Help abused children as an advocate

Be an Advocate for Children in Juvenile Courts\nThe Monroe County Court Appointed Special Advocates has an urgent need for volunteers who are willing to make a commitment of one or two years to their program that extends to all counties in the Monroe district. Training and supervision are provided, but volunteers must be at least 21 years of age. Abused and neglected children in juvenile courts need volunteers to advocate for them in judicial, educational, medical and social domains. The application deadline is March 29. \nFor more information, contact Sandy or Tiffany at 339-1551, or at casakids@bloomington.in.us.\nMiddle Way House Needs Wishes Granted\nMiddle Way House, a shelter for women and children fleeing abusive households, needs the following donations: cars and pickup trucks, lawn mowers, phone cards, alarm clocks, cleaning and laundry supplies, and office supplies. For the complete listing of items on the wish list, go to http://www.bloomington.in.gov/volunteer/. Executive Director of Middle Way House Toby Strout said the life of working women without cars is impossible since they need the cars to go to work, drop off children at daycare and many other obligations required of them as working women. \nFor more information or to grant a wish, contact Clara Wilson at 333-7404 or at pungo710@aol.com.\nVolunteer Positions AVAILABLE at Gardening and Landscape Show\nThe annual Gardening and Landscape show will be held April 17 at the Bloomington Convention Center. Volunteers are needed a day in advance to help set up for the event, working in two-hour shifts between 2 and 7 p.m. The day of the show, volunteers must arrive an hour early to receive name tags, free show passes and lunch tickets. Volunteers can work at the front table taking tickets, directing patrons, and selling books and publications about gardening, at a children's corner during the day. All shifts will be two hours long. According to volunteer coordinator Betsy Whitehead, all of the proceeds for this event will go to the Sycamore Land Trust, a non-profit organization that preserves natural land habitats. \nFor details, contact Betsy Whitehead at 339-1782 or at betdon@earthlink.net.\nCollect Donations for Annual Food Drive\nThe Hoosier Hills Food Bank is holding its annual food drive April 10. At least 100 volunteers are needed to collect food, sort items and drive out to donation locations. Volunteer coordinator Tony McGovern said the food drive is almost like a scavenger hunt because volunteers are teamed into groups of two to ride in cars and go to assigned neighborhoods. The shift for each volunteer is two hours. \nTo sign up today, contact Tony McGovern at 334-8374 or at hhfb@bloomington.in.us.\n-- Contact staff writer Kye Lee at kyelee@indiana.edu.