Several charity organizations around Bloomington are in need of volunteers and the Bloomington Volunteer Network is asking college students to donate a little time to the community.\nSome opportunities around the city only require a few hours of students' time and are offering free gifts as an extra incentive.
Hoosiers Outrun Cancer\nHoosiers Outrun Cancer is a 5K run/walk at Memorial Stadium on Saturday and needs 150 total volunteers to make sure the event runs smoothly.\nThis event started in October 2000 with 2,500 participants and expects more than 4,000 participants this year, volunteer coordinator Dian Ludlow said. Volunteers are needed to set up before the race, pass out water and help clean up afterward. There is also a need for volunteers to help secure the Memorial Stadium parking lot.\n"Last year we had people parking where the field is, so we need parking lot attendants," Ludlow said.\nMost of the volunteer jobs are only a two- to three-hour commitment, and afterward, volunteers will receive a free T-shirt. Hoosiers Outrun Cancer is expected to raise $140,000 this year in support of the Bloomington Hospital Olcott Center for Cancer Education, according to the organization's Web site. For more information, visit www.hoosiersoutruncancer.org.
International Walk to School Day\nAnother upcoming event is International Walk to School Day on Wednesday. The goal of this day is to encourage elementary school children to walk or bike to school for different reasons such as traffic, the environment and health.\n"We are trying to encourage kids to do this by giving away bottles of water (and) stickers," said Raymond Hess, senior transportation planner for the city.\nVolunteers will help set up and help distribute water bottles and stickers to the children.\nThere are five schools participating in this event. Children from Templeton, Childs and Highland Park elementaries and Edgewood Primary and Edgewood Intermediate schools in Ellettsville will participate by walking and biking to school.\nThe volunteer shift is from 8 to 9 a.m. Those interested can call 349-3530.
Monroe County Public Library\nThe Monroe County Public Library is having its first ever volunteer fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in front of the library at 303 E. Kirkwood Ave.\nOn this day, those interested can find out about the many opportunities the library offers to get involved. \n"The library is looking for people who love books and who want to help them do more," Community Relations Coordinator Margaret Harter said. Volunteers are needed to learn how to reshelve books. There is a training program called "Put It In Order" from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 17 for those interested.\nThe Friends of the Library will be having a book sale Oct. 21 and 22 and also need volunteers to help restock. The proceeds raise money for the library.\nIn addition, the library needs volunteers to help with its Community Outreach Program, which delivers material to "folks who are homebound," Harter said.\nThe library currently has 300 volunteers active in the program Volunteers In Tutoring Adult Learners but is looking for more.\nThose interested in any of these programs can contact the library's volunteer coordinator Sue Sater at 349-3050.
