Help Needed: Landscape Enthusiasts, Farmers Market Volunteers

The following are local organizations' needs for volunteers or donations.

Most of the opportunities listed are in Stone Mountain, or not too far away.

If your organization would like to be included, please e-mail the information to: Leslie.Johnson@patch.com.

Help with landscaping: , the Hindu place of worship in Lilburn, could use volunteers to help with tasks such as landscaping, said its president, Harry Patel, who owns off Rockbridge Road near Five Forks Trickum Road in Stone Mountain. If interested, e-mail: info.atlanta@usa.baps.org.

Help with a farmer's market: The Clarkston Farmers Market, which has its kickoff celebration on Sunday, May 20, 11:30am - 3:30pm  at the Clarkston Community Center activities field, could use volunteers for a variety of activities.

If interested in volunteering, or for more information, contact market manager Seanna Berry at 617-939-3300 or seannaberry@gmail.com.

The Clarkston Community Center is at 3701 College Avenue in Clarkston. Learn more about the Clarkston Farmers Market from its Facebook page.

Help educate, provide training:  (RFS) on Memorial Drive says a $50 donation can provide 10 new books to help students in its afterschool program improve their reading and English skills; $150 can send two refugee students to summer camp for a week; $250 can help prepare a group of refugee high school kids for life after graduation with college counseling, job skills assessment, or resume building workshops and more; $500 can help a refugee woman and her children escape an abusive home situation; $1,000 can provide training and placement for a refugee woman in a job through its Women's Job Skills and Placement Program.

Learn about making a donation to RFS.

Help sponsor homeless youth: Young People Matter, which runs a shelter for homeless young people, says for a donation of $20 a month, it can provide each sponsored youth with basic access to housing, nutrition, medical professionals, nutrition, education, and employment. Learn more about donating to YPM.

YPM also has an urgent need knapsacks and luggage, according to its web site. Visit YPM's wish list to learn what else the organization needs.

Drop off donations for the shelter during YPM's volunteer orientations, which are the first and third Fridays at the Redan Recreation Center, 1839 Phillips Road in Lithonia.

YPM says it can pick up large donations and/or those that will benefit at least 15 youth. Call (770) 744-4050 to arrange pick-up. 

Help get black dogs and cats adopted: This Saturday, May 19 from 12-3 p.m.,  will host a "Back in Black" Adoption Day (part of Best Friends Animal Society's mission of No More Homeless Pets®) at its location in the city of Stone Mountain, 6570 James B. Rivers Dr. There will be black dogs and cats, puppies and kittens ready for forever homes from AARF and the DeKalb County animal shelter. Why black? Because these dogs and cats often get overlooked.

AARF has a need for adoption day helpers for this event and upcoming ones. It also needs assistance with its "Cash for Critters" program, foster care,  and grant writing.

Here is a list of AARF volunteer opportunities.

Help-a-Greyhound: There are several ways to assist the  organization. If you own the breed, you can bring it to Meet n' Greets. There's also the regular duties, such as cleaning kennels, doing yard work, helping wth minor repairs and washing the dogs, according to the website.

Call 770-469-9533 if you can help out.

Help ART Station: There are quite a few options available at different times of day if you'd like to volunteer at ART Station: ushering at theatre productions, working the bar, hosting, and even bringing your corporate know-how to the table by becoming a board member, the website says.

Fill out the ART Station volunteer form here.

Help Refugees and their families:  needs family literacy tutors in Stone Mountain and Clarkston. These volunteers work with a refugee parent tutoring English and are also a "crucial link to American culture," according to the web site. RFS will provide orientation, training and resources. The committment requires a minimum of two hours, once a week, for three months. Follow this link to the volunteer application and e-mail questions to: rfsvolunteers@refugeefamilyservices.org

Help at the hospital: DeKalb Medical Center, which has a location near Stone Mountain in Lithonia (Hillandale) could use adults and college students to assist with social gatherings, recognition events, fundraising and more, according to the web site. Find out more about these volunteer opportunities at DeKalb Medical, and click on the links on the page to apply.

Find out every week what local organizations need help. Subscribe to Stone Mountain-Redan Patch's free weekly newsletter.