2006-2007 Program Directory 

Working With Youth:

Girl Scouts

 

Program Director: Molly Boes, Sarah Rossing,

Agency Contact: Cory Sendle (507-645-6603), Cannon Valley Girl Scouts, 1025 Highway 3 North, Northfield, MN 55057

Time Commitment: varies

Program Description: Volunteering for the Girl Scouts will give you the opportunity to work with girls ages five to eighteen in a slightly structured environment. Male and female volunteers are welcome, and the time commitment is up to you. You may choose to lead your own troop, help out with an existing troop, or just be available for large group programs and cookie sales. The big event for the year is the Girl Scout Earth Day celebration that is held on the St. Olaf campus each spring. Volunteers are needed to help plan and/or implement projects for this event. Leadership skills and a love for kids are all you need to volunteer with the Girl Scouts! 

Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) 

Program Director: Bridgette Coatney

Agency Contact: Chris Feldman <cmfeldman@citlink.net> (507-663-0133), Northfield Evangelical Free Church, 5600 E. 110th Street, Northfield, MN 55057

Time Commitment: Every other Friday morning, 8:20-11:30am

Program Description: MOPS is a great program in a semi-structured environment, where volunteers play with kids (ages 1-6) while allowing mothers a break. Activities include playtime, crafts, singing and a snack. The program is held at Northfield Evangelical Free Church and transportation is provided. 

Project Friendship 

Program Director: Tiffany Bratten

Agency Contact: Kathy Lansing <greencook1@msn.com> (507-645-6762)

Time Commitment: 1-2 hrs. /week

Program Description: In Project Friendship, students are paired with children from the Northfield community and they spend an hour per week together “hanging out” on campus- playing games, throwing a baseball, making cookies, etc. Students serve as role models to the children. They will also attend seasonal events for all of the Project Friendship programs at St. Olaf such as a Halloween party, a Christmas party, etc. 
 

Saturday Night Live (SNL) 

Program Director: Stephen Lindley, Davis Wille

Agency Contact: Susan Sanderson, Youth Development Coordinator,  <susan.sanderson@nfld.k12.mn.us> (507-645-7371) NCRC Building, 1651 Jefferson Parkway, Northfield, MN 55057

Time Commitment: One Saturday per month; 6:45-9:45pm

Program Description: SNL is held at Northfield High School and is for middle school youth. The program provides the youth with open swim, music (with disc jockey and sound system) and open gym (basketball). Volunteers serve as chaperones to monitor the activities, but they are also encouraged to participate in the events with the kids, allowing for relationship building in a casual setting. Free pizza and pop is available! 

Study Buddies 

Program Director: Chris Beal , Elisabeth Vickers

Agency Contact: Krista Ahlman, Service Coordinator, <ahlman@commonbond.org> (507-645-7710), Greenvale Place, 211 Greenvale Ave., Northfield, MN 55057

Time Commitment: 1.5 hrs/week (Homework Center), 4-5 hrs/week (Special Events)

Program Description: Common Bond is the largest provider for affordable housing. Volunteers for Common Bond work with young children on their personal learning goals and school activities while developing strong relationships with their “Buddies.” This involves reading with the students, stimulating their imagination, playing educational fames, and helping with homework. Volunteers may also assist with special events, such as a holiday and an end of the year celebration. 

M-TAG (More Than A Game) 

Program Director: Joseph Schultz

Agency Contact: Ann Strawn, Community Service & Prevention Coordinator,  <astrawn@co.rice.mn.us> (507-332-6288) Rice County Community Corrections, 128 NW 3rd Street Faribault, MN 55021

Time Commitment: Monday or Wednesday, 3:10-5:30pm

Program Description: M-Tag is a program targeting Somali and Latino youth (12-17 years old) who are either coming out of the juvenile justice system or at risk of being involved in it. Volunteers can perform one of two roles: you may mentor/tutor, which involves helping program participants with homework and life skills, or you may serve as an athletic coach, which involves participating in and guiding basketball and/or soccer games and drills. 

Northfield Middle School Program 

Program Director: Megan Bona, Griffin Sonstegard

Agency Contact: Susan Sanderson, Youth Development Coordinator, <susan.sanderson@nfld.k12.mn.us> (507-664-3654) NCRC Building, 1651 Jefferson Parkway, Northfield, MN 55057

Time Commitment: One day (M-Thurs.) from 3:00-5:30pm

Program Description: The Northfield Middle School Youth Center is an after-school program that provides a fun and safe environment to middle school youth.  Volunteers make connections with students through various activities; volunteers can help with homework, do crafts and other fun activities including foosball, ping pong, and board games, as well as play outdoor and indoor sports.

Education:

 

C.A.T. (Community Art Therapy) 

Program Director: David Hlebain

Agency Contact: Amy Pfefferle < amy.pfefferle@nfld.k12.mn.us> (507-645-2942)

Time Commitment: 2-3 hrs. / week, sporadic

Program Description: The CAT project works with local area elementary school students and teens to create art in the name of healing, communication, and community involvement. Volunteers will work with local students of different ages to create two community-based mural projects over the course of the year, while also working on smaller-scale projects with local area elders and after school programs. Both on campus and off, the CAT project hopes to create and instill an appreciation for art and promotes art as therapy for both individuals and the greater Northfield community.

ProjectSIGHT

 

Program Director: Megan Delain, Anna Thomas

Agency Contact: Judy Brown <jbrown@projectsight.org> (507-664-3532), Project SIGHT, 1651 Jefferson Parkway, Suite HS 130, Northfield MN 55057

Time Commitment: Flexible

Program Description: ProjectSIGHT, a non-profit community coalition, seeks to prevent teen pregnancy by fostering community awareness, enhancing communication skills among youth and adults, and building the capacity for informed healthy decision making. The educational opportunities, “Worth the Wait” and “Postponing Sexual Involvement” require a one-day long training session in order for volunteers to teach approximately one time a month. Other volunteer opportunities exist and most take place in Northfield.

English as a Second Language (ESL)

 

Program Director: Anna Jasch, Allison Helling, Kate Huebner

Agency Contact: Jayne Schultz <jschultz@nfld.k12.mn.us> (507-664-3764)

Time Commitment: two hours on Wednesday or Thursday evenings

Program Description: Volunteers have the opportunity to assist immigrants in learning English as a second language through a variety of activities. Opportunities focus on group or one-on-one tutoring. The age of the students varies from the early twenties to middle-aged adults. No foreign language skills or previous experience is required.

Nightingale Project

 

Program Director: Katie Johns, Laura Melcher, Heather Tietz (first semester) , Nicole Novak (second semester)

Agency Contact: Jennifer Streefland (507-663-0799), Guidance Counselor, Northfield Middle School, 2200 Division Street South, Northfield MN 55057

Time Commitment: One hr/week

Program Description: The Nightingale Project will provide mentors for middle school girls in town. The mentors meet with their mentees for about an hour per week and have one large group activity per month focusing on positive self-esteem.

Head Start

 

Program Director: Katie Handler

Agency Contact: Marge Randolph (507-664-3783), Three Rivers Head Start, 1651 Jefferson Pkwy, Northfield, MN 55057

Time Commitment: Varies; preferably one hour per week

Program Description: Head Start is a preschool program for children of low-income families. In Northfield, there are two classrooms of children from ages three to five. One classroom has a morning and afternoon class running M-F, 8:30am to 3:30pm. A second classroom has a full day program that also runs M-F, 8:00am to 4:00pm. Also, once a month there is a Monday night meeting (from 5:30 to 7:00pm) that parents attend; volunteers are needed to help play with the children while the parents are at the meeting. Much of the program’s funding is based on the number of volunteer hours, so they heavily depend on volunteer efforts.   

Math Masters 

Program Director: Erik Davis

Agency Coordinator: Michele Hendel <michele.hendel@nfld.k12.mn.us> (507-664-0958)

Time Commitment: 1.5hrs/week, eight weeks total

Program Description: Math Masters is a creative problem-solving program, which challenges students to use higher-order thinking skills and problem-solving abilities in mathematics. The program demonstrates the idea that math can reinforce critical thinking skills, and still be a fun activity for youth! Volunteers serve as coaches (no special skills required) or assistant coaches for elementary school teams.   

Reach Our Goals (ROG) 

Program Director: Emily Bartholomew

Agency Coordinator: NA, contact Kris Vatter <vatter> with questions

Time Commitment:  Tuesdays, 7-8:30 and occasional weekend activities

Program Description: R.O.G. is a mentoring program for Latino Youth in Northfield.

The mission of R.O.G. is to empower Northfield Latino youth by way of academic support, cultural celebration, and positive role modeling. In R.O.G., volunteers are paired with a Northfield student with the intention of creating a bond between the student and his/her mentor. This bond facilitates healthy role modeling, positive encouragement, and a way for mentees to learn more about college life.  Students bring their homework every week and discuss and set personal and academic goals. During weekly mentoring sessions, volunteers and mentees will get to know each other better through activities such as scavenger hunts, arts and crafts, large group projects, games etc. Weekend activities (St. Olaf athletic events, trips to the Cities, bowling, movies, etc.) are designed to bond mentors and mentees and to bond R.O.G as a community. All R.O.G. mentors are trained before the program begins. The students come to St. Olaf every week, and meet in a classroom in Holland hall. 

Health & Wellness: 

Northfield Hospital 

Program Director: Eric Busse, Christine Donnell

Agency Coordinator: Georgene Johnson <johnsong@northfieldhospital.org> (507-646-1036) 2000 North Ave., Northfield, MN 55057

Time Commitment: 2-3 hrs/week

Program Description: Opportunities for volunteers at the Northfield Hospital include the following: support for patients in the 40-bed skilled nursing facility, clerical support for staff and short term projects – e.g. entertainment for patients, Auxiliary Book Fair, etc. A current TB test and orientation is required for registration into the program. 

Spread the Hope 

Program Director: Brooke Walper

Agency Coordinator: NA, contact Kris Vatter <vatter> with questions

Time Commitment: varies

Program Description: Spread the Hope allows students to become directly involved with fun and exciting volunteer opportunities related to fighting cancer and touching the lives of those affected by cancer. Activities include fundraising, visiting hospitals and hospices, holiday decorating of hospitals/hospices, and Alex's Lemonade Stand. Volunteers can choose when and how they would like to help with the program. 

St. Olaf Cancer Connection (SCC) 

Program Director: Laura Hiller

Agency Coordinator: NA, contact Kris Vatter <vatter> with questions

Time Commitment: varies

Program Description: SCC is a student organization that arranges many events projects to support people affected by cancer. Activities include raising money for the American Cancer Society, organizing Relay for Life (a fundraising extravaganza in the spring), and volunteering to play with kids or cook meals at the Ronald McDonald house. Volunteers may choose which activities they would like to participate in. 

Up ‘Til Dawn 

Program Director: Mike Potter

Agency Coordinator: Michele Asmussen <michele.asmussen@stjude.org> (952-893-0442), ALSAC/St. Jude

Time Commitment: hours vary with letter writing campaign

Program Description: Up 'Til Dawn is a fundraising program for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which is one of the world’s leading research centers for childhood cancers and other diseases. Up 'Til Dawn raises funds mainly through an annual letter-writing campaign but also includes activities like date auctions, movie nights, and the program concludes with a large banquet at the end of the year. Up ‘Til Dawn in a great program to be involved with if you don’t have a lot of time, but want to make a big difference in a child’s life. 

Focus on the Elderly:  

Northfield Retirement Community (NRC) 

Program Director: Alissa Broz (first semester) , Nikki Schmidt (second semester)

Agency Coordinator: Milosha Malecha <info@northfieldretirement.org> (507-664-3472), 900 Cannon Valley Dr., Northfield, MN 55057

Time Commitment: 1.5 hrs/week

Program Description: St. Olaf students spend time talking with residents in a group setting each week. Students also participate in a variety of activities including Christmas caroling and ice cream socials.  

Three Links Care Center 

Program Director: Brian Roach

Agency Coordinator: Carol Fredrickson <cfredickson@deskmedia.com> (507-645-6611, ext.114)

Time Commitment: varies

Program Description: Volunteers have a variety of opportunities at Three Links Care Center. Many volunteers choose the Adopt-a-Grandparent program, which allows for a very flexible schedule. There are also opportunities to share musical gifts, help out at monthly or weekly activities such as chapel services, bingo, or popcorn parties, deliver mail, or work in the gift shop. Most of the volunteering is on an independent basis, which allows volunteers to set their own schedule and time commitment. 

Serving People in Need:

Feed My Starving Children (FMSC)

 

Program Director: Jennifer Marsh

Agency Coordinator: Contact NA, <info@fmsc.org> (651-379-2775), FMSC, 990 Lone Oak Road, Suite 124, Eagan, MN 55122

Time Commitment: 2 hrs/ one Saturday per month

Program Description: Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) is a Christian organization that started in Minnesota in 1987. In FMSC's 3 permanent twin cities locations, volunteers package nutritious meals (rice, soy, freeze-dried veggies, and vitamins) that get sent to starving children around the world. A streamlined assembly-line process allows for quick packaging--and requires many volunteers. A group of St. Olaf students will go to the Eagan site for a 2-hour shift one Saturday per month (transportation provided). Oles can attend just one trip or go multiple times throughout the year.   

HealthFinders Collaborative 

Program Director: Zach Hathway

Agency Coordinator: Angela Koch <koch.angeica@healthfindersmn.orf> (507-330-4031), 2980 130th St. East, Dundas, MN

Time Commitment: Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:30-8:30pm

Program Description: The Mission of Health Finders is to provide quality, accessible and culturally appropriate healthcare services, at no cost, to low-income and uninsured residents of greater Rice County. HealthFinders allows students to become directly involved in translating services (in Spanish for doctors and patients), and receive calls for the Clinic. The clinic is located on county Road 88/130th Street in Dundas, MN.  

People Serving People 

Program Director: Anna Sauer <sauera>, Stephanie Hahn

Agency Coordinator:  Erika Iverson <erikai@peopleservingpeople.org> (612-277-0256), 614 South Third Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415

Time Commitment: 4 hours per trip: 10:30am to 2:30pm (several weekends a semester)

Program Description: People Serving People is the largest homeless shelter in Minneapolis, providing both emergency and empowering services to families who need assistance. We go up to the shelter several weekends a month to serve hot meals that are prepared by cooks cafeteria-style in a serving line. We get to meet people from all walks of life through the kitchen staff as well as the residents. Transportation is provided. 

St. Olaf Community Action: Northfield Foodshelf 

Program Director: Wendy Harig

Agency Coordinator: <bickel.judy@northfieldcac.org> (507-664-3550), 1651 Jefferson Parkway, Suite HS 200, Northfield, MN 55057

Time Commitment: 1-3 hrs/week

Program Description: This Program coordinates and transports St. Olaf volunteers to the local food shelf where our students help distribute the food to families in need. 

Special Olympics 

Program Director: Paul Anderson

Agency Coordinator: Kathy Lean <kathryn.lean@nfld.k12.mn.us> (507-663-0630),  1400 Division Street South, Northfield, MN 55057

Time Commitment: varies

Program Description: This program works with people who have mental and/or physical disabilities. Volunteers provide athletic opportunities like basketball, swimming, adaptive bowling, and track. All of these activities are conducted on-campus, except bowling. 

St. Olaf Mothers Against Drunk Driving 

Program Director: Anna Scaramuzza

Agency Coordinator: Kathy Cooper <kcooper@acs.carleton.edu> (507-646-4297)

Time commitment: 2 hrs/month

Program Description: On campus, the SOMADD mission is to promote anti-drunk driving through activities such as red ribbon reach out, the chain of life, 21st birthday cards, and sponsoring a crash car. In the community, volunteers extend serve the SADD chapter at Northfield High School and visit the elementary schools to teach youth about how they can help stop drunk driving. SOMADD hopes to involve as many students as possible in community-wide anti-drunk driving campaign. 

Healing Outreach Prevention Education (HOPE) Center 

Program Director: Lauren Leeds

Agency Coordinator: Melia Garza <melia.garza@gmail.com> (507-332-0882). 303 1st Ave. NE, Suite 365, Faribault, MN 55021

Time Commitment: 1 day/week, plus an initial 6-week training period (8 hrs/wk)

Program Description: HOPE Center, formerly the WomanSafe Center, delivers advocacy and crisis intervention services to victims of domestic abuse, child abuse and sexual assault through healing outreach, prevention and education.  HOPE Center was formed in 1994 by merging the Rice County Sexual Assault Program, Battered Women’s Program and the Northfield Helpline. The result is an advocacy organization that provides extensive services to victims of violence in Rice County. If offers a wide variety of volunteer opportunities and allows for volunteers to work with both children and adults. Some opportunities include aiding in conversations and presentations about abuse to both children and adults, playing with children, serving as a role model for youth, and helping at health fairs. 

Adult Literacy Program 

Program Director: Lisa Skildum

Agency Coordinator: Jayne Schultz <jschultz@nfld.k12.mn.us> (507-664-3764)

Time Commitment: Mondays and Wednesdays 6:30pm – 8:30pm

Program description: The Adult Literacy Program provides GED preparation classes, ESL class for adults, basic education enhancement and work place literacy classes. Volunteers are directly involved with tutoring English Second Language Students (ESL) at the Northfield Community Resource Center. ESL classes include beginning, intermediate, and advance levels. Help is needed mostly in ESL beginning level classes. The ESL students will need to use native languages like Spanish, Somali, etc. as a reference. Therefore, this program can be very beneficial to St. Olaf students who are perusing to speak a second language such as Spanish. 

Animals:

Pet Therapy 

Program Director: Rochelle Erickson, Sarah Duerst

Agency Coordinator: Mark Bunett <burnettm@northfieldhospital.org> (507-646-1000)

Time Commitment: Friday 4:15-5:30pm

Program Description: Each week, three volunteers bring pets, mostly from professors and the community, to visit residents at the Northfield Hospital’s long-term care unit. 

Rice County Humane Society 

Program Director: Anna Duetke , Anne Nemeth-Wild

Agency Coordinator: Liz Messner <ricecountyhumane@hotmail.com> (507-334-7117)

Time Commitment: 1-6 hrs/week, Wednesday or Saturday afternoons

Program Description: Duties include walking animals in the shelter and providing care for them. Volunteers need to understand the aspects of running a shelter. 

Caring For the Environment:

Environmental Volunteer Program 

Program Director: Amber Collett

Agency Coordinator: NA, contact Kris Vatter <vatter> with questions

Time Commitment: 1 hr/week

Program Description: The program offers two or three volunteer opportunities per month, many of which are conducted outside, on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, and last about two hours. The activities are either on the St. Olaf Natural Lands or at the Arboretum at Carleton, and can range from clean-ups to prairie burns to tree planting. 
 
 
 
 
Committees:

Volunteer Network Executive Committee 

Executive Coordinator

Elizabeth Frosch <frosch> 

Assistant Coordinator

Victor Wong <wongv> 

Community Coordinator

Tony Paterno <paterno> 

Development/Service Learning Coordinator

Lindsey Myers (first semester) <myers>

Ishanaa Rambachan (second semester)  <rambachi> 

Program Director (PD) Coordinator

Katie Keil <keil> 

Public Relations Coordinator

Meggie Wade <wade> 

Special Projects Coordinator

Kelli Behr <behrk> 

First Year Representative (s)

TBA 

Director of Student Activities

Kris Vatter <vatter>, x3999 

Executive Numbers

Volunteer Network Desk: 507-646-3821

Student Activities Office: 507-646-3999

Website

http://www.stolaf.edu/orgs/sga/vn 

Tutor Hotline: tutorhotline@stolaf.edu

(Request tutor services for area youth by email)

Organization Address

Office of Student Activities

Buntrock Commons 107

1520 St. Olaf Avenue

Northfield, MN 55057

Join a Volunteer Network Committee 

Development/Service Learning Committee: 

Coordinator: Lindsey Myers (first semester) >, Ishanaa Rambachan (second semester)

Time Commitment: Varies

Description: Help to survey student interest in volunteering and creating new diverse programs for the Volunteer Network. Committee will brainstorm, carry out, and evaluate current and potential VN projects. If you have any interest in joining the committee or have a program idea you would like to see created, please contact the Committee Coordinator (based on appropriate semester). 

Public Relations Committee: 

Coordinator: Meggie Wade

Time Commitment: Varies

Description: Publicity is vital to any student organization. If you are creative and want to get the campus involved and informed of everything the Volunteer Network has to offer, this is the committee join! Members will be called upon to advertise for general VN promotion, special projects, or program-specific initatives. This is your chance to express your creative side and assist the community. The more people you reach and inform, the more people you serve. 

Special Projects Committee: 

Coordinator: Kelli Behr

Time Commitment: Varies based on events

Description: Help to organize diverse, one-time volunteer opportunities for St. Olaf students. The Committee exists for students who are not able to make the time commitment to volunteer on a regular basis or for the person who would like to explore new volunteer opportunities. Special projects in the past have included the community Halloween Party, the Spring Senior Citizen Prom, Painting/Planting Pots for the Hospital residents, etc. Please contact Kelli if you are interested in joining or have ideas for future special projects. 
 
 
Honor House Presidents 2006-2007 Roster:

 

Jewish Student Outreach: Aaker House   x2982

House Representative- Haley Wender 

The BRIDGE House: Felland House   x2983

House Representative- Benden McGibbon

The Story House: Forest Inn   x2981

House Representative- Chloe Cotherman 

Nightingale Project: Haldorsen House   x2969 

House Representative- Heather Tietz 

St. Paul’s Outreach Household: Lincoln Inn   x2986

House Representative- Mary Shaffer 

FARME House: Lincoln Manor   x2970

House Representative- Mary Sotos 

ART House: Mohn House   x6726

House Representative- Julie Boehmer 

Story Circle House: Schmidt House   x2987

House Representative- Laurel Fritz 

St. Olaf Cancer Connection: St. John’s House   x2989

House Representative- Erika Reid

TOLL House: Thompson House   x2977

House Representatives- Mike Witte , Eric Tvedt  

Diversity Awareness: Huggenvik House   x2975

House Representative: Anna Steel 

Volunteer Network: Helping Oles Help Others

 

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.

-Margaret Mead 

- Program information listed in this directory is regularly updated on the Volunteer Network Website.  Please go to: http://www.stolaf.edu/orgs/sga/vn for recent news/accurate program information.