Academic Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (AFICE) is looking for individuals to work as Community Representatives, who will find host families for international students and will work with them and their families. Call Anne Ring, 866.462.3423.
The American Red Cross is looking for volunteers. Various positions are available. To volunteer, call Tom Viscount at 310.394.3773 x112 from 1-5 pm, Monday-Thursday.
Beyond Baroque offers free writing workshops including Monday night Literary and Experimental Fiction, 8pm, Tuesday night Creative Non-Fiction, 8pm, Wednesday night poetry, 8pm, Thursday night alt screenplay, 8pm, Saturday afternoon poetry 1:30pm, and 4th Saturday of the month morning poetry and prose 11am. Beyond Baroque Literary / Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice, 310.822.3006.
The Coffee Party will be holding a meeting themed “Wake Up and Stand Up” to discuss creating a chapter in Santa Monica. The meeting will be held at Infuzion Café, located at 1149 Third Street in Santa Monica (just North of Wilshire Blvd. At the Third Street Promenade). To RSVP or for more information, contact Jerry Rubin at 310.399.1000 or by e-mail at JerryPeaceActivistRubin@earthlink.net. Also visit www.CoffeepartyUSA.com
Do You Have the Heart for Hospice? Roze Room Hospice seeks volunteers to provide support and companionship to terminally ill patients and their families. Training is free. We have patients at home and in nursing facilities in throughout the Westside and Los Angeles. For more information, contact Kathleen McMahon, Volunteer Coordinator, at 323.938.1155 or volcoord@rozeroomhospice.org.
Donate blood on Monday and Wednesdays at the American Red Cross of Santa Monica, 1450 11th St. Hours for donations vary, so call to schedule an appointment. 1.800.GIVE.LIFE or 1.888.POR.FAVOR.
Food Addicts Anonymous has free meetings every Saturday from 11:30am-12:30pm at the Holy Nativity Episcopal Church, 6700 W. 83rd St., Westchester. There are no dues or fees, just the desire to abstain from the foods we crave. foodaddictsanonymous.org.
Free help with anxiety, depression, stress, and anger is provided by Recovery International. This worldwide non-profit organization, founded in 1937, holds weekly meetings every Saturday, 10:30am, at Trinity Church, California & 11th St. Free, but contributions welcomed. For more information, call 818.268.9841.
Meals on Wheels West needs volunteers to deliver meals to homebound people in Santa Monica. Deliveries are from 11am-1pm, Mondays-Fridays. To volunteer call 310.394.7558.
Musicians invited to meet weekly and perform in concert with the Brentwood-Westwood Symphony Orchestra, Tuesdays, 6:30pm, Church of the Nazarene, 1001 18th St. Santa Monica. 310.313.3726.
Pacific Jewish Center-The Shul on the Beach, has started a free lecture series, “Monday Night Connections,” at 8pm with Rabbi Eliyahu Fink, who will explore connections between Torah concepts. The class takes place at the synagogue’s “annex,” 726 Rose Avenue, Venice, 310.392.8749.
Pregnancy Support Group, ongoing on Mondays, facilitated by Sahaja Douglass, MA, LMFT and Aleksandra Evanguelidi, LM,CPM. This Support Group will focus on building community, releasing fears about birthing and mothering, and offering a safe place where questions can be answered by health care professionals. 2-4pm, $25, 11965 Venice Blvd. Suite 204, Los Angeles, CA 90066, 310.566.7690.
Recovery International provides tools and practice in changing thinking habits so individuals can gain personal control over distressing emotions and improve general well-being. This worldwide non-profit organization, founded in 1937, holds weekly meetings every Saturday, 10:30am at Trinity Church, California & 11th St., Santa Monica. Free, but free will contributions welcomed. For more information, call 310.476.1741 or go to www.lowselfhelpsystems.org.
Relaxation & Visualization for Cancer Patients & Family, intended to help improve the quality of life for people with cancer and their loved ones. Every Wednesday, 6:15-7pm, The Wellness Community -West LA, 2716 Ocean Park Blvd., Boulevard, Ste. 1040.
The Santa Monica Citywide Reads Advisory Committee invites community input for the 2011 book selection. To make a suggestion for Citywide Reads 2011, please go to the online survey at www.smpl.org/cwr, visit any Santa Monica Public Library, call 310.458.8600, or email citywidereads @smgov. net. Suggestions will be accepted through May 30, 2010. The Citywide Reads title will be chosen and announced in the fall, and the program will take place in spring 2011.
Santa Monica’s Solid Waste Division’s website answers many residential and business customer queries. To learn how to set up recycling programs at apartment buildings, what to do with unwanted electronics devices, where to drop off bulky items like refrigerators, and answers to many more questions go to smgov.net/swm.
SMC’s Continuing Education Program is offering free ESL and Citizenship classes, 1-4pm Wednesdays, at SMC’s Bundy campus, 3171 S. Bundy Dr., WLA, and at the Madison campus, 1310 11th St., 310.434.3400.
Sojourn Services for Battered Women and Their Children will begin their Volunteer Training on Tuesday, April 6, 2010. The training is held twice a week, Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6:30pm to 9:30pm and runs through June 2010. This training is mandatory for anyone who would like to volunteer at Sojourn. To enroll or for more information call 310.264.6646 x225 or email sojournvolunteertraining@opcc.net.
Take a walk through Santa Monica history! The Santa Monica Conservancy conducts downtown walking tours every Saturday at 10am. Tickets are $5 for Conservancy members, $10 for non-members. For reservations, call 310.496.3146 or go to smconservancy.org.
Volunteers are needed for the Docent Training Program for Annenberg Community Beach House. Go to beachhouse.smgov.net for more information.
Volunteers are needed at California state parks on Saturday, April 17th for the 13th annual California State Parks Foundation’s (CSPF) Earth Day 2010 Restoration & Cleanup presented by PG&E. Earth Day is commemorating its 40th anniversary and is encouraging California residents and businesses to actively participate in environmental improvement projects in their communities. Statewide, thousands of volunteers each year plant native trees and community gardens, restore trails and wildlife habitats, remove trash and debris from beaches and parklands and make overdue repairs to fences and boardwalks. Volunteers of all ages are encouraged to help restore the beauty of California’s treasured state parks.For a complete list of project sites, call 1.888.98.PARKS or visit www.calparks.org.
Volunteer to conduct guided programs for school groups and the general public, host a nature center, or patrol park trails. For more information contact Lisa Ann Carillo, 310.858.7272.
Yoga for the Community! Restorative Yoga-Mondays 5:30-6:30 pm, Flow Yoga – Wednesdays 5:30-6:30pm & Saturdays 12:30 – 1:30pm. Classes are on-going. Drop-ins welcome. No experience necessary. Classes taught by Sarah Bergman & Shannon Baker, known for their life-affirming teaching styles. Suggested donation: $5 per class. Mount Olive Lutheran Church, 1343 Ocean Park Blvd., 310. 310.452.1116 or mtolivelutheranchurch.org.
Zen meditation group led by Sensei Daishin Buksbazen, teacher at Zen Center of Los Angeles meets weekly on Wednesday evening at the Hill Street Center, 237 Hill Street, Santa Monica. Meditation instruction for newcomers held at 7 to 7:30pm, Zazen from 7:30 to 9pm, Dharma talk the first Wednesday of each month. Contact Sensei Daishin at 310.315.3506 or daishin@zcla.org.
