Chattanooga CARES will be hosting its 13th annual Strides of March on Sunday, March 30. The Strides is a 3.1 mile walk through downtown Chattanooga beginning in Coolidge Park. This event is designed to promote awareness of HIV throughout the Tennessee Valley. Strides of March 2008 is generously sponsored by: Memorial Health Care System, The Pulse, Comcast, First Tennessee, 96.5 The Mountain, Roche, and Gilead Sciences. The walk offers the community an opportunity to come together in a celebration of hope and remembrances of friends and family who are affected by HIV/AIDS. Individuals and other community organizations are encouraged to form teams in order to raise funds for the ongoing programs and services that Chattanooga CARES provides. This year we are receiving wonderful team participation from local churches. Teams should consist of 5 or more individuals and can also raise money by using First Giving located on our website at www.chattanoogacares.org. Registration begins at 1 p.m. and the walk will kick off at 2 p.m. Awards will be given to the highest producing community group, church, and individual. For more information on Chattanooga CARES please call (423) 265-2273.

Parks and Recreation is seeking volunteers to assist with the C.H.I.P.S. Golf program for individuals who have cognitive and physical disabilities. C.H.I.P.S Golf is a program partially funded by the USGA with the mission to make golf more accessible to individuals in the Chattanooga Area who have disabilities. Practice will take place each Tuesday starting on April 1 with two sessions 4:00-5:30 and 6:00-7:30. Please contact Lizzy Hockinson at (423) 643-5716.

Bridge Refugee Services is in need of volunteers to transport clients to and from doctor appointments and retired teachers to volunteer for our new English as a Second Language Program. We are also looking for local churches to partner with Bridge to sponsor newly arriving refugees. Please contact Sharon Shedrick, director of volunteers at (423) 954-1911 or e-mail at purpleshed@bellsouth.net.

The Chattanooga Community Kitchen Family Housing and Learning Center needs a minimum of four volunteers to entertain the residents children while they attend meetings. These meetings are held at the Family Housing and Learning Center every Thursday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

A Front Desk Receptionist is also needed at the Community Kitchen. Up to two individuals at a time. The Front Desk is staffed Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pick your hours. To volunteer for either position, please contact Kathy Spangler, Volunteer Coordinator at (423) 756-4222.

Friends of the Park will be hosting local Park Day on Saturday, April 5. It's time again for hands-on preservation at Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park! The 11th annual Park Day on Saturday, April 5 is sponsored nationally by the Civil War Preservation Trust and the History Channel. Locally, sponsors are the Friends of Chickamauga & Chattanooga and Friends of Moccasin Bend. The Friends groups are looking for volunteers to staff work crews at three of the Park's major units:
·Chickamauga Battlefield, where fence building will take place in the continuing effort to restore park lands as closely as possible to their 1863 appearance
·Moccasin Bend, where volunteers will focus on removing accumulated dumped trash
·Orchard Knob, where volunteers will tackle a number of smaller projects

From 9-9:30 a.m., volunteers at each location can enjoy an educational program presented by Park rangers. Work begins at 9:30 a.m. and will continue until 1:00 p.m. Volunteers should be at least 16 years of age unless accompanied by an adult guardian. Scout groups, church groups, school groups, civic groups and neighborhood groups are urged to participate, as are individuals. Park Day is a great team building opportunity! To sign up, use the Contact Us link on this web site and send us your name(s), age(s), email address, phone number and the location where you wish to provide your service. You may also call the Friends' Message Line at (423) 624-6914 and leave your information. Friends of Moccasin Bend are signing up volunteers at (423) 785-3030. Volunteers can also sign up by calling the Park headquarters at (706) 866-9241.

Partnership for Families, Children and Adults is seeking volunteers for our newest fundraiser, Croquet Ole’, which will be held May 2-3. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact John Sims, Volunteer Coordinator at johnsims@partnershipfca.com or (423) 755-2702.

Volunteers are needed in the following capacities:
·Set-up – Shift will be Friday, May 2 from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Volunteers will assist with the set up of eight croquet courts in Coolidge Park. Activities include measuring out court placement, marking off court placement, inserting stakes and setting wickets. Other possible activities include hanging of banners and signs, assistance with table placement, and set up of registration. Croquet court placement training given on-site. Need approximately 10 volunteers.
·Referees – Shifts are on Saturday, May 3 from 7:00 a.m.– 12:00 p.m. and 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Volunteers will assist with refereeing the play of croquet games, including monitoring start times, finish times, completion of points, compliance to game rules, and reporting game scores for posting on leader board. Training required; will take place Friday, May 2 at Coolidge Park at 3:00 p.m. during site set up. Need approximately six volunteers.
·Parking Lot Attendants – Shift is Saturday, May 3 from 6:00 a.m.–8:00 a.m. Volunteers will monitor reserved parking spaces and direct event participants to appropriate spots - including vendors, participants and outside guests. Training provided on-site. Need approximately two volunteers aged 18 or older.
·Clean Up – Shift is Saturday, May 3 from 5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. Volunteers will assist in the break down of event equipment including croquet courts, all signage, removal of tables and chairs, and litter pick up. Need approximately ten volunteers.

The Creative Discovery Museum -
Are you looking for something exciting to do with your Friday nights? We have just the thing for you! Join us for Friday Family Fun Night at the Creative Discovery Museum Science Theatre! It is held the fourth Friday of each month, and is getting rave reviews from guests and volunteers! As a volunteer, you will lead a science activity with guests and help with the set up and breakdown of your activity station. Shifts are from 6pm until 9 p.m., and all training is provided. Our next Family Fun Night will be held on March 28. The Science Theatre is located at Northgate Mall in Hixson. Please contact Kate Skonberg, Volunteer Manager, at (423) 648-6046 for more information, or stop by the museum for a volunteer application.

The Salvation Army Family Store on Ringgold Road would like to invite individual volunteers and volunteer groups to help organize, sort, and price donations. The Family Store not only provides quality clothing and household items at affordable prices, but proceeds from store sales support the numerous Salvation Army programs which benefit the Chattanooga community. For more information, please contact Will Hale at (423) 756-1023 ext. 1102 or will_hale@uss.salvationarmy.org.

United Way’s Volunteer Center promotes volunteerism by recruiting volunteers, connecting volunteers with opportunities, publicly recognizing volunteer efforts, and directing programs that mobilize volunteers to address community problems.

Contact United Way’s Volunteer Center at (423) 752-0300 or at www.uwchatt.org to learn more or to sign up for volunteer opportunities.