 Feature Volunteer Opportunities | | For our online calendar of opportunities, click here! | The Montgomery County Volunteer Center is part of Montgomery County Executive Leggett's Office of Community Partnerships. For more information on the Office of Community Partnerships and to sign up for the Partnerships Newsletter and Bulletin, please click here. | | | | Investing In Your Community | Bruce Adams, Director of the Office of Community Partnerships, recently wrote that "MontgomeryCounty's historic commitment to people in need has seldom been as tested as it is today. Our national safety net is frayed, our local fiscal situation is perilous, and the number of County residents in pain and economic hardship grows by the day."
On the night he was elected President, Barack Obama issued this  challenge: "This victory alone is not the change we seek. It is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It can't happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice. So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other." Holiday Volunteering OpportunitiesSo, this holiday season and into the new year, we are here to help you find ways to serve. Click here for opportunities or call us at 240-777-2600. No matter how big or small, your efforts will make a difference! | | Get Involved During the Holidays | The holidays are one of the most popular times of year to volunteer. Often nonprofits will receive so many calls from people who want to volunteer that they can not accommodate everyone. The Volunteer Center has a list of organizations such as the DCJCC, A Wider Circle, Mental Health Association, and many more who need special holiday help. In addition to these traditional forms of volunteering that fill up quickly, below you will find a list of suggested ways you can make a difference this holiday season. To browse a list of all of the nonprofit agencies in our database click here.
1. Holiday Entertainment - Provide holiday entertainment to residents of assisted living homes, group homes, or to people who are not able to leave their own homes due to illness.
2. Make Treats for Non-Profit Agencies - Contact your favorite non-profit organization that provides a much needed service and make snacks or a lunchtime meal for the employees of that organization.
3. Answer a Wish List - Ask a nonprofit agency that serves your favorite cause for a wish list. Take a look at the wish list and purchase items that will support the services they provide year-round.
4. Give an Alternative Gift - Give your family and friends a gift by donating money or supplies to a local organization in honor of a friend or family member and give that person a card describing the organization and the donation made in their name.
5. Adopt a Service Person - Help make being away from home a lot easier by sending a card to one of our armed service men and women. Or adopt a family who has a loved one overseas in the military. Visit www.americasupportsyou.mil for other ways to show support.
6. Hold a Coat and Shoe Drive - Locate an organization that needs coats and shoes this winter and then start collecting! Don't forget the hats and gloves.
7. Hold a Food and Fun Drive - Locate organizations like Manna Food Center that are in need of food and depend on the generosity of individuals, groups, companies, etc. to help fight hunger.
8. Make Birthday Boxes - Everybody needs a gift on their birthday, whether it is a senior in a nursing home, or a child in Foster Care, we all want to know that someone cares. Take time during the holiday season to make birthday boxes for organizations that work for seniors or with children so that they can provide love to these individuals all year long.
9. Volunteer to Volunteer All Year Long - While it is great to volunteer during the holidays, your help is needed all year long. Make a commitment to volunteer at least four more times in the new year. The agency you are working with will be grateful and you will know that you have truly made an impact.
| | Agency Spotlight: Interages |  The mission of Interages is to build bridges across generations and cultures. Interages is dedicated to developing interactive, intergenerational programs that are mutually beneficial to senior adults and children and that enhance the opportunities for them to work, play and learn together.
Currently, *Interages'* Bridges program needs several mentors. Bridges offers adult volunteers (ages 50+) the opportunity to mentor recent immigrant students as they adjust to living in the US and learning English. Student participants have lived in the US for 3 years or less, and are studying English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) at
school. Mentors play a crucial role in supporting and celebrating individual students as they grow in self-confidence and gain comfort with their new language and new home.
Mentors meet weekly with their students for 1 - 1.5 hours in a group setting. Interages staff provide language-enhancing activities, but mentors are also encouraged to share their own interests and hobbies with students. Examples of activities include books/magazines for kids, games, puzzles, conversations, art projects, newsletter writing, and help with homework. Initial training and on-site staff support provided. Mentors will meet with the same student throughout the school year.
Schools for 2008/09: Upcounty: Gaithersburg ES, Washington Grove ES, Gaithersburg MS; Silver Spring/Takoma Park: Eastern MS, Rolling Terrace ES, and Sligo Creek ES.
Interested? Contact Sara Cartmill, Program Director, 301-949-3551, ext. 19 or Cartmill@interagesmd.org. www.interagesmd.org. | | Quote of the Month | "In every community, there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart, there is the power to do it."
-Marianne Williamson
| | Feature Volunteer Opportunities | | One-Time Opportunities - Holiday Requests for Donations and Volunteers
Check out the Volunteer Center database to see what various local nonprofit organizations are in need of this holiday season! - 12/13 - Clean-Up Day at Frieda's Cottage
From 8am to 11am come help rake leaves, trim bushes, plant daffodils, clean windows, and sweep floors at historic Frieda's Cottage in Rockville. Mary Van Balgooy, Executive Director, 301-762-0096 or info@peerlessrockville.org. You can also visit the Peerless Rockville website at http://www.peerlessrockville.org. - 12/13 - Recreation Aide
Assist recreation staff in providing leisure activities to all age groups; assist in leading sports, games or crafts; and assist with set up/breakdown of activity area. Gradual learning of tasks under supervision of professional recreation staff. For more information and to volunteer, please contact Jana Serlo at 301-948-0110 or jserlo@mvf.org. - 12/30 - One Last Gift to Give Blood Drive
City of Gaithersburg Giving Fair and Blood Drive Give Time, Resources and Life!
In conjunction and partnership with Innova Blood donor Services Blood Drive and Service Fair featuring nonprofits from the Gaithersburg Coalition of Providers having agency info and volunteer opportunities available throughout the year. For more information, please contact Maureen Herndon, 301-258-6395 or mherndon@gaithersburgmd.gov. Ongoing Opportunities - Story Teller - Interfaith Clothing Center
Read books to small groups of young children and engage them in the experience. Storytime occurs anytime between the following hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 12pm - 3pm Thursday: 12pm - 7pm Saturday: 10am - 2pm. Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age and should be creative and have artistic skills as well as the ability to work with young children. For more information, please contact Sabrina Wilson at 240-403-0278 or swilson@iworksmc.org. You can also visit http://www.iworksmc.org. - Data Entry Volunteer - Traffic Management Plans
Commuter Services needs volunteers to enter employer traffic management plans into an internet-based computer system. Text to be entered includes descriptions of efforts employers are making to reduce traffic in some of the more congested areas of the county. Volunteer hours are flexible, Monday through Friday. For more information, please contact Beth Denanrd at 240-777-8384 or beth.dennard@montgomerycountymd.gov. You can also visit Commuter Services website at http://montgomerycountymd.gov/commute. - Telephone Officer of the Day - Bethesda Help
Services include responding to client phone requests for financial assistance, food or transportation and coordinating provisions of these services. Back up is provided for complex requests. All calls come through answering service, home or cell phone based (100% secure--volunteer phone numbers always remain private). Training is provided. Work one day a month or less frequently as a substitute. For more information please contact Nancy Horton at 301-365-2022 or info@bethesdahelp.org. You can also visit www.bethesdahelp.org. - Drivers - Bethesda Help
Drive one day a month (or less frequently as a substitute driver) to take elderly or needy persons to medical or social services appointments. Drivers will escort frail, elderly people from their homes into the doctors office and back. Drivers also deliver enough food for 3 days for the hungry people in our area. Most driving is not far from the Bethesda area. All drivers are scheduled in advance. Training is provided. Our clients are very appreciative. For more information please contact Nancy Horton at 301-365-2022 or info@bethesdahelp.org. - Habitat for Humanity - Junior Volunteer Corps
Join the Junior Volunteer Corps! Be part of a dynamic group of youths dedicated to raising funds and awareness for Habitat in MontgomeryCounty. Check out the Junior Volunteer Corps Information Packet for more details. Meetings are held the third Sunday of every month at 1pm in our affiliate office - come to the next one (12/21/08) to find out how you can start! For more information please contact Theresa Dellomo at theresa.dellomo@habitat-mc.org or (301) 990-0014 x 21. - Montgomery County Board Vacancies
CountyExecutive Isiah Leggett is committed to representation on all of the County's boards, committees, and commissions that is reflective of, and responsive to, our County's residents. Public participation contributes to the work of County government and provides a valuable service to the community when a variety of issues, concerns, and viewpoints are presented. Currently, there is a valuable opportunity to serve on the following: Historic Preservation Commission, Rustic Roads Advisory Committee, Sign Review Board, Taxicab Services Advisory Committee, and Western Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Board. The deadline for application is December 23. Please share this with anyone who may be interested. You may access vacancy announcements for boards, committees, and commissions through the following link.
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/apps/exec/vacancies/pr_list.asp | | To See More Volunteer Opportunities, Click Here! | | | | |
12-05-2008, 10:43 AM
Montgomery Volunteer Newsletter - December, 2008
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