Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Volunteer Opportunity with Class of 2010

RUMMAGE SALE:

The Class of 2010 is sponsoring a rummage sale at Central Park United Methodist Church, 216 Beard Avenue, Buffalo, 14214, on Saturday, May 16, 2009, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. In order to get ready for the sale, donations of clothes and household items will be dropped off at the church on the following Saturdays from 10 am to noon: 3/28, 4/4, 4/18, 4/25, 5/2, and 5/9.

Students needing community service hours are welcome at that time to accept, clean, sort, and price donations and to distribute fliers around the neighborhood. All unsold items on the day of the sale will be donated to the church's clothing pantry, "Clara's Closet", and delivered to charities of the students' choice, so students are also needed the day of the sale, especially at the end of the day at 4:00 pm.

Contact: Sue Natali 875-3103, 868-1578, twnsrfun@aol.com or Bonny Ryder @ bkryder@verizon.net to volunteer.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Many CAS opportunities available at Buffalo ReUse:

* VEGETABLE GARDENING & POCKET PARKS --they will have several spaces over the next 6mos which they will transform from brown/weedy vacant lots into inviting green spaces and/or edible or flower gardens. Work would include collecting soil samples, clearing/mowing, building garden beds and paths, sowing seeds, weeding, watering and harvesting among other things.

* TREE PLANTING & MAINTENANCE --they have planted over 400 trees and will participate again with ReTREE WNY this May so there's plenty of trees that need to be re-wired/staked and pruned over the next season. If students want to participate during this planting and learn the ropes, they would really love it!

* STREET BLITZES --this is where they descend upon a street and go from one end to the other collecting trash, pruning trees and shrubs, edging and assisting neighbors with small projects, maybe even some painting or flower planting.

* REHAB-LABS --there are 2 houses we are rehabbing and projects range from clearing debris, gutting walls, painting, installing fixtures, refinishing floors and more.

* TOOL LENDING LIBRARY --they need assistance collecting tools of all kinds (as well as how-to books)- -used and new --they will create training/safety videos and label and sort the tools for the public to borrow and maintain their properties.

* DIY WORKSHOPS --if students (or their parents) want to assist or teach home repair and maintenance workshops like plumbing, window repair, laying tile, installing drywall etc they can host a workshop.

Generally speaking, students should be prepared to get dirty and dress in layers --longjohns and sweatshirts etc, work gloves and boots. Buffao ReUse will provide the goggles and other safety equipment as needed. Right now, they do not have heat in their building so it's really important for students to dress warm. Saturdays are usually the days they do big stuff, but now that they have the gardens starting in April students can volunteer throughout the summer--even on weekdays. Students can show up at the store to help process inventory and with projects too--it's open Tues-Sat from 7:30-5pm.

If there will be more than 5 students in a group, Buffalo ReUse would like to get a headsup to make sure that the prep projects and equipment we'll be available.

Buffalo ReUse is also desperately in need of students that can edit video, turn it into a DVD and upload some clips on-line--some of it's kind of boring material, but they also want to get footage of our projects and shenanigans and interviews to post on their youtube account and website as well.

Also, April 25th they will have an EARTH WARMING PARTY from noon-4pm and welcome any displays students might have created (for a science fair or something) which highlight urban issues, environmental stewardship or innovative green energy/ideas or even some wacky demonstrations or games for kids too (like a recycling game or craft).

If any students know things like bike repair, then Buffalo ReUse would love to have a clinic for their neighbors! Performers for that day would also be great.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpfYt7vRHuY

Buffalo ReUse will start advertising heavily starting the first of April so if students would like to be included, let them know soon.

There's really a thousand things students can do!

Email volunteer@buffaloreuse.org with any questions and to be added on to the group email list.