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. . . The only ones among us who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.

~Albert Schweitzer

Philosopher, Physician, Nobel Peace Prize Winner

February 2014 
Keep up with the latest Volunteer Center news and opportunities! 
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In This Issue:

    

 
  
 
  
  

Check out who has been spotlighted this week!  

Read more here

 

 Dr. Ruyi He 

Spotlight - Ruyi He
   Tell us how you are making a difference.  Submit your own Spotlight on our website. 
Donate Move-In Kits for the Homeless
Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless is collecting donations of "Move In Kits" for previously homeless residents. 
Move-in kits are starter kits that provide basic necessities (cleaning supplies, bed linens, cooking supplies, eating utensils, kitchen tables, and bedroom furniture, etc).
  
If you are interested in donating supplies please contact Herb Smith at [email protected] or drop off materials at 600-A East Gude Drive Rockville,MD 20850.
MLK Day of Service
Enjoy this great video about  the MLK Day of Service 2014 
Thousands Volunteer on MLK Day in Montgomery County
Brought to you by 
Montgomery Community Media 
 
Service in our Community
Enjoy this great video about service happening in our community and abroad
traveltelevision
Brought to you by TravelTelevision
MLK Musical Celebration
Did you miss the musical celebration at the Music Center at Strathmore for MLK Day?
 
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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 msa
Montgomery Serves Awards Nominations Are Open! 

Service AwardsIts time to start thinking about the amazing volunteers you will nominate for the Montgomery Serves Awards. The Volunteer Center is preparing for this exciting event again which will take place on Monday, April 28, 2014.     

The Volunteer Center is now accepting nominations for this year's awardees in the following categories:

  • Neal Potter Path of Achievement Award (lifetime service by residents 60 or better)  
  • Youth Achievement Award (extraordinary volunteerism by residents 18 and under)
  • Corporate Award (outstanding volunteerism by a corporation)
  • Community Service Award (extraordinary volunteerism by an individual or group)
Click here to access the nomination forms.
Deadline: Friday, February 28
Spotlight
Agency Spotlight:
 
Montgomery County Foster and Adoptive Parent Services 
MC Foster Parent
Montgomery County Foster and Adoptive Parent Services licenses and supports foster families.  Foster parents choose to become the substitute families for children in need who have experienced abuse and neglect.  Foster parenting is both a responsibility and an opportunity.  It is one of the highest forms of volunteer work that a person could do.  Foster parents provide all of the important nurturing elements children need (i.e., food, clothing, love, stability, and guidance) until they are reunited with their families or are adopted.  
 
There is an immediate need for families open to caring for infants, teenagers, children with special needs, teen mothers and their babies, and sibling groups. All licensed foster parents attend a pre-service training program in addition to on-going training opportunities.  Foster families are provided with a

monthly stipend to help cover the child's expenses, in addition to child care assistance, medical, dental, and mental health coverage.  If you are interested in becoming a foster parent please visit

www.montgomerycountymd.gov/kidsneedyou or call 

240-777-1664 or email Shelly Chaitow at [email protected]

 

Not quite ready to make the commitment of becoming a foster parent? Consider becoming a mentor! The Directions Youth Mentoring Program seeks adult volunteers to act as mentors to older youth in foster care.  Please contact Erin Stillwell at 240-777-3546 or email Erin at 

[email protected] for more details about becoming a mentor.  

 

"Being a foster parent has been an amazing experience. While it is not always easy, seeing the growth in our foster son over the last three years makes it all worthwhile.  In addition, I have grown as a person.  Many people will comment on how lucky our foster son is to be with us. Honestly, I feel it is the other way around."-Jeff, Foster Parent   

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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.
MLKDay Thank You Volunteers!
MLK Day of Service
Monday, January 20, 2014 

Montgomery County celebrated another successful Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Volunteers participated in service projects at four large service locations: Bethesda North Marriott Conference Center, Silver Spring Civic Center, International Cultural Center, and Seneca Creek Community Church.

 

MLK Silver Spring 2014

Volunteers crocheted blankets for Warm Up America, assembled 1,500 bag lunches for area shelters and soup kitchens with Whole Foods Market, assembled 400 Meals on Wheels Snow Day boxes, constructed 100 fleece scarves and 76 fleece blankets for Montgomery Hospice, designed hundreds of Valentines Day cards for seniors, made paracord bracelets for veterans, and so much more!

 

MLK SCCC 2014 10,634 lbs of non-perishable food items were collected at the 10 Montgomery County Giant locations for Manna Food Center with an additional

841 lbs collected at the 4 service locations on Monday.  There were also many projects happening around the County such as picking up trash from parks and helping nonprofits organize and clean their facilities.  

 

Thanks to all the hard work from volunteers like you, Montgomery County was able to touch the lives of so many and truly make this a day ON, not a day off.

  

Click here for more photos and information about the day.

 

SeniorsBe an Advocate for Seniors

Will you help make a difference by advocating for better quality of life issues for frail and vulnerable adults in long term care facilities?

 

Montgomery County's Long Term Care Ombudsman program is seeking dedicated individuals to work as long term care advocates.  Volunteers are assigned to make regular visits to residents in nursing homes and assisted living facilities throughout Montgomery County.  Ombudsman representatives promote the highest possible quality of life for residents in long term care settings and help to resolve problems.  This volunteer opportunity requires flexible daytime hours during the work week and creativity in developing problem solving strategies.  Training and technical assistance are provided by experienced professionals.

 

Pre-registration for the March training class is being accepted NOW.  The session is scheduled for the week of March 17 - 21 at Holiday Park Senior Center in the Wheaton area.  The course meets from 9 AM - 3 PM daily and full attendance is required.  Class size is limited and pre-registration is necessary.

 

To learn more, call 240-777-3369 or email:  [email protected]

CMRCommunity Ministries of Rockville Celebrates Volunteer and Partners

At their annual meeting on January 28th, Community Ministries of Rockville (CMR) recognized their volunteers and community partners.  Montgomery County Volunteer Center received an award for "support and vital partnership in helping CMR serve the most vulnerable of Montgomery County."  Additionally, the Volunteer Center was credited with connecting several key volunteers with CMR including Laurie Gira, Eric Phelps,
and Pam Saussy.

(l:r) Lynn Arndt, CMR Deputy Director; Theresa Testoni, Governor's Office on Service & Volunteerism; Molly Callaway and Kathleen Meaney Stobie, Montgomery Coutny Volunteer Center; and Agnes Saenz, CMR Executive Director.

 

Community Ministries of Rockville (CMR) Staff recognize the hard work and dedication of their volunteers.  CMR is supported by 300 volunteers; working as ESOL teachers, helping the elderly, providing emergency referrals, and language interpreting at the clinic, and in many other ways.  Click here to find out about their volunteer opportunities. 

CMR Vol Event
 Newsletter
2014 A Year of Exciting Transformations at Brookside Gardens

Montgomery Parks logo Brookside Gardens is experiencing a wonderful metamorphosis as we break ground on many improvements. Though the construction will focus on a limited section of the Gardens, the changes will be transformative. With compromised parking during construction, we have adjusted our educational programming offerings. We have made the difficult decision to cancel a number of larger volunteer supported events in 2014, including: Earth Day Festival, Wings of Fancy Live Butterfly and Caterpillar Exhibit, and Children's Day.

 

Though we know construction will present challenges over the next year, we look forward to the beautiful and improved facilities that will be available to our visitors. We thank you, in advance, for your patience during this time of transition and for your generous support of Brookside Gardens and this important project. 

 

For more information about our 2014 construction plans, please visit our website at www.brooksidegardens.org.  To browse volunteer positions at Brookside Gardens and other Montgomery Parks sites, click here.

 Newsletter
Stay Connected with What's Happening in Montgomery County

Subscribe to the Office of Community Partnerships Newsletter

 

County Seal

The Office of Community Partnerships (OCP) strengthens relationships between  Montgomery County government and the residents it serves, with special focus on under-served and emerging communities and our neighbors in need. The OCP serves as a bridge builder between the County government and community organizations serving the residents of Montgomery County, working across the barriers of race, ethnicity, income, and religion that too often diminish communities.   

 

The OCP newsletter provides information on community events and opportunities throughout Montgomery County with a focus on ethnic, nonprofit, and faith communities.     

   
Click here to read past issues.
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.  Many are still great opportunities for adults too!

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February 8 
Canal Stewards at River Center  Join Potomacy Conservancy at the River Center to clean up the lockhouse area and the nearby towpath.  Typical activities include picking up trash, invasive plants removal, pruning vegetation, or repairing the towpath and trails. 
Contact Rebecca Long at 301-608-1188 ex 215 or
Website: www.potomac.org

 

SSL IconFebruary 15 -  Assist at NOAA Open House - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration needs help at their open house including assisting at tables and booths, directing guests, crowd control, assisting at the photo booth, etc.

Contact: Laura Gutierrez at 301-427-8452 or

[email protected]

Website: www.noaa.gov

 

February 15 & 16 - Help Bake Treats Come and bake sweet treats alongside individuals diagnosed with developmental disabilities for Community Support Services Annual Holiday Coffeehouse.

Contact: Ashley Chatneuff at 301-926-2300 or 

[email protected]

Website: www.css-md.org

 

SSL IconFebruary 23 - Maple Sugar Festival Help - Brookside Gardens needs volunteers are needed to help set up, assist visitors with maple games, direct visitors to sites and activities, run information and supplies to different sites, and to help put away supplies at the end of the day. 

Contact: Geri Drymalski at 301-962-1486 or [email protected]

Website: www.parksvolunteers.org


 OngoingSelected Ongoing Opportunities Helping Hands
SSL Icon
Denotes opportunities that are approved to provide MCPS Student Service Learning (SSL) Hours.  Many are still great opportunities for adults too!

  

  

Volunteer Receptionists -  The Senior Connection is in need of several part time receptionists to help answering phones, data entry, and other administrative duties.
Contact: Marcia Custer at 301-962-0820 x 14 or [email protected].

Website: www.seniorconnectionmc.org

 

SSL IconHomework Helper -  The Long Branch Library is recruiting talented teen volunteers, ages 14-18, to assist K-8 students with homework on Tuesdays, 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm during the remaining school year.

Contact: Carol Legarreta at 240-777-0030 or [email protected]

Website: www.montgomerycountymd.gov/library

 

Teach Environmental Awareness - Teach environmental awareness to students with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.  3 day training is required.  Upcoming dates: February 21st, 28th, and March 3rd.

Contact: Christine Hintz at 410-260-8809 or

[email protected]

Website: www.dnr.maryland.gov/education/teamdnr

 

SSL IconGame Night Volunteer -  Maryland Community Baseball in Silver Spring needs volunteers help on game nights this summer to work in a variety of jobs--concession stand, ticket, and souvenir sales; announcing; official scoring; sound system and scoreboard operation; after game clean-up; etc. 

Contact: Edward Sharp at 301-270-0794 or [email protected]

Website: www.tbolts.org

  
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].