Volunteering

Volunteering

HandsOn Volunteer Network of the Valley engages 21st-century volunteers to improve civic health and social conditions by reaching out to volunteers to raise awareness and inspire them to make a difference; provides people with access to projects and other opportunities to learn new skills and engage in work to improve their communities; and mobilizes people to use their time, talent, money and voice to create community change. The office is located at 5500 Market St., Suite 110, 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, by fax to 330-782-5001 or visit its website at www.HOVN.org.

OPPORTUNITIES

YSU Career Services’ Fall 2012 Job Expo: Help YSU students and alumni get their first job by volunteering shifts Sept. 26th in the Kilcawley Center’s Chestnut Room. One or more hours are available for volunteers to assist in registering employers from 7:45 to 10 a.m. and students from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Volunteers should arrive 15 minutes before shift for training. Breakfast and/or lunch will be provided. Volunteers can help by making sure students are registered, explaining floor layout to students, passing out booklets or working the student-evaluation table. Specific shifts need to be filled throughout the day. Contact 330-782-5877 or mbraunlich@HOVN.org to choose a shift or for information.

Amblyopia/Lazy Eye Screener: Youngstown Area Goodwill Volunteers will work in teams and visit pre-schools to perform vision screening on 4- and 5-year-olds for signs of a “lazy eye” and report any problems to the amblyopia program coordinator. Training will be provided. Volunteers must be able to pass a background check, have patience with children, administrative competence and reliable transportation. Screening shifts are scheduled Monday through Friday and run from this month to April each year. Training starts soon. Call 330-782-5877 or email mbraunlich@HOVN.org to reserve a spot.

Elementary Reading Tutors in Mahoning and Trumbull counties: Commit two hours a week during the school day from October through May to work with one or more students in first, second or third grade to improve their reading and comprehension skills. Tutors must pass background check and drug screen, have the ability to provide tutoring based on the student’s grade level and enjoy working with children. Contact Marlene at 330.782.5877 or mbraunlich@HOVN.org.

Ohio Benefit Bank Counselor: Help to connect low- and moderate-income Ohioans with work supports and tax credits. Counselors assist individuals by walking them through electronic applications for programs. Volunteers need only basic computer skills. Ohio Benefit Bank provides access applications to programs, including food assistance, Ohio Medical Benefits, home energy assistance, federal student aid, prescription assistance, voter registration and federal and state income tax filing. Openings exist throughout Mahoning County. The next training session is Sept. 27. For information and to sign up, email mbraunlich@HOVN.org.

Volunteer Income Tax Preparer: Volunteers will provide free tax return preparation to seniors as well as individuals and families of low to moderate income. All the necessary training and certification from the IRS to provide services will be provided. Volunteers are also needed to serve as greeters at several sites around the community, as well as individuals who are fluent in Spanish are needed to serve as interpreters. Requirements include basic computer skills, valid identification, a 20-hour training course and certification test, and to be available for scheduled hours January through April. An accounting or financial background is useful but not required. Locations are available at many Mahoning County sites. Contact Marlene at mbraunlich@HOVN.org or 330-782-5877.

Personal and Community Disaster Preparedness Trainer: Become a trainer for personal and community disaster preparedness class. The free “train-the-trainer” class, where participants can earn a trainer certification, will be at 9 a.m. Sept. 20 at a location to be determined. Call the Hands-On Volunteer Network at 330-782-5877 to express interest.

Mill Creek MetroParks Farm Information Desk: Be an ambassador for Mill Creek Park by assisting the administrative staff in Canfield by answering the phone, mailing information, directing people to websites, taking registrations and basic filing. Volunteers are needed three days a week from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Training provided.

Make a Difference Day Ohio, Oct. 27: HOVN will be involved in numerous projects in the Mahoning Valley and help is needed. Warren City Firefighters and United Way of Trumbull County will install nearly 2,000 smoke detectors in Warren city residents’ homes. After training, volunteers will install tamper- resistant smoke alarms that contain a power cell that will last 10 years.

Sweats for Serenity: Compass Family and Community Services wants to make sure rape survivors assisted by their rape program have new set sweat suits to leave the hospital. New sweat suits of every size are needed. Call HOVN for more details on how to construct a project in support of Sweats for Serenity.

HandsOn Volunteer Network Independent Projects: Any individuals or groups looking to make an impact can pursue projects to benefit the HandsOn Volunteer Network. Projects that will make a difference include making toys for shelter pets or place mats for senior centers, assembling snack bags for needy children, making paintings to decorate the children’s wing at hospitals, collecting cleaning and hygiene items for shelters and making holiday ornaments for a hospice. For other project ideas or to register your group, call HOVN at 330-782-5877.

HandsOn Volunteer Network Award Judges: Each year, the HandsOn Volunteer Network asks a panel of community- minded individuals to judge the nominations for the HandsOn Award. If you have volunteer experience and would like to judge, send a small paragraph to Info@HOVN.org describing experience and why judging the awards sparks an interest. The process takes about three to four hours of reading and scoring nominations and one meeting for judges that lasts one hour. Judges will be provided the opportunity to attend the awards ceremony in November.

RSVP: Volunteers 55 and older and who can give a few hours each week are invited to make an impact by pursuing opportunities such as distributing food to the hungry, tutoring young people, helping others prepare or respond to local emergencies and disasters. If interested, call Marlene Braunlich for details at 330-782-5877, or email mbraunlich@HOVN.org.

Trumbull County Mental Health and Recovery Board: A volunteer is needed to act as the assistant to the Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition’s project director. The volunteer will be expected to attend coalition meetings on the third Tuesday of every month at 9 a.m. Duties include taking meeting notes, typing meeting minutes in Word format, maintaining communication with coalition members through email. Knowledge of social media would be a plus, but not necessary.

American Red Cross of the Mahoning Valley: Help out the Red Cross by offering clerical assistance, where duties will include answering the phone, assisting administrative staff and providing general information.

Meals on Wheels: Help elderly people access healthful food by delivering meals according to your availability. Volunteers are needed to take noon meals to needy individuals.

Big Reach Center of Hope: Volunteers are needed to keep warehouse area organized and clean. Heavy lifting may be involved at times.

Food Pantry Associate at Canfield Operation Blessing: Volunteers are needed on the second and third Thursday of the month to perform duties to sustain the daily operations of a food program. Tasks include driving and unloading deliveries, stocking shelves, packing food bags, distributing food and assessing client eligibility.