Nola Lee Kelsey has published a new book based on her blog, Volunteer Before You Die Traveler's Network. It's called 700 Places to Volunteer Before You Die. She advocates "voluntourism" as a way to satisfy the thirst of seeing new places and doing new things by helping others.

Bike spotting with perks

This year volunteers at the third annual Bicycle Count will receive a $10 gift certificate for their effort. The count takes place Thursday, October 14 and Sunday, October 17. The counts, which will take place all over the city, help determine areas with large numbers of bicyclists and pedestrians, so the sidewalks and streets can be better adapted for them. Volunteers must attend a 30-minute training session on October 12 or 13.

Los Cerritos Wetlands Clean-Up

Saturday, September 25, volunteers are invited to help spruce up Los Cerritos wetlands. Supplies and equipment will be provided. Everyone is asked to bring reusable water bottles. RSVP Eric@tidalinfluence.com for a spot.

Free Trade

Long Beach is about to join hip communities like West L.A. and Echo Park with its own Long Beach Time Exchange. Actually, time banks, community groups which enable members to earn "time dollars" for services provided to other members and then spend those "time dollars" for other services, are catching on around the country. The kickoff event for the L.B. Time Exchange will take place at the 2nd City Council District Art Gallery at 435 Alamitos on Sunday, September 12 from 1 to 4 pm. Besides learning about the time bank, people can enjoy free food, music, and comedy.

Get Ready to Get out and Do

National Public Lands Day is set for September 25 this year. Volunteers all over the country get outdoors and do something good -- like clearing trash, planting trees and building trails. According to the quick and easy to use locator on the website, there are 6 possibilities within 20 miles of me and 11 within 30 miles of me.

Peace in the Garden

This Saturday, August 21, volunteers can help green things up at the Community Peace Garden at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Park at 1133 Rhea Street. From 8:3o am to 1 pm, work will continue on community lots, a horseshoe garden, a small orchard, a monarch butterfly garden, a shaded meditation area, and a learning center. Bring your own gardening utensils.

They're going the distance to stop cancer

Tonight in Long Beach at Saint Anthony High School track many dedicated souls will be participating ing the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. From 6 pm Friday until 6 pm Saturday at 4832 Clark Avenue over 150 will walk the track, raising about $13,000 for the cause. There will be a survivor's lap and after sunset the area will be illuminated by luminaria commemorating loved ones who have been affected by cancer.

Only You can Prevent Messy Beaches

Save Our Beach has scheduled Saturday clean-up events at many area beaches in the next two months.

July Beach Clean-ups
July 9 at 10 Pacific Coast Hwy, Seal Beach (wetlands) from 9 to 11
July 10 at Beach Blvd & PCH., Huntington Beach
July 11 at Bolsa Chica State Beach from 10 to Noon
July 17 at 15 1st Street, Seal Beach from 9 to Noon

August Beach Clean-ups
Aug 7 at 90 Termino Avenue, Long Beach from 9 to Noon
Aug 13 at 10 Pacific Coast Hwy, Seal Beach (wetlands) from 9 to 11
Aug 14 at Beach Blvd & PCH., Huntington Beach
Aug 15 at Bolsa Chica State Beach from 10 to Noon
Aug 21 at 15 1st Street, Seal Beach from 9 to Noon

There's free yoga before the events from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Parking and pickup bags are provided, but volunteers should bring gloves, a light jacket and sun screen as well as non-plastic water bottle

Time to Cleanify the Beach

Get down to the beach this Saturday, June 19 for the 30-Minute Beach Clean-Up. From 10 am to 1 pm at Granada Avenue, more than 200 volunteers are expected to pick up litter for a mile-long strand along the beach. Dads and anyone who has volunteered at least twice before will receive free t-shirts and other door prizes will be given away. As always, all participants get gloves and bags as well as refreshments, and parking is free.

Making Myself Useful

I dream of travelling to Europe, but when I look at the price of plane tickets, hotels, rental cars, etc., I just can't justify the expense. What if I go to Poland or Italy or Portugal and volunteer to teach or help build a school? Volunteer Abroad compiles opportunities from 50 or more organizations. Most require you to pay for transportation and/or boarding, but it would be worth it to feel you're getting a behind the scenes look at a country and of course to know you're helping someone.

Is it time to Serve America Yet?

Funding for the Serve America Act is supposed to start in 2010. The act has special provisions for people over 55 to encourage them to use their work experience to serve their communities. The Silver Scholarships and Encore Fellowships help people transition from midlife careers into nonprofits or public service. ServeAmerica Fellowships let older Americans create their own programs for community service.

Waders not required

There will be a lake clean up at El Dorado Park Area III on Saturday February 13 from 9 am to noon. Trash bags and gloves will be handed out to volunteers for picking up litter, fishing line and tackle from around the lake at the park entrance on Wardlow. Volunteer through Councilperson Gerrie Schipske's office at (562) 570-6932.

A Week of Peace and Unity

The celebration of the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will last a week here in Long Beach, sponsored in large part by Councilperson Dee Andrews. Today, activities include a clean-up of MLK Blvd., ground breaking for a Community Peace Garden at Martin Luther King Jr. Park, and the third annual Peace March from 5 pm to 6 pm. During the week there will be an awards ceremony and a lunch for local ministers as well as dialogues between police and youth. The culmination of all these unity-building events will be the Peace & Unity Parade Celebration which runs from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm on January 16.



Over the years, many people use the MLK holiday to volunteer for some helping activity. Create the Good network has featured MLK volunteer events on its website and California State Library has teamed with VolunteerMatch to create a user-friendly website for local links to volunteer opportunities.

Give Yourself for Christmas

I always think of taking a little time from tinsel and sugarplums to give some help where it's needed. Here are some more groups that welcome help at Christmas and all year through.

Catholic Charities of Los Angeles

Global Volunteer Network

VolunteerMatch

Habitat for Humanity

Mercy and Truth Medical Missions

Children's Hopechest

Friend Ships Unlimited

Food Bank in Los Angeles

I'm still looking for a link for a Long Beach food bank, but in the meantime, I did come across a Los Angeles food bank--the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. They need volunteers as well as donations of food and money. They have something called a virtual food drive where donations are augmented by corporations or other organization so that $1 donated is increased to $5 by the sponsoring group. A group called Feeding America has an easy to use locator database to find food banks throughout the country, but none is listed for Long Beach

People who need people

Here's a few Long Beach organizations who need a helping hand:

Hide and Seek Boutique at 203 Covina needs volunteers to repair and deliver items as well as to work in the shop. Donations of furniture are gladly accepted.

International City Theatre could use some ushers for its performances at the Performing Arts Center. Call 495-4595, ext. 10.

Bolsa Chica Conservancy has openings for people to greet guests or give tours of the Bolsa Chica Wetlands and to help restore the native habitat. Call (714) 846-1114

There's always something to help with at Justin Rudd's Community Action Team. I've got my eye on the Haute Dog Poetry Contest.

University Art Museum at California State University, Long Beach, is in need of volunteers and docents. Call 985-7601.

Todd Cancer Institute at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center needs some volunteer talent for Musician Fridays. Call 933-0961.

Literacy Network will provide training for people interested in helping adults improve their reading or math skills. Call (213) 237-3010

Fall's here, it's time to volunteer

Now, that I'm almost back on track after a long vacation, I'm almost ready to volunteer to help at lunch at Long Beach Rescue Mission. But I've been meaning to post this list of volunteer options featured in the AARP Magazine a few months ago.

• My Soldier Send letters and packages to deployed soldiers
• National Park Service Oodles of opportunities to help keep our parks running
• Share Our Strength Be a cook's assistant in nutrition classes for underprivileged young people
• Citizen Schools After training, you can teach after-school classes about job opportunities
• Experience Corps After training, you can help a child learn to read
• Rebuilding Together Help repair homes of elderly or disabled people
• Twilight Wish Help make an older person's wish come true
• Kiva Make a small loan to help a small business expand
• Threshold Choir Join singing group that performs to uplift the spirits of severely ill people
• Care Host a party to spread the work about Care activities and raise money
• National CASA Be a court-appointed special advocate for abused or neglected children
• International Rescue Committee Help refugees adjust to their new life in the US
• Pink Heart Funds Cut off your ponytail of six inches or more to make wigs for victims of cancer and other diseases

Catalization Alert

A group called the Catalyst Community is holding an open house today in the midst of the Latin American Festival and the East Village Second Saturday Art Walk. They have already launched several exciting community groups like Green Long Beach, LBCreative, and Biking & Cycling. There's a link on their site to volunteer and also news about upcoming workshops.

No Regrets, Ecologically Speaking

On Thursday, September 17 from 6 to 8 pm, The Gaslamp Restaurant will host Egrets not Regrets (love the title), an event offering information about volunteering for local environmental organizations. The event is free, but the wine tasting going on at the same time costs $22.

It's Time for Back (Pack) to School

Long Beach Rescue Mission and Kingdom Causes need help with their annual backpack drive. Each year, they provide more than 3,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to area schools. Tax deductible donations can be made by check mailed to LBRM or by credit card through the website. New backpacks and supplies can be dropped of at Samaritan House at 1335 Pacific Avenue on or before August 10. Supplies needed are college-ruled paper, one-inch 3-ring binders, boxes of number 2 pencils, red pens, large erasers, and pencil boxes. Volunteers are also needed to assemble and deliver the backpacks from August 10 to 28. You can find out more by calling 591-1292 extension 110 or email volunteer@LBRM.org.