HANDSON Volunteering

HandsOn Volunteer Network of the Valley, engaging 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; providing people with access to projects and other opportunities to learn new skills and engage in work to improve their communities; and mobilizing people to use their time, talent, money and voice to create community change. The office is located at 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, fax to 330-782-5001 or visit its website at www.HOVN.org.

OPPORTUNITIES

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. OBB 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. For information, email mbraunlich@hovn.org, or call 330-782-5877.

“Buck Night” for the HandsOn Volunteer Network: HandsOn will raise much-needed funds by providing volunteers to staff Eastwood Field’s portable beer and wristband stands for seven Mahoning Valley Scrappers “Buck Night” games on Thursdays. Volunteers 18 and older are needed to check identification and distribute wristbands to patrons 21 and older. Each of these stations requires two people. Adult volunteers 21 and older will serve beer at one of the three stations. Games will be June 27, July 4, 11, 25 and Aug. 8, 22 and 29. Volunteers should report to the ballpark for orientation at 5 p.m. If the volunteer commits to multiple games and already has received orientation, they should arrive at 5:30 p.m. The estimated time commitment is five hours per game. HandsOn needs the confirmation of 12 to 15 people for each game to participate in this opportunity. If all the volunteer spots are filled, the Scrappers will make a monetary donation to HandsOn Volunteer Network, in addition to any tips received at the stands. To participate, contact Kristen Gallagher by emailing kgallagher@HOVN.org, or call 330-782-5877, ext. 106. Have a particular game or games in mind where you can commit your time.

Frisky Ferrets, Fuzzies & Feathered Friends Rescue & Sanctuary: The Frisky Ferrets, Fuzzies & Feathered Friends Rescue & Sanctuary (F5RS) is dedicated to the practice and promotion of the idea that life is guaranteed to all healthy, sick, injured or behaviorally unsound animals where medical and/or behavioral intervention can provide quality of life. The group provides care and treatment for all animals as needed. Volunteers are needed in many capacities: assisting in the organization’s rescue store; managing online presence; working fundraising events; writing newsletters; baking or creating crafts for fundraising events; picking up pet supplies and donations to bring to rescue; and photographing animals up for adoption.

Veterans Administration van driver: Volunteers are needed to transport veterans from Youngstown to Cleveland once a week using the agency van. Screening and proof of valid driver’s license required along with a clean driving record.

Veterans Support Associate: Volunteers will provide reminders of medical appointments or optometry assistance and make referrals as necessary.

Trumbull Mobile Meals: Drivers are needed to service summer routes and fill in for volunteers who are on vacation. Routes typically take 90 minutes per day.

Delivery Driver for the Ursuline Sisters HIV/AIDS Ministry: Help the Ursuline Sisters by picking up and delivering food from Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley to the Ursuline Motherhouse.

Special Olympics Ohio Volunteers: Volunteers are needed for the Special Olympics Mahoning County 44th Annual Invitational Track and Field Meet on Saturday. Volunteers offer assistance by escorting athletes to their events and to the awards stand, marking and recording distances and times and cheering on and encouraging the participants. The event is at Austintown Fitch High School Stadium. Volunteers will need to be at the stadium by 8:45 a.m. and attend the volunteers’ meeting at 9 a.m. Lunch will be provided to all volunteers, and a concession stand also will be available all day. The meet usually is completed about 3 p.m., however, you have the option to leave when the event you’re assigned to is completed.

Grow Youngstown Volunteers: Grow Youngstown is seeking two volunteer pickup managers in their locations at Fellows Riverside Gardens or the East Side Library. Volunteers are needed June through November, required for 18 or 25 weeks, and they will be asked to work 3:15 to 6 p.m. Tuesday each week. As a stipend, volunteers will be given a family share of produce. Volunteers must own a midsize to large vehicle and be prepared to transport crops in personal vehicle and transport them to a pickup location. Among other tasks, volunteers must accept cash and Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT)/Ohio Direction Card Vouchers; track who picks up their produce and their payments by category with a provided tracking sheet; call in EBT voucher-confirmation numbers to the GY program coordinator the same evening; and take or mail received money and vouchers to the Grow Youngs-town office by noon the day after the pickup. Grow Youngstown cannot provide gas mileage, vehicles or money in return for your time. Contact Elsa Higby at 330-286-0688 or email csa@grow-youngstown.org

Animal Charity of Ohio Volunteers: Animal Charity of Ohio needs a volunteer receptionist to answer phones, greet clients and perform other tasks as needed for the veterinary office. A humane department volunteer to assist the department with record keeping and answering phones as well as a dog walker are needed.

Iron Soup Historical Preservation Co. Volunteer Saturdays: The Iron Soup Historical Preservation Co. will host volunteer Saturdays now through Aug. 31. Rain dates will be the following Saturday at the same time. All-day volunteers will be served lunch and dinner, treated to evening festivities and automatically entered into a drawing for prizes.

The Concern of Sebring Food Pantry Associate: A food- pantry associate is needed to stock shelves and pack food for distributions, pickup and unload deliveries, and help with fundraising, food drives and assisting with Ohio Benefits Bank access.

Shepherd of the Valley: A “crafty” individual is needed at Shepherd of the Valley branches to help a small group of elderly residents complete crafts such as jewelry, wreaths, door hangings, small wooden objects or flower arranging. Any small crafts are welcome.

Akron Children’s Hospital Gift Shop: A gift shop is in the main lobby of Akron Children’s Hospital, catering mainly to hospital staff, guests and business people on site. A volunteer gift shop attendant 18 or older is needed to provide customer service. The volunteer will learn to operate the cash register and ring up daily sales that include cash, credit card, check, payroll deduct and phone order transactions as well as initiating daily reports required. Product display areas must also be maintained. The volunteer is required to work a four-hour shift on the same day of the week, every week, for one year. The hospital’s volunteer department staff will conduct the normal procedures as required in selecting candidates. After being confirmed as a valid hospital volunteer, the individual will be given specific training in the gift shop.

HMHP Hospice Companions: Volunteers 18 and older are needed to assist patients and their families in their homes and at Hospice House.