volunteering | How you can 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, Williamson School of Business in the Center for Nonprofit Excellence and our main office, 5500 Market St., Suite 106, Boardman. HandsOn 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 website at www.HOVN.org!

OPPORTUNITIES

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA): Volunteers needed for 2011 income-tax season. VITA volunteers provide free tax-return preparation to eligible taxpayers. Volunteers also are needed to serve as greeters at several sites around the community, and individuals who are fluent in Spanish are needed to serve as interpreters. If you are 16 years of age and older, we can use your help. Call HOVN at 330-782-5877 or e-mail at info@hovn.org. VITA training classes are Saturdays, Jan. 8, 15 and 22. Interested volunteers need to register by calling or e-mailing HOVN.

First Night Youngstown: Opportunies: leadership team, button checker/greeter, venue sales table, bus greeters. These positions will be filled if enough volunteers sign up to work: venue-site inspection, communication dispatcher, post event. For more information, call the Youngstown office at 330-744-9966 or e-mail infofirstnight-youngstown@netzero.net.

Mahoning County Dog Warden and Trumbull County Dog Kennel: Dog walkers needed to exercise and socialize with dogs waiting for adoption. Weekday and weekend hours available. To volunteer in Mahoning County call Trish at 330-740-2205 and for Trumbull County call Gwen at 330-675-2787.

Girard Multi-Generational Center Holiday Family Fun Night: Volunteers are needed for a free, family, fun-filled night at the center from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 14 to assist the staff with activities, games and crafts for the kids, and an indoor snowball fight. Refreshments also will be served. Call Kristen Gallagher at 330-540-0102.

Catholic Charities Regional Agency Christmas Gift Giving Program: Volunteers are needed to assist the staff at 175 Laird Ave., Warren, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday to help sort gifts according to child and family as they arrive at the agency from the sponsors. Call Kristen Gallagher at 330-540-0102.

Christmas Program at St. Edward’s Church Hall: Help unload sponsor’s vehicles and sort gifts according to child and family from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. Assist clients in getting their gifts to their vehicle on pickup days 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday. Call Catholic Charities at 330-744-3320.

United Way of Trumbull County: Assist the United Way’s Communications and Marketing committee with activities, special events, materials design and preparation, Caring Club enrollments and their golf tournament. For more information, contact Brian Musick at United Way at 330-369-1000.

Centers for Dialysis Care: Volunteers will call bingo for patients while they are receiving their dialysis treatment. Call Kristen Gallagher at 330-540-0102.

HandsOn Volunteer Award Committee: Each year, Hands-On Volunteer Network hosts a community volunteer awards celebration. We are looking for talented and engaging volunteers to assist us in the planning and implementation of the awards celebration. If you have an interest in helping us recognize community individuals and groups for their commitment to service, call or or e-mail HOVN.

Reading Buddies Wanted: Volunteers needed to be part of an innovative new tutoring program in the Youngstown City Schools. Reading Buddies spend time one-on-one with students in first, second, and third grade helping them improve reading and comprehension skills. Reading Buddies work flexible schedules during the school day at Kirkmere, Paul C. Bunn, McGuffey, Williamson, or Taft elementary schools. Contact Marlene at 330-782-5877 or mbraunlich@HOVN.org for more information.

Goodwill Industries: Goodwill Amblyopia Screening Volunteers, working in teams, visit preschools to perform vision screening on 4 and 5 years old for “lazy eye” and report any problems to the amblyopia program coordinator.

Looking for something meaningful to do?: Check out our more than 330 volunteer opportunities at www.HOVN.org.

Senior Independence Adult Services: Have a good time with clients and assist staff with various aspects of client care including walking clients to and from the bus, assisting with meal times and games. Call Kristen Gallagher at 330-540-0102.

Youth Volunteer Corps: If you are a student looking for meaningful service opportunities and a chance to develop leadership skills, consider joining the HOVN Youth Volunteer Corps. We are accepting applications from student 13 to 18 years of age. Call Gretchen Brown for more information at 330-782-5877.

Simple ways to volunteer: During the holidays, many organizations have giving trees, angel trees, Secret Santa or ways to donate clothing and toys for those most in need. A simple way to volunteer is to choose one of those tags or organizations and purchase needed items that will then be donated to an individual or family for the holidays. If you are involved in a group that would like to adopt a charity, call us and we can help you maximize your contribution.