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Make a Difference
Make a difference highlights the contributions of stellar County volunteers and organizations that contribute positively to Montgomery County.
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Watch this Awesome Video
Montgomery County Volunteer Center Video
Thank you to Montgomery County Media for Producing this fabulous video for the Volunteer Center!
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The Montgomery County Volunteer Center is part of the Office of Community Partnerships. For more information on the Office of Community Partnerships and to sign up for the Partnerships Newsletter, please CLICK HERE.
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MAKE IT A DAY ON, NOT A DAY OFF
Join Us!
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Day of Service
Monday, January 19, 2015
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Continue the MLK Day Celebration at Strathmore!
Montgom ery County Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Committee and Montgomery County Executive Mr. Isiah Leggett cordially invite you to attend the 2015 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Tribute and Celebration. This event will be held at The Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland on Monday, January 19, 2015, at 3:30 PM.
Each year, this multi-cultural program engages diverse and talented performers and award honorees who serve their communities unselfishly. Approximately 2,000 people including Montgomery County officials and local press participate in this commemoration of the life and work of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The annual celebration is free and open to the public.
Tickets are required and may be reserved through Strathmore's website at www.strathmore.org. For questions email mlkcelebration@hotmail.com.
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Agency: The Menare Foundation
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 The Menare Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit organization preserving the legacy of the Underground Railroad. The Menare Foundation operates Button Farm Living History Center in Germantown, which depicts 1850s plantation life and the story from slavery to freedom.
The Menare Foundation seeks volunteers interested in history, local food, the environment and oudoor education to help restoration of their site and historic buildings, upkeep of farm and animals, and to serve as living history interpreters, docents and tour guides. Administrative tasks include data entry, database management, software installation and technical support, social media campaigns, film and video production, archival and library. They are also looking for community-minded individuals to serve on their board of directors.
Volunteers enjoy a rustic setting with lots of hands-on history experiences. Volunteers learn a skill, provide direct service, are creative and interact with other volunteers and the public. Long term volunteers may use the farm for projects of their own including meeting space for groups or simply as a place to explore, relax and unwind. Scout troops that volunteer enjoy camping opportunities as well.
Button Farm is like Colonial Williamsburg, but with a twist. Visitors to their site participate directly in farm life activities by building split-rail fencing, grinding corn, tending animals, hoeing a field and more!
CLICK HERE to view current volunteer opportunities.
"The Button Farm Living History Center provides a unique opportunity for service learning, preservation and heritage, environmental stewardship and healthy living. Community organizations are playing a key role in the restoration of this historic farm linking the present with the past and the past with the future."
-Teresa Testoni, Former Commissioner, Governor's Office on Service and Volunteerism
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Volunteer: Jonina Duker
Jonina Duker - A Life Long Volunteer
Jonina Duker first began volunteering as a child and has never stopped. During 2013, she devoted her volunteer efforts to organizations including Montgomery Blair High School (MBHS), Montgomery County Public Libraries, Congregation Beth El, JCC of Greater Washington, Jewish Genealogy Society of Greater Washington, and Strathmore Hall.
READ MORE about our volunteer spotlight!
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Jane Barrett, Community Hero
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At the 2014 Community Hero Awards Recognition Ceremony: Jane Barrett (center, holding check) and her children, Wendy, Ginny and Brian. Also holding check is Kathleen Meaney Stobie, RSVP Director
Congratulations Jane Barrett! Our very own RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) volunteer was selected as one of the recipients of the 2014 Dunkin' Donuts Metropolitan Washington DC Region Community Hero Award! Jane was one of ten area winners selected from over 100 nominations for going "above and beyond to keep our community running every day."
Jane is an extraordinary volunteer, involved with JCA Heyman Interages, Brookside Gardens and the RSVP SWAT Team (Seniors with Available Time). She volunteers at the MLK Day of Service, working on the Snow Day Boxes for Meals on Wheels. Beyond her many RSVP commitments, Jane is also very passionate about the environment; she is a Weed Warrior in Sligo Creek Park and frequently helps out at Audubon Naturalist Society. Jane is also very involved with Warm Up America, making blankets for sick children.
Jane was recognized at a ceremony on December 10th; she received $500 and a coupon booklet, which offers a free Dunkin' Donuts coffee and donut every week for a year.
The Dunkin' Donuts Metropolitan Washington DC Region Community Hero Award celebrates those who impact, improve and inspire our local community. Click here to view all the winners in the area.
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All a Board!
Decisions. Decisions. There are lots to be made! The Volunteer Center website has several opportunities for those interested in serving on a board of directors.
Organizations such as Hero Dogs, Inc. and Compass, Inc. are looking for passionate and dedicated individuals willing to lend their time and talents in a leadership role. Click to see what comes up in this keyword search for "Board of Directors." When you're on the website, try other keywords in the red box like "Advisory" or words that match your own interests and then contact agencies directly to find out how to get involved to make a difference.
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And this year's Honorees are ...
Montgomery Serves Awards Nominations Open January 26, 2015
It's time to start thinking about which 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 27, 2015, at Imagination Stage in Bethesda.
Beginning Monday, January 26th, the Volunteer Center will be accepting nominations for this year's awardees in the following categories:
- Neal Potter Path of Achievement Award (lifetime service by 60+ year old residents)
- 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)
Nomination forms will be available Monday, January 26, 2015, at www.montgomeryserves.org.
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A "Taxing" Need for Volunteers
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 Montgomery County is fortunate to have free tax preparation programs available to lower income Montgomery County taxpayers. And this is available thanks to the dedication of trained volunteers. The need for services is great as is the need for new volunteers to help out this tax season!
RSVP/AARP Tax-Aide Program serves lower income taxpayers with special attention to seniors. More volunteers are needed as Client Facilitators at various sites throughout the County as well as Schedulers at the Scheduling Office located at Holiday Park Senior Center. It's a seasonal commitment, from late January to mid-April. If you like helping people by phone or in person, consider volunteering. This is a great opportunity for seniors interested in day time volunteering for a limited time period. Training is provided in mid-January so please reply ASAP.
Another program serving Montgomery County is
Community Action Agency's VITA Program. They need more tax preparers and other volunteers; training is provided. Click here for more information.
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Volunteering in the USA
The state of volunteering and civic life in America is strong - and it's up to us to keep it up. #GoVolunteer! Here are a few highlights from this year's Volunteering and Civic Life in America:
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Nearly 63 million Americans volunteered nearly 8  billion hours last year
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This service has an estimated value of $173 billion (based on the Independent Sector's estimate of the average value of a volunteer hour)
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More than 138 million Americans (or 63 percent) volunteered informally in their communities
This report includes comprehensive data and trends which tell us just how deep the spirit of service runs in this country. Be sure to visit volunteeringinamerica.gov for more information.
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Lights. Camera ...Volunteer!
Is Volunteering Your Reality? Your group can be featured in an upcoming reality TV series that combines volunteering, traveling for a purpose, and using social media. These elements are all part of an effort to help rebuild the Jersey Shore two years after Hurricane Sandy. The Jersey Shore Volunteer Challenge will bring teams together to volunteer, team build, and have fun. At the same time, people from all walks of like will be helping the thousands of homeowners still left out of their homes, and bring them the relief they need to return to a new normal.
Full details are available at the website:
Contact Information:
Steve at (301) 294-2211
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Featured Volunteer Opportunities
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Below are just a few of the opportunities listed on the Volunteer Center's website. Check the Calendar of Events for more opportunities.
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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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One-Time Opportunities
January 8 - ArtAbility Teen Mentor Volunteers - Glen Echo Park Partnership. The Glen Echo Park Partmership is part of a collaborative program called ArtAbility which brings theater, music, puppetry and visual arts experiences to middle school students on the autism spectrum. The Glen Echo Park Partnership is currently recruiting Teen Mentors to volunteer and work with the students and families throughout our spring and summer programs. Come to an Information Session for Teen Mentors on January 8th from 6:30 - 7:30 PM at Glen Echo Park. Students must be current 10th - 12th graders.
Contact: Meredith Foster at mforster@glenechopark.org or (301) 634-2223.
January 11 - Friends of Ten Mile Creek Trash Clean-Up - Montgomery Countryside Alliance. Friends of Ten Mile Creek and Little Seneca Reservoir safeguard the County's last, best stream that is part of the backup water supply for 4.3 million people in the DC area. This clean-up event is a way to give back to the Creek and learn more about this new grassroots organization. Please contact us for the exact location and other particulars of this opportunity. Contact: Kristina Bostick at kristina@mocoalliance.org or (301) 602-4013.
January 17 - BCC Teaming Up with Comfort Cases -  Bethesda Country Club. Thousands of local children enter the foster-care system each year. Most carry little more than the clothes on their backs. Bethesda Country Club (BCC) is dedicated to provide the comfort of "home" on their journey. BCC invites you to join us for a Packing Party! Volunteers will assist in organizing donated items and prepare cases for distribution. Contact: Susana Soriano at exec.admin@bethesdacountryclub.org or (301) 767-8245.
January 17-20 - MLK Day of Service Opportunities - Montgomery Parks is very excited take part in the 2015 MLK Day of Service. Join us in celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s legacy of service by cleaning up our parks and streams. You must be 14 and over to volunteer on your own, but many of our events invited those under 14 to help out with a parent. Dress for the weather as most of the activities are outdoors. Contact: Lynn Vismara at lynn.vismara@montgomeryparks.org or (301) 495-2504.
January 25 - Bowling Buddies - Jewish Foundation for Group Homes. Area middle and high school students join the residents of Jewish Foundation for Group Homes for an afternoon of bowling one Sunday a month throughout the school year. Their residents are adults with intellectual and in some cases also physical disabilities. Volunteers are expected to help the residents bowl by reminding them when it is their turn, walking them up to the lane, and helping them throw/roll the ball if necessary. Contact: Linda Yitzchak at lyitzchak@JFGH.org or (240) 283-6022.
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Ongoing Opportunities
Program Associate Intern Maryland - Empowered Women International. EWI is seeking a Program Associate for our office in Rockville. The Program Associate will work closely with the Program Manager and program team to effectively manage and ensure the operational and administrative success of EWI's programs. This is a hands-on opportunity for someone who is a self-starter, willing to learn fast, eager to give back and able to commit and get things done. This is an unpaid internship.
Contact: Mary Louise Marino at mary@ewint.org or
(571) 312-4781.
Prep Donated Bikes for Overseas Donation - Bikes For The World. Volunteers will prep bikes for shipping by taking off pedals and turning handlebars. More experienced volunteers might have the opportunity to strip bikes for parts. Bikes are brought in from Shady Grove Waste Transfer Station and area bike shops and eventually sent to global partners to help change lives. This opportunity is available every Thursday and occasional Saturdays and Sundays. Contact: Yvette Hess at yvette@bikesfortheworld.org or (703) 740-7856.
Representative Payee Volunteer - Mental Health Association. The purpose of the Representative Payee Program is to provide financial supervision for individuals who are unable to manage their own Social Security or other federal government financial benefits due to a physical or mental disability. Volunteers are trained and then matched with a client for whom they manage the government benefits. The volunteer will spend about 6 hours per month paying the client's monthly bills, and helping the client budget for expenses. This is perfect for seniors looking for a meaningful volunteer experience!
(301) 424-0656 , x541.
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