(01.07.2018)
Dear volunteers,
Read on for information about our Partage activities in June and July and about a number of upcoming volunteering opportunities that we hope you can be part of.
Partage
Thank you all again for signing up to help with the sorting of all the donations collected during the Samedi du Partage. This year, nearly 150 tonnes of food and toiletries were donated.
In spite of the collection being so large, the many volunteer teams, including those from STCG, have done such a great job of sorting that it’s been completed in record time! In fact, there’s not enough work left to fill the rest of STCG’s Partage sorting dates so we have had to cancel some unfortunately.
The following dates are still going ahead: Wednesday 4 and Friday 6 July. Sorting will then be finished!
Sorry to those whose sorting dates have been cancelled – look out for the next chance to take part after the November collection!
More than 1000 people benefit from the Partage programme every day. We are truly glad to be a part of it and we thank all the volunteers who have contribute to the collection and sorting.
Nelson Mandela International Day of Service
Every year on 18 July – Nelson Mandela’s birthday – people all over the world are encouraged to give some of their time to voluntary activities in memory of his decades of service to humanity. We at STCG have put together a number of events in July, details of which are given below. Of course, you can also participate your own way by helping out your neighbours or members of your community – let us know by email or on Facebook how you took part!
10-14 July (and beyond): soup kitchen at Jardin de Montbrillant (Cornavin)
From 10 July, we are looking to recruit an additional 3 or 4 volunteers to back up our existing team during the summer to ensure that STC can continue to feed up to 200 hungry and needy people in Geneva every Tuesday. Sign up on the Current Activities page if you’re interested!
Saturday 14 July: Parc Challandes Zoo in Bellevue
The zoo needs some redecorating – we will be replenishing the insides of the enclosures with fresh branches, leaves and special treats for the animal guests. If you’d like to help, sign up on the Current Activities page.
Saturday 14 July: La Garenne Zoo in Le Vaud
(or smaller groups during the week if the volunteers prefer)
This large animal park concentrates of taking in and treating wild animals in difficulty, safeguarding and reintroducing threatened species, supporting environmental education and promoting Swiss wildlife. The zoo is looking for 4 to 8 volunteers (or more groups of 3 to 4 during the week) to help out with various maintenance projects.
Tuesday 17 July: A Rocha event at Laconnex nature reserve
Join us and conservation charity A Rocha as we mark International Nelson Mandela Day of Service with a rewarding outdoor activity. We will be clearing invasive plants from the nature reserve in Laconnex (see location here) in order to promote the growth of indigenous flora and fauna. The meeting time is at 10am and we will finish sometime in the afternoon, depending on progress and motivation. Our work with A Rocha has always been appreciated by volunteers, and it’s a great way to serve while enjoying the great outdoors!
Sign up on the Current Activities page, and, since the nature reserve is not easily accessible by public transport, please let us know in the comments if you are driving and could pick up other volunteers (and where from) or if you don’t have transport and would like a lift.
Wednesday 18 July: Ronald McDonald House garden party
We are looking for 3 to 4 volunteers to lend a hand at the garden party of the two Ronald McDonald Houses near the HUG. These houses are used free of charge by parents of children undergoing treatment at the hospital, allowing them to be nearby. Sign up online!
Sunday 22 July: La Maison de Tara in Chêne Bougeries
This is another wonderful opportunity to help those who help others: La Maison de Tara (79 Ch. de la Montagne, 1224 Chêne-Bougeries) is a small hospice that provides home-from-home care for people nearing the end of their life when staying at home is not possible but they don’t wish to be in hospital. This charity exists thanks to the support of its kind and generous donors, the unending support of the commune of Chêne-Bougeries and the support of over 100 trained volunteers.
The charity needs a few extra volunteers to help clear the basement so that it can be painted. This will involve emptying cupboards, wardrobes, drawers and storage boxes and then moving the empty items to another part of the basement while the painting is carried out over 3 to 4 days. The clearing job will start at 10am on the Sunday and is expected to take around 3 hours, but may continue into the afternoon. If you’d like to help, sign up here.
Once the painting is complete, more volunteers will be needed to help put everything back – date to be confirmed.
Looking ahead
We are not done! We have a few events planned for September – keep an eye out for further information:
– Sunday 2 September: Paddle for Cancer at the Lac de Joux (5-10 volunteers)
– Saturday 22 September: TheMeal at the Plaine de Plainpalais (40 volunteers)
– Date TBC: LaArch Centre for those with Down syndrome (5-10 volunteers)
STCG Committee
STC is always looking for project managers, and right now we are especially keen to find someone who might have or find contacts in the Red Cross to see how STC might be of help to them.
Thanks for your continued service and we hope to see you at some of our upcoming activities!
The Serve the City Geneva team