Do you want to volunteer from home? Here’s an interesting upcoming volunteer opportunity: https://www.familysearch.org/1950census

The Common Heart literacy program has been gifted with boxes full of books related to teaching adult literacy, considerably more than they can make use of. There are also a couple of boxes of parenting books designed for ESL students they are giving away. Items can be picked up at the Common Heart Literacy Volunteers by appointment. Please email LiteracyVolunteers@CommonHeart.org to schedule.

Union County residents, your voice can be heard! What are the biggest health issues that we face in Union County? Fill out the survey! Help ensure that Union County is prepared to address the physical, mental and environmental health needs of residents by taking the community health survey and encouraging others to do so as well. https://ucgov.info/3ruvykt

Another option for medications for the uninsured or underinsured: https://costplusdrugs.com/mission/

Common Heart needs lots of volunteers to help reach our neighbors in need. They especially need lots of helping hands to pack groceries there on Mondays and Tuesdays from 3-5 p.m. in preparation for evening food pantries. PLEASE SHARE!! See what’s available and sign up online: CommonHeart.org/Volunteer

“Did you know that this week is Random Acts of Kindness week? Kindness is at the core of what we do every day. It’s a basic concept that no matter what age you are, what you believe, and where you are from you can be kind!” For ideas on how to serve, see https://www.facebook.com/serveunityoutreach/ and https://serveunity.org

This year, don’t pay to file. Use MyFreeTaxes, United Way’s easy online platform, to save hundreds of dollars in fees. For the first time, MyFreeTaxes is available in English and Spanish! Get started today: https://untdwy.org/34O9cmo or if your household income in 2021 was $58,000 or less, you could qualify to have your taxes prepared and submitted through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Learn more: https://buff.ly/3DW3RGk

People who don’t qualify for public assistance may apply online for emergency food and personal care items through UCCAM’s food pantry. Pantry hours for food pick up are Monday-Friday 9:30am-4:30pm. Click on the link to complete the Emergency Food Pantry Request Form. https://unioncrisis.org/food-pantry-request-form.aspx Crisis Help Line: 704-225-0440

Common Heart’s annual Hunger Walk will be on Sunday, March 6! This year they have two in-person options (Indian Trail or Marshville) or you can choose to walk virtually wherever you’d like! CommonHeartHungerWalk.org

How Volunteering Improves Mental Health

According to the American Red Cross, we’re experiencing our first national blood crisis. One way you can help is by making an appointment to give. As an extra thank you, when you come to donate this February, you’ll get a $10 Gift Card by email from Amazon. https://rdcrss.org/3siHWUR

Adult Literacy Program Moving to SPCC

Provide a Meal-Kitchen & Feeding Program

Union County Community Shelter needs volunteers

QuitlineNC provides free cessation services to any North Carolina resident who needs help quitting commercial tobacco use, which includes all tobacco products offered for sale, not tobacco used for sacred and traditional ceremonies by many American Indian tribes and communities. Quit Coaching is available in different forms, which can be used separately or together, to help any tobacco user give up tobacco.

Who needs food for Thanksgiving? Ordinarily, Common Heart delivers turkey and fixin’s, but this year, due to difficulty getting enough turkeys, they will be delivering mostly ham baskets this year. (A small number of turkeys or whole chickens may be available if you are unable to eat ham for religious reasons.) The deadline to sign up is Sunday. Folks can apply online or call the office (10-3, thru Friday): 704-218-9060 https://docs.google.com/…/1FAIpQLSdviHh2E6rKkp…/viewform

https://union.macaronikid.com/guides/616edee990990055c5fe4cc4/not-to-miss-playgrounds-in-union-county

How to Volunteer

CREATE CONTENT

Help create lesson plans for tutors to improve the quality of lessons and student experience.

TEACH REMOTELY

Tutor children from the comfort of your own home and with a flexible schedule! 

https://strive2thriveedu.org/get-involved/

Volunteer Opportunity: e-Buddies promotes social inclusion online for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.In e-Buddies, people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, such as autism and Down syndrome, come together online to form friendships and a community that celebrates their diversity of character and abilities.Anyone can be in e-Buddies! You can join on your own or sign up your special education class. e-Buddies is great for students and adults with and without disabilities.

e-Buddies – Best Buddies International

UCPL has posted on Facebook that the Volunteer Program is back and now accepting applications for both teen (ages 14-17) and adult (ages 18+) volunteers. Head to the library’s volunteer page for more information. http://ow.ly/xvuS50Fw0w6