals to the homebound elderly and/or disabled residents of Lawrence. Lawrence Meals on Wheels needs regularly weekly drivers for lunchtime meal delivery. Delivery is during the lunch hour, 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Monday through Friday. Routes generally take less than an hour to deliver to 6-8 homes.

This is a great opportunity for families with young children looking for engaging summertime activities. Clients love to see kids when their meals are dropped off. This also works well for business 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 for more information.

Fostering fair trade

Ten Thousand Villages-Lawrence is a nonprofit, volunteer-operated, fair trade retailer of artisan products from about 40 developing countries around the world. Ten Thousand Villages creates opportunities for artisans in developing countries to earn income by bringing their products and stories to market through long-term, fair trading relationships.

Volunteers are needed to serve as retail associates and assist customers by sharing artisan information, fair trade principles and assist with gift-buying ideas and suggestions, as well as cashier functions. All volunteers commit to working in the store a minimum of 8 hours a month. Flexible scheduling allows you to work when you can, utilizing your talents when your time allows. Contact the volunteer coordinator at Lawrence@tenthousandvillages.com to find out how you can impact the lives of those in the most need.

— For more volunteer opportunities, please contact Shelly Hornbaker at the United Way Roger Hill Volunteer Center at 785-865-5030, ext. 301 or at volunteer@unitedwaydgco.org or go to www.volunteerdouglascounty.org.