You can make a difference.

Nine Bluffton organizations invited chamber members – and the door is open to any Icon viewer – to become the difference.

In a “speed-dating” format Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce members learned on Friday morning that there’s a place of them – and you – to volunteer locally.

Presenting their cases:
• Bluffton Clean Up – with goals of promoting awareness of litter and creating a litter-free community. Contact: Facebook.com/blufftoncleanup, Joy Stemen.

• Bluffton in Bloom – preparing the village for the July 19-20 visit by America in Bloom judges. Focus on flowers, landscaped areas, urban forestry, environment, heritage, community vitality. Contact: Tom Schmidt, [email protected],
310-486-8024.

• Bluffton Lions – service club involved in several community project, including but not limited to Bluffton pathway project and Bluffton Festival of Wheels cruise-in. Contact: www.bllufftonlionsfoundation.org

• Bluffton Public Library and Friends of the Library – through the Friends exists several volunteer opportunities. The group holds book sale fundraisers, a 5K run/walk, formal tea and projects to support the public library. The library invites teen volunteers for the summer. Contact: [email protected].

• Book Reviews – located at 123 S. Main St., the non-profit sells used books and donates most profits to Mennonite Central Committee. Volunteer clerks are always welcome. Contact: Dr. Christina Walton, 419-358-6999.

• Johnny Appleseed Metro Park District – operating in 14 locations in Allen County, including Motter Metro Park, Bluffton, volunteer opportunities are available in nature education, environmental, gardening, visitor services and administration. Contact: [email protected], 419-221-1232.

• Mennonite Home Communities of Ohio – opportunities include game night hosts, workshop service helpers, seasonal group activities, program speakers and pair an elder to an employee. Contact: Jessica Strahm, volunteer coordinator, 419-358-1015. ext 248.

• Transition Bluffton – with a vision to create a community that encourages creative thinking and nurtures sustainable agriculture, economy and energy, this new organization sponsors several events and projects bringing people together. Contact: [email protected], www.transitionbluffton.org

• VOSH Ohio – Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity provides vision care to underserved people around the world. Since 1987 59 teams have served in several countries. VOSH Ohio has received 3.5 million used eyeglasses for processing. Contact: Dorothy German, 419-384-3700.