Volunteer network of the Valley Opportunities to help

HandsOn Volunteer Network of the Valley, 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 located at Youngstown State University, second floor of the Williamson School of Business in the Center for Non-profit Excellence and our main office, 5500 Market St., Ste. 106, Boardman. Hands On 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 HOVN at (330) 782-5877 or Trumbull County (330) 393-4254 or visit our new website at www.HOVN.org.

OPPORTUNITIES:

Make a Difference Day: The most encompassing national day of helping others, a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors. Everyone can participate. Created by USA WEEKEND Magazine, Make A Difference Day is an annual event that takes place on the fourth Saturday of every October. The next event is Saturday, Oct. 24. In 2008, 3 million people cared enough about their communities to volunteer on that day, accomplishing thousands of projects in hundreds of towns. For the last decade Ohio has led the nation in the number or projects completed on Make a Difference Day.

If you volunteer regularly, great! On Make A Difference Day, give an extra push to your ongoing volunteer activity. For example, expand your regular tutoring by creating a special event for the students, such as a trip to the library where they volunteer, or the recruitment of new students. If you don’t volunteer now, here’s your chance to get started.

This is YOUR chance to be a part of a national day of doing good for others, and to be the change. To learn more about Make A Difference Day, or for help planning a project, call HOVN at (330) 782-5877.

Make a Difference Day-Urban Youth Engagement Summit: The event will bring together over 100 young people from both Youngstown City Schools and Warren City Schools in an effort to encourage and empower them to become civically active members of the community by using an asset based approach to village visioning. Volunteers will help with activities during session breaks, registration, meal service, traffic control, and assist classroom facilitators as needed. Volunteers are needed between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. For more information about this awesome opportunity please contact Corrie at (330) 782-5877 or cadams@hovn.org as soon as possible.

Reading Buddies Needed!: Research has shown that the earlier students learn to read and comprehend, the better they perform academically later in life. You can help a second-grader at a local school build a solid foundation for life by volunteering one or two hours a week as a reading partner and mentor. Reading partners work one-on-one in the school to help students learn to be better readers. Training will be provided. For more information please contact Corrie at (330) 782-5877.

Volunteer Tax Preparers: Looking for an opportunity where you can learn a new skill? Consider volunteering your time as a Tax Preparer! Receive all the necessary training and certification from the IRS and then help provide a much needed service to families and seniors in our Valley! VITA volunteers provide free tax return preparation to eligible taxpayers, low-to-moderate income families and senior citizens. Last year, volunteers were responsible for bringing $2.6 million back to families in need in the Mahoning Valley! Our certified instructors will provide you with all the materials needed, as well as teach you about tax preparation, tax law and the software used to prepare taxes. Volunteers are also needed to serve as greeters at several sites around the community, and individuals who are fluent in Spanish are needed to serve as interpreters! For more information, or to reserve a space for trainings or orientation, call HOVN at (330) 782-5877.

Support the Trumbull County United Way - Lend Your Talents!: Help our community help those in need. Assist United Way in its annual fund raising appeal. Contact current supporters about this year’s campaign and assist them with their employee campaigns. Work with United Way staff and key volunteers. Meet new people and learn more about our community and its network of human service providers, or support the Caring Club. The Caring Club is a group of local businesses that provide discounts in the coupon book given to United Way donors, help the United Way build their Caring Club membership by contacting local businesses to see if they will participate by giving a discount to individuals who support their local United Way!

Food Bank Receptionist: Second Harvest Food Bank has an opening for a volunteer receptionist from 8 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday. The receptionist will greet guests, answer phones, send and receive faxes, make copies, and help with general office projects. If you are interested in one or two days or possibly the entire week call Rita (330) 792-5522, ext. 11.

YVC Team Leaders: If you are 18 or older and have experience working with teens, we have an awesome opportunity for you to share your skills. Adult team leaders are wanted to work alongside teens from our Youth Volunteer Corps program on evening and weekend service projects. Training will be provided, and the hours are flexible.