The City of Bloomington Volunteer Network provides information about volunteering locally. For a complete listing, visit BloomingtonVolunteerNetwork.org or call 812-349-3433. The inclusion of an organization in this list does not imply City endorsement or support of the organization’s activities or policies. Information and registration links for the following opportunities can be found online at BloomingtonVolunteerNetwork.org.
Thanksgiving dinner at Boys & Girls Club
Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington (BGCB) is looking for volunteers to help at their Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 21 from 4:30 to 9 p.m. The BGCB hosts a Thanksgiving dinner every year for its members and their families. Volunteers will be helping with set-up, food service and clean-up. The dinner is taking place at the Ferguson Crestmont Boys & Girls Club, located at 1111 W. 12th St. in Bloomington. This event gives families the opportunity to interact with other club families, have a hot meal around the holiday, and win prizes to promote family engagement at home. Interested volunteers can find more details and the registration link at https://tinyurl.com/bgcb-2024-thanksgiving. For assistance or more information, contact Courtney Payne-Taylor at 812-322-5254 or cpayne@bgcbloomington.org.
Holiday Market
Don’t miss the Holiday Market on Saturday, Nov. 30! Volunteers 16 years and up are needed to help during two shifts: 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 12:30 to 4 p.m. Volunteer duties include assisting with set-up, carriage rides, participant raffle, staffing information tent, chestnut roasting, artist booths and tear-down. Bloomington Parks and Recreation is also looking for volunteer elves to assist Santa! This annual Holiday Market offers shoppers a chance to find their favorite locally grown farm products, as well as local arts and fine crafts, all while listening to the music of the season. Children will have the chance to write and send a letter to Santa, and there will be a photo booth set up to snap a photo for your family holiday cards! On-site training provided. Volunteers under the age of 18 must have an Underage Waiver of Liability signed by a parent or guardian and must bring it with them when they arrive for their shift. A friendly reminder to interested volunteers: this is the Saturday after Thanksgiving, so please be sure that you will be in town. Learn more and sign up today at https://tinyurl.com/2024-holiday-market. Questions? Contact Crystal Ritter at ritterc@bloomington.in.gov.
Fill the Volunteer Gap
Volunteering during Thanksgiving, winter, spring, and summer breaks is a huge help to organizations that utilize volunteers to maintain their services year-round. Whether it is a short-term opportunity or the beginning of a longer commitment, volunteering at these times of the year means a lot! View the current list of organizations that need volunteers to help Fill the Gap at https://tinyurl.com/fill-the-gap-volunteers. Contact Michelle Moss at 812-349-3433 or getconnected@bloomington.in.gov for more information or assistance.
Wish List Spotlight
Bloomington Volunteer Network Community Wish List
Fall is a busy season for many local nonprofits, making it an excellent time to consider fulfilling a wish for one of the organizations that make up the Bloomington Volunteer Network Community Wish List. Currently, many organizations are gearing up for special Thanksgiving programs and meals, and many are working to fill their thrift store shelves with great items for holiday shoppers. Review the Community Wish Lists and find an organization or two that you can support during this season of giving.
To make a wish list donation:
You can find current in-kind material needs on the year-round Community Wish List at bloomingtonvolunteernetwork.org/communitywishlist.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Help at youth Thanksgiving dinner, Holiday Market, fill volunteer gap
