HELPING HANDS Volunteering

Volunteer Services Agency, a United Way Agency, is a local resource for volunteer recruitment, placement and management for people of all ages in the Mahoning Valley. It sponsors three programs: the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, which helps people 55 and older use their life-experience skills in their communities; Volunteer Service to Seniors, which provides assistance and companionship to the elderly living independently in their homes; and the Volunteer Center, which helps people of all ages connect with local nonprofit agencies that need volunteers. For more information, call (330) 782-1220, or visit the Volunteer Services Agency at 5500 Market St., Suite 106, Boardman, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
WILL YOU HELP?
Volunteer help is needed for these agencies or nonprofit groups:
Angels for Animals: People needed April 15-21 in four-hour shifts during the hours of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. to assist in the setup, sale and tearing down of the Angels' garage sale fund-raiser. Setup days are April 15-18; sale days are April 19-21. The minimum volunteer requirement is one four-hour shift on any day. The garage sale will be at the Canfield Fairgrounds.Antonine Sisters' Adult Day Care: Volunteers needed to assist elderly participants in and out of a minibus and help with activities such as crafts and bingo. The day-care center is located at 2675 N. Lipkey Road, North Jackson.Area Agency on Aging: Individuals needed to participate in the agency's long-term care ombudsman program. Activities include visiting nursing homes, educating residents and their families about care recipients' rights, and assisting in resolving complaints. Orientation and training provided. A background and medical check are required. The minimum volunteer commitment is four hours a month.Big Brothers & amp; Big Sisters: People needed to serve on the agency's board of directors. Board training and orientation provided. The minimum commitment is one hour once a month.Camp Fire USA: Individuals needed to help with the spring environmental camp that runs from April 22 to June 5 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Activities include a woods walk, pond-life study and bird study. Volunteers may work as few or as many days at their time permits.Finer Things Academy: The academy is in the Victory Community Center, 1501 Woodcrest Ave., Youngstown. People are needed to tutor children in kindergarten through ninth grade in reading and math from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. A background check is required.Mahoning County MRDD: Volunteers needed for the agency's annual Special Olympics at Austintown Fitch High School stadium June 8. People are needed to direct, assist, encourage and cheer on the athletes at each event area and then transport them to the awards stand. An orientation meeting begins at 9 a.m. Lunch will be provided.Muscular Dystrophy Association: People needed to help with the MDA's annual "Jail & amp; Bail" fund-raising events in Boardman and Canfield. Volunteers will be treated to lunch and given an MDA T-shirt and key chain. Minimum commitment is three hours.OCCHA: Volunteers needed to help with an after-school program from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. People also are needed to perform reception duties Monday through Friday. The Organizacion Civica y Cultural Hispana Americana, a Hispanic social-services agency, is located at 3660 Shirley Road, Youngstown.Second Harvest Foodbank of the Mahoning Valley: People needed to help sort and re-box food from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. The minimum volunteer requirement is one four-hour shift on any weekday. The food bank is located at 1122 E. Midlothian Blvd., Youngstown.