LI charities always seeking new volunteers

HUGS ACROSS AMERICA is always looking for volunteers to help bag and tag donated teddy bears, and both can be done by an individual or an entire group looking to help. Locations and times will vary based on chapter.

"We have hosted bear stuffing events at bat mitzvahs," said Sue Lucarelli, founder of Hugs Across America.

In addition to physical volunteers, the organization is constantly seeking donations and grants to aid in buying and shipping teddy bears.

Contact: To find out more information, volunteer, make a donation or start a new chapter of Hugs, visit hugsacrossamerica.net, or contact Sue Lacarelli at hugsacrossamerica@yahoo.com.

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THE MENTORING PARTNERSHIP OF LONG ISLAND trains adults to be mentors and pairs them with at-risk youth in Nassau and Suffolk counties. The group hopes that connecting each child to a caring adult will increase their chances of success, and it seeks to ensure that quality mentoring programs are being conducted on Long Island.

Contact: Marcos Maldonado, 631-761-7800

CLUBHOUSE OF SUFFOLK offers psychiatric rehabilitation programs and employment and career services to the mentally disabled. Interested parties can donate money to the group, or food to Charlotte's Table Food Pantry or Helping Hands of the East End.

Contact: Ruth McDade, 631-471-7242 ext. 1429 or ruth.mcdade@clubhouseofsuffolk.org

For more volunteer information and opportunities, contact the LONG ISLAND VOLUNTEER CENTER at 516-564-5482; disastervolunteer@longislandvolunteercenter.org; info@longislandvolunteercenter.org