HANDS ON | Volunteering

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., Suite 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 at (330) 393-4254 or visit the new Web site at www.HOVN.org!

OPPORTUNITIES

Make a Difference Day: Make A Difference Day is the national day of helping others. It is an annual event that takes place on the fourth Saturday of every October. The next event is Oct. 24. For the last decade, Ohio has led the nation in the number or projects completed on Make a Difference Day. This is your chance to be a part of a national day of doing good for others. 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 more than 100 young people from both Youngstown and Warren city schools in an effort to encourage and empower them to become civically active members of the community. Volunteers will help with activities during session breaks, registration, meal service and traffic control, and assist classroom facilitators as needed. Volunteers are needed between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. For more information, contact Corrie at (330) 782-5877 or cadams@hovn.org as soon as possible.

Butler docents: The Butler Institute of American Art is offering classes for new docents, volunteer tour guides, at the museum beginning Tuesday. Anyone interested in learning about art and willing to share time and knowledge with museum visitors is qualified. Docents provide indispensable support to the operation of the museum and to the public through their understanding of the museum’s collection. Instruction begins at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Classes are Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon from September through March. Contact the museum’s education department Tuesday through Friday (330) 743-1711, ext. 114, for further information.

First Night Youngstown Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser: First Night Youngstown is a community celebration of arts, music and social connections. You can help raise funds in support of First Night by volunteering at a spaghetti dinner from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 20 at St. Patrick Church, 1420 Oakhill Ave., Youngstown. Contact Corrie at HOVN for details.

Habitat for Humanity: This volunteer position will help Habitat for Humanity raise funds for its operations. Tasks may include writing letters, making phone calls, going to businesses and churches to get sponsorships and attending planning meetings. Most work can be done on your own time with the exception of planning meetings. If this is your kind of opportunity, contact Monica at Habitat at (330) 743-7244.

Juvenile Justice Center Timebank Youth Court: If you are a high school student seeking an opportunity to volunteer while learning valuable skills, the youth court is the opportunity for you. Timebank Youth Court volunteers serve in roles of defense attorney, prosecuting attorney, bailiff or juror and hear real cases of juveniles with first-time misdemeanor offenses at the Martin P. Joyce Juvenile Justice Center, East Scott Street, Youngstown. Youth courts employ concepts such as positive peer influence, accountability and youth decision making. This is a great opportunity to make a positive impact on your peers, develop teamwork and critical thinking skills and learn about the justice system. Orientation and training will be provided. For more information, contact Susan Buttle at the center at (330) 740-2244, ext. 6477.

Data entry for emergency volunteers: If you have database skills or are proficient in Access or Excel programs, we have a great opportunity for you. A volunteer is needed to enter information into a state database for Ohio Citizen Corps volunteers. For more information, contact Gretchen Brown at (330) 540-0081.

Reading Buddies: Research has shown 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, contact Corrie at (330) 782-5877.