Take time to help local children

• PHOTO: Jamie Staples

Jamie Staples is the youth pastor at First Convent Church. He saw a need to provide a safe nurturing place where middle school students could gather after school. The Remedy was started and, with the help of caring, committed adults, the program now serves approximately 30-40 students. “Jamie is absolutely committed to working with middle school kids by encouraging them and giving them confidence,” states Barb Haley, program manger for Stepps Up. When asked why he does what he does, Jamie says, “I work with students for two reasons. First off, God has called me and has given me the passion and gifts to work with students for my career. The second reason I work with students is because I know that most students do not have many caring adults around them that are intentional in loving and mentoring them. “I know from personal experience that students desperately need adults that are intentionally focused on connecting, loving and mentoring students. I’ve been doing it for a while now and I see how lives are absolutely changed by this type of relationship.”

Talk about it

Volunteers United is a group convened by the United Way of Goodhue, Wabasha & Pierce Counties and is open to any organization interested in networking around volunteer recruitment, retention and development.

Meetings take place the second Wednesday of every other month from 11 a.m. to noon at the Red Wing Family YMCA. The next meeting will be Sept. 9.

For more information, contact Tonya Roth (651) 388-6309 or tonya.roth@unitedway.org

For a full listing of area volunteer opportunities, visit the local United Way’s Web site at www.uw-gwp.org and click on volunteer.

New opportunities will be added continuously, so check back often.

Check this page in the Republican Eagle each month for volunteer opportunities that fit your time and talents. Themes will be:

September: Education

October: Arts/history

November: Emergency services/holiday needs

December: Meeting the needs of families

January: Business and finances

February: Health

March: Hunger and nutrition

April: Abuse prevention and awareness

May: Serving older Americans

June: Special needs and transportation

July: Public safety and other community needs

Youth Outreach

Red Wing Youth Outreach is looking for experienced mothers to act as mentor moms for our Young Moms Program. Requirements are: mom experience, a non-judgmental attitude, and an open heart and mind.

Mentor moms befriend young mothers, notify them of upcoming events, attend one monthly Young Moms evening meeting and spend an hour or two each month with a young mom and her child.

Mentors are there to help these young mothers learn how to care for and bond with their young children by setting an example of kindness and caring. We are here to help little children grow up with a mother who knows how to meet their basic needs and help the child grow up healthy and safe.

Training will be provided. This takes a special person with love and experience to share. Call Joette Hall at Red Wing High School (651) 385-4600 or leave a message at Red Wing Youth Outreach at (651) 388-3371.

Girl Scouts

Zumbrota-Mazeppa and Goodhue Girl Scouts is looking for volunteers to fill a host of positions: annual giving coordinator, communications representative, cookie cupboard manager, delegate/ alternate, event coordinator, family fundraising troop chair, Juliette liaison, leader mentor, organizer recruiter, product program activities advisory committee chair and members, registrar, resource coordinator, secretary; service unit fast start coach or manager product program manager, recognitions coordinator, trainer/facilitator, travel mentor, treasurer, troop leader and troop program manager.

These positions can be filled by a man or woman 18 years or older. You don’t have to have a daughter in Girl Scouts. You do have to pass a free background check before you can interact with the girls.

If you are interested, look at www.girlscoutsrv. org for position descriptions and call Candace Ballstadt at (651) 923-4906.

Foster grandparents

For 35 years, the Foster Grandparent Program has been linking senior volunteers with children who could benefit from the presence of a caring elder in their lives. They share their time, talents, and compassion with children in a variety of settings, including schools, day care centers, preschools, residential facilities and correctional institutions.

The volunteers provide the unique encouragement and positive role models that a grandparent can provide.

Volunteers who are over 55 and serve at least 15 hours a week receive a tax free stipend, as well as a travel and meal allowance. Although the modest stipend can help a tight budget, the greatest satisfaction for volunteers comes from remaining active, and making a positive impact on children in their community.

In 1978, the first foster grandparents were recruited. They began serving at two locations - Minnesota Correctional Facility-Red Wing and Vasa Children’s Home.

More volunteers are needed in Red Wing - at Vasa, MCF-Red Wing and in the elementary schools. New volunteer sites can be sought out based on your special interests.

Making a difference in the life of a child adds meaning and purpose to one’s own life. So often we hear volunteers say, “I feel like I am getting so much more than I am giving.”

To find out more about how you can change your life and the life of several children, call Linda at (888) 205-3770 (toll free). Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota sponsors this program.

Kids Count

Do you want to make a difference in the life of a child? Do you have a passion to end violence?

We are looking for a committed volunteer to work with abused children and or children who have witnessed violence. Hours would be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. every other Sunday.

There will be an application process including interviews and background checks. If Sunday’s do not work for you, we are also looking for high school students or adults to help at support groups after school. Your options are open as we have groups Monday through Friday.

For more information, contact Susan Albarado Grand at (651) 388-9360, ext. 12.

After-school help

The Remedy after-school program works with middle school-aged students. Our program runs Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:30 to 5 p.m..

We seek to provide a safe place for students to come after school. The main values in the Remedy are that students receive educational help, life skills help, and connections with other students along with caring adults. One of the program’s mottos is; Caring adult + middle school student = great things.

We have several volunteer opportunities:

Tutor - 4 to 5 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays help students with homework.

Gym volunteer - shoot hoops or play with students.

Activity leader - Do you have things that you are passionate about teaching the next generation? Cooking, car repair, camping, art, music? Let us know.

Main area leader - hang out with kids, play board games, video games, pingpong. Your job is to find something to connect with the kids.

Contact Jamie Staples at redwingstaples@ hotmail.com if you are interested in making a difference.

Tags: fyi, community, volunteers