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. HandsOn is a monthly column that serves to communicate the impact that volunteering can have on the community. For trending opportunities, like us on Facebook by searching for HandsOn Volunteer Network of the Valley. Contact HandsOn Volunteer Network by calling 330-782-5877 or emailing info@HOVN.org about these opportunities:

OPPORTUNITIES

HandsOn Volunteer Network survey: HOVN is celebrating 30 years of serving the community, and the anniversary year has been dedicated to growth and planning. HOVN is asking community members to take a survey that will assist the organization in determining its future goals and plans. Visit www.HOVN.org and find a link for the survey on the right-hand side of the home page under “Upcoming Events.” Click the green word, “HERE,” and the survey will begin. HOVN values each participant’s input. The survey will close March 20, and the organization is looking for anyone who volunteers now or has volunteered in the past, especially those community members who have served on boards of directors.

OBB tax counselors: Understanding, compassionate volunteers from Mahoning or Trumbull counties are needed to assist people in the community with accessing programs that will help strengthen families by helping individuals and families file their income taxes for free. Training, orientation and support to volunteers who become OBB Mobile Volunteers is provided. The opportunity is appropriate for those 18 and older who are looking for careers in the social-service fields. Those who can go online to shop, pay bills or check email have the basic computer skills needed to be an Ohio Benefit Bank counselor. Openings exist throughout Mahoning and Trumbull counties. For information, call Addonnus Harden at 330-782-5877 or by email aharden@hovn.org.

Junior Achievement Titan Challenge volunteers: The Junior Achievement Titan Business Challenge Competition for local high-school students will take place Thursday at the Williamson College of Business Administration at Youngstown State University. Volunteers are needed from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. to fill student goodie bags, set up breakfast and lunch, clean up and moderate the rooms during the competition; two- to three-hour shifts or an all-day shift are available. Also, from 8 a.m. to noon, business mentors are needed for the student teams; an individual in business or some other professional field is preferred.

Junior Achievement classroom presenters: Volunteers are needed to present a prepared classroom lesson to students in Girard City Schools. Presenters for second and fourth grades are needed for five one-hour sessions.

Paisley House visitors: Paisley House is an assisted-living facility that needs volunteers for a variety of tasks. Volunteers are needed to provide the facility’s residents with one-on-one visits as well as encouragement for involvement in activities; they may also assist on outings and events for the residents.

Neighborhood Ministries tutor: After-school tutors are needed to provide one-on-one work with children and in small groups to help them improve their reading and math skills.

OH WOW! excellent electronics specialist: Help keep OH WOW’s new exhibits running smoothly by designing and building custom electronic circuits for new exhibits. Previous experience with building custom electronics recommended. Some training provided. Schedule available is one to two hours per day, seven days per week. Minimum monthly commitment requested is four to six hours.

OH WOW! super software specialist: Volunteers needed who have with experience with LabVIEW, Python, or other programming language recommended. Experience with Photoshop, Illustrator, GIMP, or Inkscape is helpful. Some training provided. Schedule available is one to two hours per day, seven days per week. Minimum commitment requested is six to 10 hours per month.

OH WOW! marvelous mopping specialist: Schedule available is one to two hours per day, seven days a week during regular business hours. Supplies and training provided. Minimum commitment requested is four to six hours per month.

Project MORE tutors: Project MORE (Mentoring in Ohio for Reading Excellence) is a volunteer reading/mentoring project to benefit students with disabilities or those who are not on track. McGuffey Elementary is a station of volunteers with Project MORE. Volunteers will work in their own community to help students gain the skills and confidence they need to increase their individual reading levels. Volunteers will work with students for one to four, 30-minute, one-on-one sessions. Volunteers of all ages are welcome. Contact Harden for information at 330-782-5877.

Affordable Care Act (ACA) volunteers: Those who have a background in a helping profession, prior volunteer experience or knowledge in navigating difficult Web pages are needed for an Affordable Care Act project at HOVN. HOVN needs to increase its number of volunteers who can either assist at the HOVN offices or be placed at a partner organization. The training is free and will be done at HOVN offices.

West Boulevard Elementary Math tutors: West Boulevard Elementary in Boardman is in need of math tutors. Volunteers will spend 30 minutes a week and help students understand critical academic information.

Leadership through Volunteering with HOVN: The HandsOn Volunteer Network offers volunteer opportunities that promote leadership in the Mahoning Valley. Contact Harden by emailing aharden@hovn.org or calling 330-782-5877.

Nonprofit board/committee members: Each month, HOVN will feature organizations that have requested either board members (voting) or people willing to serve on a committee (nonvoting). Interested volunteers are urged to register on the HOVN website, log into their account and search for the featured organization; online, there will be a complete position description and qualifications needed so a participant can review the position, express interest or ask questions of the organization and thus determine their level of commitment. Accounts are created on the HOVN website by clicking the blue “Volunteer!” tab and then “Sign-up/Registration.” HOVN will focus on the Rich Center for Autism and the Northeast Ohio Area Health Education Center.

Lead with Experience: The skills and experience of volunteers 55 and older are valued resources to local nonprofits in issue areas. Interested volunteers in this age group should consider serving by tutoring children, helping with disasters, tax preparation, or providing application assistance through the Ohio Benefit Bank or the marketplace for health care options. Contact HOVN to get involved at 330-782-5877.

Save-A-Life Smoke Alarm Initiative (SALSA): Smoke-alarm installers are needed for the SALSA program to install detectors in homes. Installation team(s) may choose a day and time that fits their schedule. Residents will be notified of scheduled time for their installation. Contact Kristen Gallagher at 330-782-5877 or kgallagher@HOVN.org.

Girard Multi-Generational Center tech wizard: The Girard Multi-Generational Center is in need of a tech wizard who can tutor guests of the center on computers and technology. A background check and orientation will be required. The volunteer will teach members how to use computers, iPads, iPhones, tablets and e-readers. The time commitment is flexible, about once a week.

Ronald McDonald House of Charities of the Mahoning Valley and Western Pa. database detail technician: A volunteer will research names in an old database and then update them in a new database, and they will look up names in phone books, add missing information, delete names not found and enter data into a computer. Three hours a week will be needed until the database is complete.

Ohio Benefit Bank counselor at the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library: An OBB counselor volunteer will use computer-program prompts to interview clients, input application information, print forms and give directions for applications that require mailing. The position requires a minimum one shift per week at three to four hours a shift, with appointments taking approximately one hour each. Volunteers must be computer and Internet literate, able to work independently, be organized, detail-oriented, dependable, respectful of confidentiality, able to carry laptop and portable printer, and be phone- and email-accessible. The volunteer will complete a one-day, six-hour OBB training session.

Mahoning County Youngstown Community Action Partnership financial-literacy volunteers: Volunteers are needed at MYCAP to coordinate educational financial-literacy training classes to a diverse population of participants. Training is provided.

United Way Youngstown and Mahoning County database detail technician: A volunteer will research names in an old database and then update them in a new database. Three hours a week will be needed until the database is complete.

Home for Good receptionist: Home for Good is the re-entry program and referral service center for offenders returning to society. It needs the receptionist for its new offices. The volunteer(s) would be responsible for answering phones, running copies and other tasks. Home for Good is in downtown Youngstown.

United Methodist Community Center veterans’ lunch prep/server: Volunteers are needed to assist the UMCC staff with preparing and serving lunch at their weekly Veterans’ Lunch and Learn. Each Wednesday, veterans get a hot lunch and learn about services available to them in the community as well as share some social time with other veterans.

Veterans Outreach: The Veterans Outreach Center in Struthers is looking for assistance with website development and veterans benefits assistants. For information, contact Harden at aharden@hovn.org or by calling 330-782-5877.