Your weekly guide to area volunteer and in-kind giving opportunities

Search for more opportunities at www.seidahovolunteer.org

Columnist Beth Estopinal of the United Way of Southeastern Idaho

Spend spring break close to home: Peace Village, hosted by Pastor Janie Gebhardt, is being planned for Spring Break Week, March 25 through 29. Volunteers are needed to cook, help with crafts, counsel teens (over 14 years of age), and campers who are in third through sixth grade. Contact Brenda Pollard at 233-3543 for more info.

Urban invasion! SEICAA, Old Town Pocatello, and Muse are excited to bring the first ever urban 5k event to Downtown Pocatello on April 27! They will need about 25 volunteers from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Volunteers will be placed on the course to guide runners, help with registration, clean-up and help if a business doesn't have enough people to staff their obstacle. Please call Lynette at 232-1114 x 113 or meet her at the Old Town Pavilion that morning.

Hospice needs you: Alliance Hospice (Pocatello, Blackfoot and Idaho Falls areas) needs five new volunteers (18 years or older) to help for a minimum of one hour per week providing companionship and support for patients with terminal illnesses. Skills preferred: Listening, reading, positive interactions with others. Contact: Danny Harry, 478-6677 or dharry@alliancehhh.com.

Stand up for children:The CASA Program is looking for community-minded individuals to become CASA volunteers. A CASA volunteer is trained to advocate for children who become part of the court system through no fault of their own. Individuals need to pass a background check and complete the training. Contact the CASA office at 836 E. Center St., for more information or call 232-2272.

Senior Medicare Patrol:SMP volunteers use their time to help seniors to protect their identity, read their Medicare Summary Notices and avoid getting taken by scammers. The future integrity of the health care system depends upon you. Join the effort to help save our precious health care dollars for the care that you may someday need. For more information call: 208-233-4032 ext. 33.

Young students need mentors! Eight more volunteer mentors are needed to help pre-K and elementary students 15–20 hours each school week for the remainder of the school year. You will be assigned close to home. Volunteers must be able to pass a background check, paid for by the program. Contact Lori Murdock: 785-8454 or lori@fgpsei.com.

Come spoil the ladies: The Spinderella Ride organizers are seeking able bodies with vehicles to help out with course direction, course set-up and rider assistance. The ride is on June 15, however, there will be set-up and registration help needed on the 14th. The day of the ride will be long, about 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. To volunteer, contact Sherri Matson at mgmkid@msn.com and for more information about the ride, go to www.spinderellaride.com. 

In-kind donations needed: 

• SEICAA Bingham County is looking for a working refrigerator. Call Bobette at 785-1583.

• Donations of new or gently used business clothing for ISU Veteran’s Sanctuary. These items are for vets who are going to job interviews and need professional clothing. Call 282-4245 for more information.

Margaret Ganyo, Robin Nelson, and Beth Estopinal staff the United Way of Southeastern Idaho and encourage you to search for more opportunities at www.seidahovolunteer.org. To list volunteer opportunities or to request or offer in-kind donations, please go to the website, send an e-mail to beth@unitedwaysei.orgor call 232-1389.