Opportunities for volunteering in the area

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:

Second Harvest Foodbank: Need individual volunteers or group of volunteers that would be willing to pick up back packs from Campbell Elementary School. Currently there are two distributions each month but it may increase to four in the near future. The volunteer(s) would need to contact the school the Monday after distributions and make arrangements to pick up the packs and return them to Second Harvest. There are currently 150 packs involved.

Loghurst, Western Reserve Historical Society: From now through April, Loghurst is seeking a volunteer to help with its Young Historians Club, providing assistance to the lead teacher of the club with hands-on activities and crafts for children ages 6-14.

Girard Multi-Generational Center: Individuals can volunteer time and talents under supervision of the center’s program director. Volunteers must sign an agreement, provide Social Security numbers for a background check, and will be matched with their interest and age group.

HMHP Hospice of the Valley: Provide companionship and respite for family members in the Trumbull County area.

Meals on Wheels at John Knox Church: Volunteers needed to deliver hot meals to the elderly and shut-ins.

Mended Hearts Chapter 7: February is heart month and if you’ve had heart-related surgery or disease, you can help others by becoming a Mended Hearts Volunteer. Volunteers go through screening, training and mentoring with a seasoned volunteer to become a patient/family visitor. Visitors provide support and reassurance to people.

League of Women Voters: People are needed to assist the league with increasing the number of registered voters, assisting at the polls and providing educational opportunities to the community. You are eligible if you are a registered voter in Mahoning County, enjoy working with people, and are willing to attend a two-hour training session.

LONG-TERM OPPORTUNITIES:

Elementary school tutors/mentors: Volunteers 55 and older are invited to participate in the learning and socialization process of K-6 pupils while meeting one of the critical needs of our community. Flexible opportunities are available Monday through Friday with various programs in the Youngstown area including Operation Community Learning, Youngstown Super Stars, the YWCA, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Contact Corrie Adams at (330) 782-5877 for information on this and other opportunities available through our RSVP program.

American Red Cross facilitator for disaster preparedness: A volunteer facilitator is needed to implement the American Red Cross disaster preparedness curriculum for pupils in grades K through 8 in public and nonpublic schools in the Mahoning County area. The curriculum focuses on instructing pupils how to prepare for and respond to disasters.

AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer: Expand your horizons, help others help themselves, gain real-world experience, build your résumé, pay for college, strengthen and expand disaster preparedness and response capabilities focusing on low income and special needs populations through Ohio Citizen Corps. The Ohio Community Service Council is currently recruiting for four (including Youngstown) new AmeriCorps VISTA members to be placed throughout the state. Benefits include living allowance, health insurance, education award to apply to tuition or student loans, relocation allowance (if applicable) and federal government hiring preference.

Habitat for Humanity, Mahoning and Trumbull Chapters: Volunteers needed during the winter months to help get a head start on the upcoming construction season.

Contact E.A.R.S. Helpline, New Castle, Pa.: Volunteers, through supportive listening, help callers to express their feelings and offer nonjudgmental support. Callers are encouraged to explore options and to use their own problem solving abilities. Training required.

Make-A-Wish-Foundation: Wish granters needed to work directly with the wish child and family to ascertain and plan the wish. The volunteers make monthly contact with family until wish has been completed and informs wish program manager of any changes in child’s condition or family situation. Volunteers provide assistance in obtaining in-kind donations of goods and services pertaining to the wish. Time allotment is about six to eight hours per wish; and one to three wishes per year.