VOiCEup Berks

YVC members will have the unique opportunity to be an Angel for players of the Dream League! Join us Saturday, May 2, 2020 from 9:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the Relevant Sports Complex field on Pricetown Rd. Ages 11-18. At Dream League, we believe everyone, regardless of physical and mental ability, should have the chance to experience the magic of playing baseball. Unfortunately, traditional baseball diamonds are not designed for those with special needs. The Dream League was formed to give those with physical and mental disabilities the chance to enjoy the same game of baseball that so many able-bodied players enjoy every day across the country. Dream League teams play on a custom-designed, turf field that accommodates wheelchairs and other assistive devices while helping to prevent injuries. Each athlete has a volunteer ( or “Angel”) assigned to them each game. Angels (Volunteers) will assist the athletes with the game of baseball, give encouragement and keep the players safe! A short training is provided so all volunteers will feel comfortable in their role and have time to meet their player. Sign up today by emailing Youth Program Director Lindsay Sites at lindsay@voiceupberks.org and get ready to play ball!

Temple, PA

5/2/20 9:15 AM

YVC members will have the unique opportunity to be an Angel for players of the Dream League! Join Us Saturday, June 6, 2020 from 9:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the Relevant Sports Complex on Pricetown Rd. Ages 11-18. At Dream League, we believe everyone, regardless of physical and mental ability, should have the chance to experience the magic of playing baseball. Unfortunately, traditional baseball diamonds are not designed for those with special needs. The Dream League was formed to give those with physical and mental disabilities the chance to enjoy the same game of baseball that so many able-bodied players enjoy every day across the country. Dream League teams play on a custom-designed, turf field that accommodates wheelchairs and other assistive devices while helping to prevent injuries. Each athlete has a volunteer ( or “Angel”) assigned to them each game. Angels (Volunteers) will assist the athletes with the game of baseball, give encouragement and keep the players safe! A short training is provided so all volunteers will feel comfortable in their role and have time to meet their player. Sign up today by emailing Youth Program Director Lindsay Sites at lindsay@voiceupberks.org and get ready to play ball!

Temple, PA

6/6/20 9:15 AM

Second Street Learning Center, a part of Opportunity House, serves over 450 children, ages 6 weeks to 13 years old. Of those children, 98% come from families below the poverty line.Second Street Learning Center is open 24/7 to accommodate the needs of working parents. Come help us make a difference at this wonderful center as we play, teach and learn with the children of Second Street- ages 5-8! We will be at Second Street every Tuesday & Thursday from 9:00am-11:00am beginning on June 16th and concluding on July 30th. You will attend a training before the summer and must sign up with YVC Program Director, Lindsay Sites at lindsay@voiceupberks.org. Ages 15-18 only.

Reading, PA

6/16/20 9:00 AM + more

United Community Services Youthbuild provides Reading natives ages 17-24 the opportunity to learn job rediness and occupational skills. Students are prepared to transition into post-secondary education, the construction industry and other high-growth occupations. Join us as we team up together and spend the morning doing beautifcation work to the front of their building. We will be mulching, weeding and planting! Sign up with Youth Program Director Lindsay Sites at lindsay@voiceupberks.org

Reading, PA

7/2/20 9:00 AM

Hope Rescue Mission is a place of refuge for the homeless men of Berks County. Hope Rescue Mission provides for the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of those struggling with homelessness in Berks County with the goal of reintegration back into the community. Come join us as we assist in that. We will be working in the thrift store which aids the work of Hope Rescue Mission. Sign up with Youth Program Director Lindsay Sites at lindsay@voiceupberks.org.

Reading, PA

7/7/20 9:00 AM

Help support local farmers and those in the city of Reading by volunteering with us at the Penn Street Market. We will helping with the set up of the market, assisting the vendors and running a YVC table to do crafts and activities with the children that attend the market. Penn Street Market is an open-air farmers market in downtown Reading that looks to promote food access in the city, strengthen food systems by connecting local farmers to consumers and creating a thriving seasonal event through free entertainment, education and community programming set to engage all community members! Sign up with Youth Program Director Lindsay Sites at lindsay@voiceupberks.org.

Reading, PA

7/9/20 10:00 AM

Come join us on the beautiful Penn State Berks Campus for our yearly Leadership Camp for rising 7th, 8th and 9th grade girls! We will work on animal related service projects at a local Horse Sanctuary where we will spend time with horses and other animals who live at the sanctuary! We will be practicing and learning new leadership skills, making lasting friendships and working to create a project to help the animals! Cost for camp is $150 for Monday through Thursday with lunch included. Contact Youth Program Director Lindsay Sites for more information at lindsay@voiceupberks.org.

Reading, PA

7/13/20 9:00 AM + more

Berks Encore provides services to older adults and seniors through advocacy and education with the goal of developing skills to enhance their ability to live well. In the spirit of living well, join us for conversation, laughs and games as we spend time with those @ Berks Encore. We will end the morning by serving lunch! SIgn up with Youth Program Director Lindsay Sites at lindsay@voiceupberks.org.

Reading, PA

7/21/20 10:30 AM

Help support local farmers and those in the city of Reading by volunteering with us at the Penn Street Market. We will helping with the set up, assisting the vendors and setting up a YVC table to do crafts and activities with the children that attend the market. Penn Street Market is an open-air farmers market in downtown Reading that looks to promote food access in the city, strengthen food systems by connecting local farmers to consumers and creating a thriving seasonal event through free entertainment, education and community programming set to engage all community members! Sign up with Youth Program Director Lindsay Sites at lindsay@voiceupberks.org.

Reading, PA

7/23/20 10:00 AM

Come join us as we beautify the bathrooms at Muhlenberg Middle School! We will be painting and drawing positive messages to be put on the walls of the bathrooms for the start of the upcoming school year! Time TBD. Sign up with Lindsay Sites at lindsay@voiceupberks.org.

Laureldale, PA

7/28/20 9:00 AM

Join us as we work to clean up the courtyard at Muhlenberg Middle School. We will be weeding, planting and building “Buddy Benches” that will be decorated and painted. The benches will be placed in the Courtyard for staff and students to enjoy! Time TBD. Sign up with Youth Program Director Lindsay Sites at lindsay@voiceupberks.org.

Laureldale, PA

7/29/20 9:00 AM

Create your OWN Virtual Volunteer Project idea with a full description and send to lindsay@voiceupberks.org between March 23rd-April 6th. Once we have received all submissions, we will select a winner and launch the project throughout our YVC Network! * Please record all time spent on projects so that they may be counted as YVC hours*

Through4/6/20

Participate in an art challenge centered around kindness -- whether it is creating it or finding it, all we’re asking is that you submit it! We are challenging youth to find the kindness in the world around them and capture it with a photo or draw a picture of the kindness they see. Submit the photo or a scan of the artwork with a full description to lindsay@voiceupberks.org between March 23rd and April 6th. Once we have received all submissions, we will create a virtual exhibit to showcase the photos and award a WINNER. Good luck and be KIND! We are excited to see how your submissions will inspire kindness in others! (If photographs include anyone under the age of 18 we will need a photo release in order to post to our virtual exhibit.) * Please record all time spent on projects so that they may be counted as YVC hours*

Through4/6/20

As you may know those living in nursing homes are currently unable to have visitors due to the outbreak of the Corona Virus. In an attempt to spread kindness, create pictures, cards, poems, etc and send to lindsay@voiceupberks.org by April 6th. Once we have received all submissions, we will create a digital file and send to nursing homes across Berks County so that they may be shared and read aloud. Excited to see all the submissions and the great impact it will have on so many! * Please record all time spent on projects so that they may be counted as YVC hours*

Through4/6/20

In 250 words or less, tell us what you love about YVC and the things you have learned or whom you have helped. You can even include a picture or two! Submit entries to info@voiceupberks.org from now until April 17. One essay will be highlighted each week and a grand prize winner announced on Global Youth Service Day on April 19. #YVCvirtualvolunteerism * Please recond all time spent on projects so that they may be counted as YVC hours. *

Through4/17/20

Did you know that one thrifted t-shirt saves 700 gallons of water? Textile Takedown is a project initiated by the YVC Youth Advisory Board to address the environmental issue of textile waste by educating others about the importance of donating and recycling old textiles (such as clothes and shoes). Through the reuse of clothes and textiles, we can avoid pollution and energy-intensive production of new clothing. With the extra time you have at home during school closures, we encourage you to clean out your closets and create a pile of old clothes to donate to local shelters. Email YouthAdvisoryBoard@voiceupberks.org with the weight of the clothes you plan to donate so we can add it to the total goal of 1,000 pounds of textiles that are diverted away from landfills. Also, track your closet cleaning hours to submit to the YVC “Kindness in Your Own Home” challenge. See www.voiceupberks.org/textiles for more information on textile waste and ideas on where to donate locally. * Please record all time spent on projects so that they may be counted as YVC hours*

Through4/6/20

Paracord bracelets are not only fun to make but they can be used to save a life in an emergency situation. If you are looking for a way to show appreciation to our Troops and First Responders during this trying time this is one way to do that! All who serve use paracord. One paracord bracelet provides 7.5 feet of cord. Paracord “Survival” Bracelets can be used to make a sling, create a harness to extract an injured person, build a shelter, etc. Attached you will find step by step instructions on exactly how to make these lifesaving bracelets. Paracord can be purchased @ www.amazon.com. Please mail finished bracelets to VOiCEup/YVC at 201 Washington St., Ste 547, Reading, PA 19601. Once we have collected all bracelets, we will ship them together to Operation Gratitude as a donation from the youth of Berks County. http://myoutdoorslife.com/diy/how-to-make-paracord-bracelet.html * Please record all time spent on projects so that they may be counted as YVC hours*

Through4/6/20

Participate in an at-home service challenge! Track the time you spend helping those around you which could look a variety of different ways. Examples include: playing educational games with younger siblings, unloading the dishwasher while your parents work, calling on your elderly neighbor to make sure they have all the supplies they need, doing yard work, cleaning the house without being asked, walking the dog, etc. We will be holding the “Kindess in Your Own Home” challenge for 8 weeks beginning on March 23rd. At the end of each week we will highlight the youth who tracked the most “Kindness” hours and award them with a prize! We ask that you fill out the form (attached) and email to lindsay@voiceupberks.org by Sunday of each week. Get creative and be KIND! * Please record all time spent on projects so that they may be counted as YVC hours*

Through5/17/20

Join us as we celebrate the unsung heroes (nurses,doctors,grocery store clerks,etc) who are working tiresly to help our community. We will be meeting via Zoom every Tuesday from 3:00PM-4:00PM beginning on April 7th and concluding on April 28th. We will be working together, creatively, on projects to show our gratitute for the impact these heroes are having on our community. Help us lift their spirits, and ours, during this trying time! Please contact lindsay@voiceupberks.org to sign up.

Through4/28/20

Each year, the Animal Rescue League of Berks County cares for more than 5,000 lost, injured, abandoned, unwanted or abused animals during their greatest time of need. Lets work together, during this great time of need, to bring joy to the animals at the ARL through fun and exciting projects that can be done at home! We will be meeting every Wednesday, from 3:00-4:00PM via Zoom, beginning on April 8 and concluding on April 29th Please contact lindsay@voiceupberks.org to sign up.

Through4/28/20