vVolunteer Services

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 volunteer assistance. For more information, call (330) 782-5877, 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.
SHORT-TERM OPPORTUNITIES:
Alzheimer's Association Memory Walks: Individuals or teams needed to walk and volunteers to assist with the running of the walks. There is a walk in Perkins Park, Warren, from 8 a.m. to noon Sept. 9, and one in Boardman Park from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 23.
Easter Seals Garage Sale: Volunteers can help with the setup and sale of items in the Ridgeview Plaza in Warren.
Someplace Safe Unity Day (Warren): Unity Day will be Oct. 2 at Warren's Courthouse Square. There will be a candlelight vigil, and volunteers are needed to help set up, tear down and prepare refreshments.
Big Reach Center of Hope: "Extreme Makeover: My Hometown" project will be from Sept. 15-22. A building will be constructed for eight days, 24 hours a day, and all workers and volunteers are needed.
LONG-TERM OPPORTUNITIES:
Mahoning Valley Dispute Resolution Service: Training will be Sept. 27-28 for volunteers who are interested in serving as mediators between parents and teachers.
Big Reach Center of Hope: Two programs are available for volunteer assistance, the "Giving Tree," which needs pantry workers and clothing handlers, and "Center of Hope," which needs janitorial and warehouse workers.
Help Hotline Crisis Center: Fall training begins Sept. 25 for individuals to learn to man the telephones lines to give referrals and crisis intervention.
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates): Training begins Sept. 27 for volunteers to learn how to become a child advocate.
Animal Charity: A volunteer is needed to assist the humane investigator with visitations and paperwork.
Mentoring From The Heart: People are needed to mentor a Youngstown City School child -- elementary or middle school -- for one hour a week. They would meet at the school.
Youngstown High School Mentoring Program: Males 21 and older are needed to mentor male students who are going into the ninth grade.
Mahoning County Senior Center: People are needed who can teach or help lead a class in any skill such as crafts, dancing, cooking, or foreign language.
Ursuline Sisters Ministry: A delivery driver is needed to pick up food at Second Harvest Food Bank and bring it back to the Motherhouse. This would be two to three times a month.
Volunteer Services to Seniors: People are wanted to assist senior citizens with grocery shopping, doctor visits or reassurance calls.