HELPING HANDS Volunteering

Volunteer Services Agency, Inc., a United Way Agency, is the local resource for volunteer recruitment, placement, and management for people of all ages and abilities in the Mahoning Valley. Helping Hands is a monthly column that serves to communicate the impact that volunteering can have on our community. To express interest in one of the opportunities below, contact VSA at (330) 782-5877, or visit www.volunteerservicesagency.org. and click on the blue button for 1-800-Volunteer.org

SHORT-TERM OPPORTUNITIES:

Make a Difference Day, Oct. 27: Keep Ohio First in the nation for projects on Make a Difference Day. It is time to plan your projects. On Make a Difference Day millions of individuals across the nation gather to volunteer in their communities. For the last seven years Ohio has led the nation in the number of projects completed on Make a Difference Day! Do your part to make our community an even better place to live. Participation is simple. Get a group together and determine what need you want to address, develop a project and register it with us, and recruit volunteers. Locally VSA will be coordinating numerous one day volunteer projects to benefit the environment, local nonprofits and youths. 

Make a Difference Day Knit-in, Oct. 27: Join several local knitting groups at the Butler Institute of American Art from noon to 3:30 p.m. Individuals are welcome to stop in and observe the knitters as they craft hats, mittens, prayer shawls and other items that will be donated to local nonprofits organizations. All knitters and small knitting groups are invited to bring their own supplies and join the Knit-In. For additional information please contact VSA.

Make a Difference Day Scribing to Soldiers Project: A great project for families, churches and organizations. It’s easy and will mean so much to the men and women serving to protect our freedom. Here’s what you can do: Buy or make a card. Write a letter or draw a picture reminding our soldiers that they are not forgotten and to thank them for their service (please refrain from political or religious comments). Put your card in a plain envelope and leave unsealed. You can send your cards in a larger envelope or drop them off on or before Make A Difference Day, Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mail to: Scribing to Soldiers Project, Volunteer Services Agency, Inc., 5500 Market Street # 106, Youngstown, OH 44512.

LONG-TERM OPPORTUNITIES:

Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way Community Investment Volunteers: Community Investment panels comprise members representing nonprofit agencies, government, business, education, health care and community volunteers from Mahoning County focused on a specific area of community impact. It is convened for the purpose of performing organizational and programmatic review of each program requesting funding through the United Way Community Investment process. Volunteers serve an average of 20 hours over a five-month period.

Operation Learning Community: Tutoring and nurturing at-risk second- and third-graders on Tuesday, Wednesday and/or Thursday from 4:30 to 6:30 beginning Oct. 16. Background checks required.

Bulk Mailers Needed: Do you have a few spare hours every month to assist nonprofits with folding information, stuffing, sealing and labeling envelopes? Do you like putting packets of information together? Call us — we need your hands and your heart.

Salvation Army Volunteer Bell Ringers: Help with the Salvation Army Christmas Kettles Nov. 23-Dec. 22. Call (330) 270-5999 for more information.

Fifty Somethings Wanted: If you are 55+ and looking for an outlet for your creative energies or a way to share what you know with others we want to provide you with the resources you need to make a difference in our community. Volunteer opportunities are waiting for you and can be arranged to fit your schedule. Share what you know; we can help. Contact Corrie Adams today.

Volunteer Service to Seniors Faith in Action: Someone in your neighborhood needs your help. Most Ohioans want to remain living at home as long as possible. Remaining independent often depends on the availability of services delivered at home or provided by the community. When the ability to drive, handle errands and perform household chores becomes limited, it can have a dramatic impact on an individual’s sense of independence and daily life. That’s where you can help. Call VSA to learn more about helping someone in your neighborhood.

Teen Action Group (TAG) Representatives: Students from Mahoning and Trumbull county high schools can represent their school as a member of TAG. Members develop leadership skills while planning and participating in community-wide service projects. TAG is a great opportunity to build your résumé, enhance college applications, meet service hour requirements, meet new friends from other high schools, and most importantly give back to your community. Members are needed from the following schools: Springfield, Poland, Campbell, Lowellville, MCCTC, Cardinal Mooney, Chaney, East, Choffin and Youngstown Early College.

Volunteer Services Agency: VSA has two VISTA Volunteer positions available in Ohio Citizen Corps. Volunteers will strengthen and expand disaster preparedness and response capabilities focusing on low income and special needs populations. VISTA is a federal program with benefits and requires volunteers to be working in the field full time.