Volunteer Services Agency, Inc., a United Way Agency, is the local resource for volunteer

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.

OPPORTUNITIES:

Family Volunteer Day: HandsOn Network, generated by Points of Light Institute and The Walt Disney Company proudly presents Family Volunteer Day on Nov. 22. This annual day of service, which is the Saturday before Thanksgiving, is designed to demonstrate the power of families who choose to volunteer together to support the communities in which they live and serve. Call VSA for more information about how you can get involved in National Family Volunteer Day.

The Senior Services Committee of Mahoning County: People who have an interest in talking with people about issues relevant to aging are needed to conduct 3- to 5-minute telephone surveys to determine public opinion about the needs and services of our aging population now and for future planning. Survey volunteers will be calling registered voters throughout Mahoning County and the following shifts and location are available: Volunteer Services Agency, Boardman, 4:30 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, Nov. 10-13. Some afternoon shifts are available from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., five to six volunteers per shift; The Alzheimer’s Association, Canfield, 4:30 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, Nov. 10-13, five to six volunteers per shift; Area Agency on Aging, Youngstown, 5:30 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, Nov. 10-13, 10 volunteers per shift.

Come on Ring Those Bells! Salvation Army Kettle Drive begins mid- November. This is a great opportunity for families, groups and organizations. Call VSA today to schedule your shifts. Help is especially needed in Boardman, Canfield, Austintown and Poland. Shifts run in two-hour increments from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Beatitude House Christmas Concert Committee Member: Work with sponsorship subcommittee. Volunteer Members will help secure sponsorship from the community and businesses.

Santa’s Workshop helper: Volunteers are needed to assist children from Beatitude House with picking out gifts for their moms, wrap chosen gifts, keep children occupied as they wait their turn to shop and escort children to and from shopping area.

Call for Holiday Projects: Organizations who are in need of energetic and enthusiastic volunteers to assist with events, fundraisers, or special projects, should contact VSA. The young people of VSA’s youth volunteer program are from various schools in Mahoning and Trumbull counties who are civic-minded and interested in serving others. All youth volunteers have received training in project development and management. We are seeking one-time and ongoing projects that can be done after school or on the weekend by a small group of five to 10 dedicated volunteers. Volunteer supervision on all projects will be provided by VSA staff or trained adult project leaders. People or organizations who are interested should contact Corrie Adams at (330) 782-5877 or cadams@volunteerservicesagency.org before Nov. 10.

Mahoning and Trumbull Counties Ohio Citizen Corps Help in Disaster: VSA is offering you the opportunity to learn the skills to help in a disaster and put them to use in a Volunteer Reception Center. A VRC is a command center established in times of disaster to receive, orient and dispatch volunteers to the places where they are needed the most. As a VRC volunteer, you will receive extensive training and hands-on experience through regularly scheduled exercises in the tri-county area. Those interested should contact VSA today at (330) 782-5877. Individuals 55 and older should contact Corrie Adams.

Non-Profit Board Development and Leadership Training Series: VSA, as part of its Non-Profit Development series, will again be offering board training and development for nonprofits beginning in January. The sessions will be at the Park Vista Gathering Room on Fifth Avenue, Youngstown, from 9 a.m. to noon on these dates: Jan. 10 and Jan. 24, Feb. 7 and 21 and March 7 and 21. This comprehensive training is designed for people who have no previous governance experience, or those who would like to update knowledge and skills. Each session is directed by two to three community leaders with extensive knowledge of the nonprofit sector. If you’d like more information, call VSA.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program Tax preparers: The VITA Program offers free tax help to low- to moderate-income (generally, $40,000 and below) people who cannot prepare their own tax returns. Certified volunteers receive training to help prepare basic tax returns in communities across the country. VITA sites are generally located at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools, shopping malls and other convenient locations. Training starts in January for the start of the 2009 tax season. Call VSA today if you’d like to become a VITA volunteer.

Holiday Package Delivery: Do you have some time right before the December holidays to deliver packages to seniors? If so, call Anita Huston at VSA at (330) 782-5877. This can be an individual, family or group project.

Tutor/Mentor, Operation Learning Community: Nurture and care for at-risk second- and third-grade children. Primary responsibilities include: enhance learning skills (educational and social). Training provided.