Service Learning
View Service Opportunity records
Looking for a way to serve? The following organizations are in need of Bethel students to assist them in various ways. Please read through the service opportunities and contact the contact person listed directly if interested in serving. Don’t forget to log your hours of service when you’re done!
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Add your service opportunity
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Memorial Children's Hospital - South Bend
Dates: Nov 27
Work type: Children/Youth, Education, HealthcareDescription: We would like to put up "Giving Trees" at about 8 locations throughout South Bend and Mishawaka. These trees will be simply decorated by students with paper rings, snow and wish lists (all provided) and placed at the entrance of pre-determined locations. We would like to have these in place before November 27th. Teams of two students per location seem to work best. Requirements include a car/truck, valid drivers's license and bubbly personality. These trees will provide information to the general public about gifts and supplies that can help the young patients at Memorial Children's Hospital pass the time while in treatment. Lift a child's spirits and come help!
Contact: Sherry Forzley
Phone: 574-647-2687
Email: sforzley@memorialsb.org
Web Site: www.healthworkskids.org or www.qualityoflife.org -
Salvation Army Toy Shop
Dates: December 16-17
Work type: Family ServicesDescription: Be an elf! At the Toy Shop, a family member chooses the toys for the children. You get to walk them through and make sure they get a holiday food box, as well. It's the climax of our season!
Contact: Liz Kurtz
Phone: 574-233-9471
Email: liz_kurtz@usc.salvationarmy.org
Web Site: www.sjcarmy.org -
Salvation Army Screening
Dates: November 9-24
Work type: Family ServicesDescription: During this time clients come to us and apply for Christmas assistance. We need competent people to kindly and thoroughly interview clients; truly giving them an opportunity to have Christmas at their homes.
Contact: Liz Kurtz
Phone: 574-233-9471
Email: liz_kurtz@usc.salvationarmy.org
Web Site: www.sjcarmy.org -
Salvation Army Bell Ringing
Dates: Nov 13 - Dec 24
Work type: Family ServicesDescription: Stand by a kettle, ring a bell, and say "ho ho ho!" Good for groups or individuals. Call us to inquire. This is the most visible and significant way the Salvation Army raises money. Bell-ringing is a chance for us to spread awareness of our organization and its needs.
Contact: Karen M. King
Phone: 574-233-9471
Email: karen_m_king@usc.salvationarmy.org
Web Site: www.sjcarmy.org -
RUSH Senior High Youth Group
Dates: Sun evenings beginning November 1
Work type: Children/YouthDescription: We are a small youth group (approx 30 teens) from McCoy Baptist Church in Elkhart, Indiana. We are in the process of looking for someone that will volunteer to play the guitar and lead the worship team on Sunday evenings. The most important responsibility would be to play the guitar for us and be available for practices but we would also appreciate someone who is willing to plan the worship and work with the team. At this point we practice from 4:45-5:30 Sunday eve. If you think you might be interested in working with us, please contact me.
Contact: Ellen Hanson
Phone: 574-206-6867
Email: ellhns@aol.com
Age Requirement: 21
Gender Requirement: male -
SOLO (Special Outdoor Leisure Opportunities)
Dates: First six weeks of 2010.
Work type: Children/Youth, Disability CareDescription: Do you like to ski, laugh and serve your community? Do all three by volunteering for Special Outdoor Leisure Opportunities (SOLO), where you’ll ski with people with developmental disabilities. It’s your choice: downhill or cross-country skiing. Only a minimum of skiing experience is required. And you’ll make friends among a diverse group of people. SOLO is a grass-roots (um, snow-base?) organization that’s celebrating its 30th anniversary. For downhill, SOLO provides transportation, training, lift tickets and equipment at no cost to you. Oh, and the hugs are free, too. We'll need your help for the first six weeks of 2010. Alpine skiing will be at Swiss Valley Ski Area on Mondays from 7-9 p.m. Cross-country skiing will be at Rum Village Nature Center on Saturdays from 9-11 a.m.
Please join us for orientation at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7 at LOGAN Center, 2505 E. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend (just east of Ironwood Road). We’ll also do indoor exercises Monday, Dec. 14, same time and place.
Contact us for an application.Contact: Joe Dits
Phone: (574) 288-1809
Email: joedits@hotmail.com
Age Requirement: 18 -
Mrs Larson
Dates: any dates
Work type: Manual LaborDescription: Mrs Larson is looking for help with yard work for about 4-6 hours a week. The times and days are felxable. Some of the work would include cutting grass, using a weed eater, weeding, chainsaw, etc. If you are interseted you must be able to provide own transporation. Contact Mrs Larson for more information
Contact: Mrs Larson
Phone: 269-684-1306
Email: rayandpeg@comcast.net -
United Wya 2-1-1 Call Center
Dates: Any
Work type: Emergency Services, Family ServicesDescription: Introduction: An internship within the United Way of St. Joseph County (UWSJC) 2-1-1 Call Center will involve carefully monitored work that includes student-developed learning goals and reflects actively on what the student is learning throughout the experience.
The 2-1-1Call Center was developed in 2005 and since then has become an accredited facility, has expanded services to include Marshall and Fulton Counties, and receives over 13,500 calls annually. The 2-1-1 Call Center has experience in working with interns through several local community colleges.
1. Mission Statement: The United Way of St. Joseph County will improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities. The United Way
2-1-1, a program within the United Way, will promote self reliance by assisting people in reaching their critical community and public resources.
2. Student
Responsibilities: The intern will interview callers, identify caller problems and needs, refer callers to appropriate services, follow up on referrals when necessary, complete call back survey forms, and consult with referral resources as appropriate. Additionally, students may participate in the update process or our resource database, which is comprised of over 1600 non-profit programs in our community. A student may have the opportunity to help in areas that include marketing and distribution of products and materials. Additional skills learned during this internship will include effective conflict management, gaining knowledge of local social services, and assisting in the updating of resources available in the community. This may include meeting other social service professionals and agencies in the community, increasing the intern’s exposure to various community leaders. The intern will demonstrate an increase in awareness of community resources, an increase in the knowledge of various community social service policies and procedures, and will practice helping skills that correlates with their Human Services curriculum.
3. Direct Contact: The intern will have direct contact via the telephone with clients seeking help, and will have direct contact with professionals in the social services field through the database update process and through the distribution of marketing materials to area businesses.
4.Supervision: The intern will report to the UWSJC 2-1-1 Call Center Director who has been involved in information and referral for over 5 years. The director will have primary responsibility for the intern, and comply with any reporting requirements, as appropriate, to the appropriate college or university. Supervision and oversight will occur on a daily basis by the Call Center Director or 2-1-1 call center staff, and feedback will be given verbally or in progress reports, as appropriate. All staff are accredited in the information and referral field, have suicide prevention skills, and attend 12 hours of continuing education each year.
5. Training: Training and orientation will include reading materials, written tests, observation of others, mock situations, group exercises, and other training as deemed necessary.
6.Work Environment: The UWSJC 2-1-1 Call Center is open from 8:00 am until 5:00pm, Monday-Friday. The intern will perform the above responsibilities in the call center which has a varying noise level. The facility is located at 3517 East Jefferson Blvd, in South Bend, is handicapped accessible and is located on a TRANSPO bus route. The intern will be provided a work station, telephone, computer, and all appropriate office supplies to perform their duties.
7.Time Commitment: An internship can be completed during normal business hours, Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm. An intern can begin their service at any time during the semester/year.
8. Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, the intern must be detailed oriented, able to multitask, have excellent communication skills, be computer literate, and have excellent phone etiquette. This job opportunity provides an excellent experience for those students considering employment in the social service, human service, and/or psychological field of work. Dependable transportation, a valid driver’s license, and appropriate automobile insurance are also required.
9. Dress Code: Dress is casual but neat.Contact: Dave Sisk
Phone: 574-232-8201
Email: dsisk@uwsjc.org
Web Site: www.uwsjc.org -
South Bend Civic Theatre
Dates: Year Round
Work type: Manual LaborDescription: Always in need of Ushers, Stage Crews, Set Painters/Construction.
Contact: Lorri Wright
Phone: 574-234-1112 -
Help Grocery Shopping
Dates: by request
Work type: Elderly CareDescription: Tammy is looking for someone to help her grocery shop about once a month. This would include providing her with transportation to and from the grocery store.
Contact: Tammy Norwish
Phone: 255-2334 -
Epic Church
Dates: Sunday Evenings starting October 11 from 5 PM-7:30PM
Work type: Children/YouthDescription: Help with assisting our Children's Ministry team members in our new church plant. Volunteer would assist in activities and helping classroom leaders on Sunday evenings.
Contact: Erica Egolf
Phone: 574-286-8060
Email: children@epicmishawaka.org
Web Site: www.epicmishawaka.org
Age Requirement: 18 -
Feed The Children, Inc.
Dates: daily/weekly/monthly
Work type: Emergency Services, Family Services, Manual LaborDescription: As you know with the economy the way it is right now, the demand for food and other items is sky rocketing for those in need. Our boxes are packed 100% by volunteers. These boxes go out to people in our community who are in great need of help. We are currently in need of volunteers to pack those food and personal care boxes that will be going out to our community. We need groups to come in weekdays anytime from 8am - 5pm. We also can do some Saturdays and a few evenings as well. We can accommodate groups from as small as 5 to as large as 200 +. We also welcome individual volunteers as well. 574-262-5227 ext 4706
Contact: Merri DeWinter
Phone: 574-262-5227
Email: merri.dewinter@feedthechildren.org
Web Site: www.feedthechildren.org -
Center for the Homeless Food Ministry
Dates: Tuesdays and Fridays
Work type: Service to the HomelessDescription: Some students on campus have made arrangements between the DC and the Center for the Homeless so that any leftover food from the DC can be taken to the Center for the Homeless to help feed those families living there. All that is needed is volunteers who are willing to transport the food from the DC to the Center twice a week. If you are interested you will be added to an email list and you will be emailed whenever there is food ready to be transported.
Contact: Daniel Hill
Phone: 317-223-4263
Email: hilld2@bethelcollege.edu
