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. . . Together We Can Do So Much 

~ Helen Keller

November 2013 
Keep up with the latest Volunteer Center news and opportunities! 
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In This Issue:

    

Community Service Day
 
  
Quote of the Month 
"Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much."    

~Helen Keller

Check out who has been spotlighted this week!  

Read more here

 

 Marjan Khan

Marjan Khan
  

Tell us how you are making a difference.  Submit your own Spotlight on our website. 

November 19, 2 pm - 3pm
Bethesda Library


Join JCA and the Montgomery County Volunteer Center and learn how to give back to your community through this lively workshop for those 50+. 

County Executive Isiah Leggett, Councilmember Phil Andrews, and Fire Chief Steven E. Lohr today paid tribute to a group of "everyday heroes" - ordinary people who took extraordinary actions to save lives and help others.

Montgomery County is now a part of the national 100,000 Homes Campaign, a movement of over 200 communities working to find permanent homes for 100,000 chronic and medically vulnerable homeless Americans.

Click here to find out more

Traveltelevision Episode
Traveltelevision latest
episode features volunteer stories from 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance, Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy of Service, Hurricane Sandy volunteers with Nechama in Staten Island, NY, United Way volunteering on Webtips and Make A Difference Day in Montgomery County, MD.
 
Traveltelevision 173
Traveltelevision 173
 
Make a Difference 
Make a Difference highlights the contributions of stellar County volunteers and organizations that contribute positively to Montgomery County.
MAD Video
Click here for recent episodes. 
 
Watch this awesome video!
Montgomery County Volunteer Center Video
Montgomery County Volunteer Center Video
Thank you to Montgomery Community Media for producing this fabulous video for the Volunteer Center!
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Thank You Volunteers!
Community Service Day 2013
CSD 2013
Volunteers with County Executive Leggett at Interfaith Clothing Center
Thousands of County residents volunteered throughout the week of October 20-27!

 

Thank you to all the volunteers who served across Montgomery County. Volunteers worked on many different projects including park clean ups, assisting at fall festivals, paintings, invasive weed pulls, distributing diapers, packing snacks and sandwiches, and more.  You have truly made a difference in the community!  

 

Check out all the fantastic photos on our website!  If you have your own photos you would like to share please send them to [email protected] or include your best photo when you Share Your Story on our website.

 

CSD 2013
Volunteers at Bikes for the World

 

 

If you volunteered for Community Service Day (October 20-27) and have not filled out the volunteer survey yet click here to let us know about your experience!

HolidayHoliday Giving
CSD 2012 Wrap Presents

Thanksgiving inspires many people to give back during the holidays. The most popular opportunities, such as serving at a soup kitchen or shelter on Thanksgiving Day fill up fast, but there are lots of alternatives. Here are a few to get you started. 

  • Put together a Thanksgiving basket for a family in need for the Holiday Giving Project: Contact:  [email protected]
  • The Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless (MCCH) needs volunteers to prepare meals for the homeless 365 days out of the year, not just Thanksgiving!
  • Click here to see more holiday opportunities in the Volunteer Center Database! 
Spotlight
Agency Spotlight: 
Bethesda Help
Since 1968, Bethesda Help has been providing emergency assistance to residents of southern Montgomery County who are in financial crisis.  Bethesda Help provides financial assistance for rent, utility bills, and prescription medicine.  We also maintain a food pantry, and provide emergency food deliveries to households in crisis.  Lastly, we provide transportation to doctor and social service appointments for elderly or disabled individuals.  All clients must live within our 25 square mile service area.

 

Bethesda Help has two different volunteer opportunities. 

  • Officers of the Day (OD) work one day a month from their homes or offices.  ODs talk with clients about their specific aid requests and determine whether Bethesda Help can provide services.  If we cannot help, ODs make referrals to other organizations.  If we can help, the ODs work on getting the clients the assistance they need.  
  • Drivers also work one day a month, and use their own cars to pick up and deliver food from our food pantry and drive clients to appointments. 

Bethesda Help is an ideal volunteer opportunity for people who would like to volunteer from their homes or offices.  It is also a good fit for people who like the independence that a driving position can bring.  We are always looking for people to join our network of over 80 volunteers and help make a direct impact in our community.  

 

For more about Bethesda Help visit www.bethesdahelp.org

 

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Increase your agency's visibility and recruit more volunteers by being a featured Agency Spotlight. Send an email to [email protected]  for consideration.
VeteransVeterans Day
yellow ribbon
Montgomery County provides a variety of services and resources to veterans, military personnel, and their families. Visit the Montgomery County Veterans' Affairs for more information.

In honor of Veterans Day on November 11th, consider volunteering for these organizations that provide support to veterans.
  • Team River Runner creates innovative paddling programs designed to assist with the recovery of those injured while serving our country. Through paddle sports, TRR volunteers and partners provide local communities unique opportunities for the active, safe and positive support of healing veterans, service members and their families.
  • Hero Dogs, Inc. seeks to provide independence and improved quality of life to our nation's veterans by training and placing service dogs (Hero Dogs) with military veterans who become disabled while serving in the armed forces. 
  • Mentoring Plus provides a free mentoring program focused on workforce development for women veterans and military spouses. Celebrate Working Women Helping Women Work™ by mentoring a woman veteran or military or veteran spouse. We are particularly recruiting women vets & military spouses who want mentoring.
CORPS
Conservation Leaderships Corps
student conservation corps
The Student Conservation Association is now accepting applications for the 2014 Conservation Leadership Corps (CLC) program. The CLC program offers high school students (ages 15-19) life-changing opportunities in conservation service in the Metropolitan Washington, DC area. 
 
Through their commitment to the CLC program (January through May 2014), students volunteer to restore their local parks and environment (trail building, river and habitat restoration, among other service-learning projects).  Volunteer one weekend a month throughout the school year in the Washington DC Area and earn 100 Community Service hours!  Click here for more information.  Application Deadline: November 15th
Council
Council's Grant Advisory Group
County Seal The Montgomery County Council is seeking applicants for positions on its Fiscal Year 2015 Grants Advisory Group. The Council will appoint the volunteer community panel to review grant applications and advise it on proposals received from the non-profit community. Letters of interest from applicants must be received no later than 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6.  Click here for more information. 
MLK Save the Date
MLK Day of Service
Monday, January 20, 2014 
The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is just around the corner. There are two great site already set for this annual Day of Service: 
  • Bethesda North Marriott Conference Center: 1 pm - 3 pm
  • Silver Spring Civic Building: 10 am - noon  
    Silver Spring Site Hosted by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority 
Make sure you put this exciting event on your calendar.   Check out photos from MLK  this past January.

Volunteers will help make bag lunches for shelters,  decorate cards for seniors and veterans, pack Snow Day boxes for Meals on Wheels, make fleece quilts and scarves for hospice patients and their families, and much more!  This is a great way for groups and families to work together.  Students can also receive Student Service Learning (SSL) hours.  For question about MLK Day please contact [email protected]
FeaturedFeatured Volunteer Opportunities

onetimeOne-time Volunteer Opportunities   calendar icon

Check the Calendar for more opportunities!

 

SSL Icon
Denotes opportunities that are approved to provide MCPS Student Service Learning (SSL) Hours

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November 9House with a Heart Fall Clean Up - Assist at fall cleanup on Saturdays. Tasks include raking, planting, mulching, trimming trees, weeding, painting, and power washing.

Contact:  Martine Ferguson at [email protected]

Website: www.housewithaheart.com

 

SSL Icon

November 16 - Cabin John Trail Workday Help maintain Cabin John Trail. Work may include building new trail, repairing erosion, stabilizing muddy tread surfaces, and bridge construction.
Contact: Jim Corcoran at 301-650-4395 or [email protected]

 

November 17 - Canal Stewards at Fletcher's Cove Join Potomac 

Conservancy at Fletcher's Cove to clean up the picnic area and surrounding trails. Typical activities include picking up trash, pruning vegetation, or repairing the towpath and trails.
Contact: Rebecca Long at 301-608-1188 ex 215
Website: www.potomac.org

 

SSL Icon November 23 - Mill House Lighting EventHelp is needed at this annual community tradition including with decorating, serving refreshments, tending the fire, and set up/clean up.

Contact: Olney Mill Civic Association at 301-231-3739 

Website: www.olneymill.net

 

SSL Icon November 23 - Restore a ForestWSSC needs your help in planting blueberry, dogwood and elderberry hardwood cuttings. Thanks to your help, a new forest will emerge and provide food & shelter for the wildlife of the Patuxent River.

Contact: Kimberley Knox at 301-206-8233

or [email protected]

Website: www.wsscwater.com


 OngoingSelected Ongoing Opportunities Helping Hands
SSL Icon
Denotes opportunities that are approved to provide MCPS Student Service Learning (SSL) Hours.

  

Sanctuary Tour Guide - Want to become a tour guide for Star Gazing Farm?  This opportunity is for people who enjoy interacting with people, love animals, and would like to learn how to give tours. 
Contact: Anne Shroeder at 301-349-0802 or 

 

SSL IconBowling Buddies Join residents of Jewish Foundation for Groups Homes for an afternoon of bowling one Sunday a month throughout the school year.

Contact: Katie Carroll at [email protected]

Website: www.jfgh.org

 

Victim Advocate - Become a MADD Maryland Victim Advocate. 

Victims/survivors of impaired driving crashes often need support with the emotional, financial, and legal challenges ahead.

Contact: Denise Thompson at 410-964-5757 or [email protected]

Website: www.madd.org/local-offices/md

 

SSL IconRead to ChildrenCommunity Clinic is seeking volunteers to read to children in the clinic waiting room. Volunteers emphasize the importance of reading with children at home to increase literacy and education preparedness. 
Contact: Alana Babers at 240-839-5790 or [email protected]
Website: www.cciweb.org

Newsletter ManagerThe Volunteer Center needs a volunteer to produce our monthly E-Newsletter using the online software Constant Contact.  A lead volunteer will compile content, highlight volunteer opportunities and work with our agencies.
Contact:  Molly Callaway at 240-777-2607 or [email protected]
  
Do you have a great volunteer story to tell? Share your story with a paragraph and a photo. Tell how you're making an impact in your community! Stories will be displayed throughout our website. 
Click here to read some Success Stories.

  

Search for more volunteer opportunities here!

The best place to start searching for volunteer opportunities is the Center's website www.montgomeryserves.orgIf the information on our website doesn't answer your questions, or you need help finding volunteer opportunities or exploring volunteering options,  contact us via email at [email protected].