LOOKING TO VOLUNTEER? OPTIONS IN THE MAHONING VALLEY ABOUND

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 Nonprofit Excellence and its main office, 5500 Market St., Suite 110, 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 the website at www.HOVN.org

OPPORTUNITIES

Senior Corps Week: Open House: 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday. Celebrate Senior Corps Week, a special event for those age 55 and older. Plan to attend an open house at the Boardman office, 5500 Market St., Suite 110, for information and help to find the right volunteer opportunity.

Rib Burnoff: Volunteers will assist in keeping the grounds neat and clean, pick up trash and other duties as needed throughout the event May 18 to 20 at the Mill Creek MetroParks James L. Wick Recreation Area. These shifts are available: Friday 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., 5 to 7:30 p.m. and 7 to 10 p.m.; May 18; 7:30 to 11:30 a.m., 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., 5 to 7:30 p.m. and 7 to 10 p.m.; May 19; 7:30 to 11:30 a.m., 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.; and 5 to 8 p.m. May 20. All volunteers will receive a ticket for a free rib meal, $5 in beverage coupons and access to the volunteer tent.

March for Babies Walk: May 20 at Austintown Township Park to raise funds for research programs and services for the March of Dimes. Volunteers needed from 3 to 5 p.m. May 19 to help with set up. On May 20, volunteers needed to assist with marking the route and putting up signage, registration, food stations, checkpoints, incentives, kids zone and cleanup. An orientation will be at 3 p.m. May 19 at the park.

Buckeye Horse Park: The horse park is looking for volunteers for event set up and tear down, ticket-booth attendants, gate minders, stable help and more on horse show days this summer. Opportunities for age 12 and up.

Children’s International Summer Village: The nonprofit, all-volunteer organization provides a range of educational activities aimed at developing cross-cultural understanding in children and young adults around the world. CISV is planning to host another “Children’s International Village” festival in Cleveland. CISV is looking for volunteers from this area to help. The festival runs 3 p.m. to midnight Thursday and Friday; 1 p.m. to midnight Saturday and next Sunday. Volunteers must be 18 or older. CISV staff will provide training, food, parking, T-shirt and a letter to confirm volunteer hours donated. (Possible housing for those traveling to Cleveland and working back-to-back shifts.)

Ballpark assistants: Volunteers needed at Eastwood Field, Niles. A school-day game has been set up for students in the local communities to come to Eastwood Field for a Youngstown State University baseball game at 11 a.m. May 15. Volunteers are needed to assist the students from arrival and getting them to their assigned seats, concession assistance and lunch distribution through dismissal to their assigned buses. Volunteers will attend an orientation/training on game day at 8 a.m. at the stadium and will receive lunch and four undated 2012 Mahoning Valley Scrappers game tickets.

Special Olympics Ohio: Volunteers needed for an upcoming track-and-field meet June 9 at Austintown Fitch High School’s Falcon Stadium. Volunteers need to be at the stadium by 8 a.m. The event runs from 9 a.m. to about 3 p.m. Those interested can volunteer for the entire event or a four-hour shift. Volunteers must be kind, compassionate, patient and comfortable working with developmentally disabled individuals.

Adult education tutor: Volunteers needed for Potter’s Wheel of Beatitude House for computer instruction/tutoring adult women in basic and advanced computer knowledge. Flexible shifts are available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday at the Potter’s Wheel in Youngstown.

Child-care assistant/baby sitter: Assist the staff to provide child care for children while their mothers attend group meetings from 5:45 to 7 p.m. Thursdays at Beatitude House. Volunteers must display a willingness to engage children in fun activities. Children are divided into age groups.

Iron Soup Historical Preservation Company: Outdoor theater projectionist needed. The volunteer will set up, run, take down and put away the projection machine during the outdoor theater season. Movies are shown on Saturday and Sunday evenings to help raise money for the reuse and preservation of an endangered national historical site.

Flea market attendant: Assist in the set up and running of the Iron Soup flea market. Volunteers will help with the process of pricing items, taking money and making change to customers, and taking down the displays at the end of the weekend. The flea market is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. You may choose to work one day, one shift or the entire weekend.

Grounds maintenance: Assist the building-maintenance supervisor with general grounds maintenance, including lawn mowing, trimming and debris cleanup. Volunteers will commit to once a week for about two to four hours.

Tutors needed: HOVN is developing relationships with school systems in Mahoning and Trumbull counties. Anyone interested in tutoring children for the 2012-13 school year, contact HOVN at 330-782-5877.

Veterans advocate: HandsOn and the Ohio Veterans VISTA Project is looking for volunteers who can commit to guiding veterans through the process of applying for benefits, obtaining DD214, obtaining emergency assistance with food, clothing, housing, counseling and more. Training and mentoring provided. Call Richard Whittenberger at 330-941-3314 or email him at richard.whittenberger@gmail.com for information.

Mahoning County Senior Fair: Volunteers needed for the fair, which is set for 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 11 in Austintown. Volunteers will help at the information and admission gates, food/beverage distribution, bingo tent, parking/traffic control, entertainment/prize distribution, assist in vendor display, and assist the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office Senior Services Unit. Contact Marlene at 330-782-5877.

Lead volunteers: Opportunity to develop organization and management skills, be a lead volunteer to administer a program in one of the following areas: disaster preparedness and response, tutoring (literacy/math), food security: pantry and delivery, telephone reassurance calling, financial literacy/education, chronic disease health education, benefits assistance (help individuals identify potential benefits, determine eligibility and apply for assistance). Contact Marlene at 330-782-5877.

Meals on Wheels/Trumbull Mobile meals: Deliver meals to home-bound seniors. Routes operate throughout Mahoning County on Monday through Friday mornings. Pick up prepared and packaged food from John Knox Presbyterian Church, 1806 Market St., Youngstown and deliver using own car. In Trumbull County, volunteers can be connected with Trumbull Mobile Meals.

Road to Recovery program: The American Cancer Society needs volunteers to provide free transportation to and from cancer treatments for any patients who cannot find a ride or are unable to drive themselves. You determine how often you can provide services. Volunteer coordinators help schedule rides for patients. Call HOVN for details.

American Red Cross: Receptionist needed for the Warren office. Volunteers needed for Disaster Action Team, which helps people who have experienced a personal or family disaster. Training provided and people can serve in both Mahoning and Trumbull counties. Volunteer also needed for ARC public relations. Volunteers will help with following-up to press releases, writing press releases, putting together packets of information or being an ARC ambassador.

Austintown Generational Center: Seeking volunteer instructors for computer classes and financial management education programs. Public Relations volunteers needed to prepare press releases and develop marketing program. Prior experience preferred. The center also is looking for a volunteer newsletter developer to generate a quarterly newsletter that conveys senior center activities. This may evolve to a monthly publication. May work from home, prior experience desired. A volunteer webmaster is needed to maintain the senior center website. Internet and information-service skills necessary.