VOLUNTEERING

VOLUNTEERING

In Mahoning Valley

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. The network is located at Youngstown State University, second floor of the Williamson School of Business in the Center for Non-profit Excellence, and its 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 the Web site at www.HOVN.org.

OPPORTUNITIES

Hospitality coordinator: Help support the local arts by volunteering at the Youngstown Playhouse. This position involves planning and/or assisting with opening-night receptions and other events at the Playhouse, as well as helping to decorate the lobby and lounge areas for holidays and events. To learn more about this and the other ways you can help the Playhouse, call HOVN at (330) 782-5877.

Eastwood Mall’s Art Outreach Gallery: The Art Outreach Gallery operates solely through volunteer assistance. Volunteers open the gallery and welcome customers as they visit the displays. Hours of operation: 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. All exhibits are free and open to the public.

The Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley: Individuals are needed Wednesdays to prepare and set out buffet-style lunch for volunteers at the mission’s warehouse. Volunteer lunch servers will heat meals, put together meat trays and salads, as well as set up the buffet table to serve around 20 people. The volunteer also will assist with light kitchen cleaning after each lunch. Free meal included for volunteers.

Youth Think Tank: In response to a community conversation in October 2008, the Youngstown Office on Minority Health is looking to establish a Youth Advisory Council to work with YOMH to develop a comprehensive youth plan to be presented to the YOMH Advisory Council, city council and the mayor. The youth advisory council is an opportunity for young people in Youngstown to have a voice and to help put an end to health disparity. For more information, contact Felicia Alexander at (330) 743-3333, ext. 238 or 235.

Social butterflies wanted: HOVN is searching for some folks to travel around our community and collect stories from community volunteers. This opportunity is flexible and can be done around your schedule. Our social-butterfly team will schedule appointments with local volunteers, sit down and record volunteer stories and submit stories to HOVN for the Web site, e-newsletter and national reports. If you know this is your cup of tea, call today at (330) 782-5877 or e-mail cadams@hovn.org.

Meal-delivery assistance: Help Trumbull Mobile Meals deliver to individuals and families in need. Meals are ready for delivery at 11 a.m. Monday through Friday. Delivery routes take about two hours. If you are able to help deliver meals to those who might not otherwise have one, contact Kristen Gallagher at HOVN at (330) 393-4254.

Activities Assistant at Shepherd of the Valley: Shepherd of the Valley in Howland has openings for volunteers to assist with activities that run daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. These volunteers encourage the residents to participate in daily activities as well as motivate them during the planned events. For more information, contact Kristen Gallagher at (330) 393-4254.

Volunteer 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. Volunteers provide free tax-return preparation to eligible taxpayers, low- to moderate-income families and senior citizens. Last year, volunteers were responsible for bringing nearly $2.6 million back to Valley families in need. Certified instructors will provide you with all the materials needed and teach you about tax preparation, tax law and the software used to prepare taxes. Several sites around the community need people to serve as interpreters, particularly those who are fluent in Spanish. Ready to sign up? Mark your calendars for the training dates: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 23 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 30, all at Youngstown State University’s Williamson College of Business Administration; or 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 11 through 22, Monday through Friday, at Western Reserve United Methodist Church, 4580 Canfield Road, Canfield. For more information, or to reserve a space for training, call HOVN at (330) 782-5877.

It’s your turn: Do you know someone who’s passionate about their volunteer work? Have you had a great experience volunteering and want to tell the community how they can, too? Then send us your story. Send your story, along with any applicable pictures to Jenn Maloney at jmaloney@hovn.org.

For more information about these or any other opportunities, contact HOVN’s office at (330) 782-5877 or on the Web at www.hovn.org.