New Year's resolutions with a twist: volunteering in Sisters

It's that time of year again when we try to clean up our lives and lose weight - give up smoking or correct some other perceived defect. The problem with New Year's resolutions is that because they are generally self-centered, they often end up failing.

For a different new year's resolution in 2007, find a cause and volunteer. There is no shortage of good causes, all of which would benefit from your input and time. Your outreach would be a gift to the community and strengthen the bonds we all share. However, for that slight selfish streak that all of us share, there is a reward - not tangible in a monetary sense but full of wealth in enrichment received.

Sisters Habitat for Humanity regularly seeks help at its thrift shop and on the job at its various construction sites. For information call 549-1193.

Area churches have numerous volunteer opportunities for community outreach programs and Sisters has several active service clubs.

Sisters schools have a storehouse of volunteer opportunities. The Start Making A Reader Today (SMART) and Art Literacy programs at the elementary school are seeking volunteers. For information call 549-8981.

Libraries at all three schools need help checking-in and checking-out books and organizing books on shelves. The schools' computer labs also need folks to assist as technical support for Web site software and to be another pair of eyes to insure all filters are working and safeguards are in place.

The school district's director of human resources and special education Tim Comfort says that adult volunteers are appreciated at all three schools to meet and greet students in the morning or at lunchtime. Volunteers can also help during recess.

"Kids are less likely to get themselves in trouble if they know somebody's watching than if they feel like nobody's around," Comfort said. "And it's neat just for the relationship, because as we have volunteers who meet and greet and get to know the kids names, again there's that sense of caring, somebody's looking out for me, somebody notices me."

For information about volunteer opportunities, call the elementary school at 549-8981, the middle school at 549-2099 or the high school at 549-4045.

The schools also need help with the English Language Learners program. Anyone who is bilingual or multilingual in any languages and willing to volunteer should contact Comfort at 549-8521. The French Club at the middle school also seeks volunteers.

Crossing guards are needed at the Highway 20/Locust Street intersection both before and after school. The school district provides vests, signs and helmets, and only a 15- minute time commitment is required to complete the task.

Comfort also mentioned that volunteers are needed to help traffic move safely in the parking lots at all three schools before and after school.

Comfort would like someone to spearhead a "clean the green" committee at each school to organize gardening days to freshen up each school doing weeding, gardening and anything necessary to clean up the school. Workers would be rewarded at the end of the morning with lunch and good conversation. Contact Comfort at 549-8521.

The Big Brother and Big Sisters program needs volunteers; for information contact Christine at 312-6047. The Sisters Area of Chamber of Commerce appreciates volunteers to answer the phones and provide tourist information; for specifics call the chamber at 549-0251. Hospice of Redmond and Sisters has numerous volunteer opportunities; for information call 548-7483. Volunteers are needed for this year's Sisters High School senior's all night grad party; call 549-4996 to help. Call the Sisters Folk Festival at 549-4979 and the Sisters Jazz Festival at 549-1332.