Call for Volunteers
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Middlesex County is seeking volunteers willing to become trained to advocate for children in foster care.
CASA’s most urgent need at this time is for Spanish-speaking bilingual advocates. Several Spanish-speaking children are currently waiting for an advocate, and more may be in need of support in the coming months with the possible increase in deportations. When parents are detained or deported and no caregiver can be identified, their children are at risk of entering the child welfare system. Please help us support these children by donating your time and Spanish language skills to the organization.
CASA volunteers spend time with their assigned child, communicate with people involved in the child’s life, including teachers, doctors, family members and caregivers. Using this information, they make recommendations to the family court to ensure the best decisions are made on behalf of the child with regard to needed services, education and other critical factors in a child’s life.
At CASA of Middlesex County, we aim for our volunteers to reflect the diverse population of children that we serve so we can be the best advocates for ALL children. Training and support for this much needed role is provided by our organization, and prior experience is not required. Advocates meet with their assigned child at least once a month and agree to staying the length of one case, an average of 18 months. All applicants must be 21 and over and be able to pass a background check. The Spring Cohort will begin Wednesday, April 23.
If you are interested in volunteering with children from Middlesex County, submit an application on our website at casaofmiddlesexcounty.org/volunteer/application.html. For more information email Lauren@casaofmiddlesexcounty.org or call 732-246-4449 x 6.
Calls for Vendors
The 2025 Doylestown Arts Festival is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, September 6 and 7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The festival remains free to the public and is expected to welcome large crowds once again.
Festival organizers are accepting independent artist applications and live performer applications online through Friday, March 28. Participating artists and musicians will have the opportunity to showcase their unique talents to thousands of locals and visitors in an outdoor marketplace that takes over the streets of Doylestown. Known for attracting an audience of buyers and collectors from near and far, the Doylestown Arts Festival has supported local and regional artists and performers for over 30 years.
The Festival is also seeking partnerships with local art and cultural institutions that are interested in engaging the community and visitors at the event. The Doylestown Arts Festival is proud to promote Doylestown and Bucks County on a national level, including putting a spotlight on Doylestown’s art and cultural district. To round out the experience, the Doylestown Arts Festival is seeking applications for art-based activities to help to build an exciting energy throughout the event and unify the town-wide experience around the arts.
For more information about this year’s festival, visit dtownartsfestival.com.
Grounds For Sculpture at 80 Sculptors Way in Hamilton seeks vendors for its spring artisan market, taking place Saturday and Sunday, March 22 and 23. The fee is $125 per table. Applications are being accepted through Friday, January 31. Approved vendors will be provided with one 6-foot table and a 10-foot install space. Selected vendors with details about the event on or around Wednesday, February 12. The market is completely indoors within our gallery spaces in the Welcome Center. Vendors must be present both days, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
For more information or to apply, visit www.groundsforsculpture.org.
Call for Hosts & Performers
The fourth annual Princeton Porchfest organized by the Arts Council of Princeton will be held Saturday, April 26, from noon to 6 p.m. Porchfest is a free, walkable music festival where neighbors offer up their front porches as DIY concert venues.
Talented performers play 45-minute sets throughout the neighborhood during this day-long celebration of music, art, and community.
Performers donate a 45-minute set to be held on a front porch in town, beginning at noon and ending at 5 p.m. All genres are encouraged to apply to Porchfest. Cover bands are welcome. Once accepted and assigned a performance slot, musicians that share a porch connect to ensure sound, instruments, and equipment needs are met.
If there’s a specific porch you’re buddies with, please indicate it on the application. The porch host will also need to submit an application and be accepted. Placement requests are not guaranteed.
Also needed are volunteer hosts to offer access to a porch, street-facing garage, or other space at your home or local business. You or someone representing your home must be available throughout the duration of event. Acts on your porch will need access to electricity. Please indicate if there’s a specific act you’d like to host on your porch.
Porches are accepted when they are in comfortable walking distance to each other. Additional review and safety assessment in partnership with Princeton Public Police help fine tune a map that is accessible for all.
There is no application fee. The deadline to apply as a musical act or porch host is Thursday, February 13, at 11:59 p.m. For more information visit artscouncilofprinceton.org/porchfest.
