To have an item listed e-mail to almanac@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is Thursday at noon for the following week’s paper. Photos and artwork encouraged. Unless otherwise noted, all events are in Potomac. If you have any questions, call Rebecca Halik at 703-917-6407.
The American Cancer Society is looking for Road to Recovery drivers. The ACS will provide training and a flexible schedule that suits volunteers’ needs. Road drivers are desperately needed throughout Montgomery County, so get in touch with us today. To volunteer or link a friend with Road to Recovery, call Sarah Ness at 202.483.2600 x101 or sarah.ness@cancer.org.
Montgomery Hospice, a nonprofit medical hospice that provides end-of-life services to residents of Montgomery County, is looking for volunteers to help support terminally ill patients and their families and caregivers. Bereavement Care Volunteers are also needed to provide emotional support to county residents who have lost a loved one. Applicants must be interviewed and complete a three-day training session. The training will be held at the Montgomery Hospice office, located at 1355 Piccard Drive, Suite 100, in Rockville. To request a volunteer application, contact Terry Stewart at 301-921-4400 or visit www.montgomeryhospice.org.
The Volunteer Mentoring Project for the Montgomery County Housing Opportunities Commission Family Self-Sufficiency Program (FSS) is seeking volunteer mentors. Mentors give four hours a month to help low-income adult housing residents achieve their goals towards economic self-sufficiency. Mentors play an important role in guiding and motivating residents as they work toward developing job skills through education and job training. Mentors need to be at least 25-years-old and able to make a commitment to the program for at least one year. Program staff provide mentor training and ongoing supervision. Call 301-929-5660, if interested in other volunteer opportunities in the Montgomery County area, contact the Montgomery County Volunteer Center at 240-777-2600.
SPARK, Single Parents Raising Kids, is a non-profit, all volunteer organization designed to support single parent families through social, family, and educational activities. Any parent who is single, separated, divorced, widowed, or never married and has at least one child under the age of 18 is eligible to join. There is no time commitment required. Members can choose the month of the activities that suit their interests and schedules. Dues are $25 per year. Prospective members can join after attending a one-hour session — children are welcome. Call 301-598-6395 or visit www.sparkinc.org.
Young people who would like to make a difference in the lives of a homeless child are invited to join the County’s Youth Advisory Committee’s “Big Buddy, Little Buddy” program.
Mentors must attend Montgomery County public or private high schools, provide their own transportation and commit to three hours a week for six months. Mentors will assist their “buddies” with homework and arts and crafts projects, plus play games and sports activities with them. Group activities are planned once a month off the premises. Students will qualify for student service learning credits.
The mentoring program is sponsored by the Montgomery County Youth Advisory Committee, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Recreation.
Call Stephanie White at 240-777-6985.
The Abused Persons Program of Montgomery County’s Department of Health and Human Services is recruiting volunteers to assist victims of domestic violence who seek legal protection. Volunteers attend mandatory training sessions to learn about the court system and domestic violence laws. There is a special need for bilingual individuals.
Volunteers are needed to fulfill any of the following duties:
* Staff an office in Rockville or Silver Spring District Court;
* Accompany clients to civil and criminal court proceedings, offering support and information throughout the process of obtaining legal protection;
* Staff an office evenings and weekends at the Commissioners in Rockville and Silver Spring to assist victims while the courts are closed;
* Answer hotline calls during work hours.
To apply or for more information, call the Abused Persons Program at 240-777-4210.
Many opportunities for volunteers who would like to either work at Bethesda Big Train baseball games or help out with mailings in the Big Train office. At the games, jobs are available for adults and children age 8 and older. The jobs include playing Homer the Mascot, Homer's son Bunt (another mascot), selling tickets, ushering, announcing, official scoring, retrieving foul balls, serving as a bat-kid and more. Positions open for singing the National Anthem as well. Visit the Big Train Web site at www.bigtrain.org and click on “Become a Volunteer.” For further information, send an e-mail to volunteer@bigtrain.org.
The Greater Chesapeake and Potomac (GC & P) Region of the American Red Cross asks all eligible whole blood donors to “Be the One We Count On” by calling 1-800-GIVE-LIFE to schedule a donation appointment right away. Blood supply levels are at a critical low. The Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Region of the American Red Cross is offering all blood program participants an exclusive “Be the One We Count On” t-shirt, as well as a chance to win $100 worth of free gas in a weekly drawing. Information about Regional Blood Donor Centers or community blood drive locations and times can be found at www.my-redcross.org.
Counseling & Career Center is looking for volunteers to help in the lives of women. Opportunities include information and referrel specialists, general office assistants, internships and externships in couseling and more. Call Alyssa Philipp at 240-777-8300 or e-mail alyssa.philipp@montgomerycountymd.gov. Located at 401 N. Washington St., Suite 100, Rockville.
The Montgomery County Division of Consumer Affairs (DCA) is seeking volunteers who speak Spanish to assist with investigating and resolving consumer complaints. Volunteers will review complaints, draft letters, and contact merchants and consumers in an effort to resolve disputes. Volunteers must have good writing, analytical and listening skills and basic computer operations knowledge. They must also be able to quickly learn and apply laws enforced by DCA. DCA offices are located at 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Volunteers are needed during any of these hours. To apply to volunteer or for further information, call Nellie Miller at 240-777-3727. For more about DCA, call 240-777-3636 or visit the Web site at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/consumer.
JSSA, a nonsectarian social service agency serving the greater Washington, D.C., area, needs volunteers to shop for and visit with frail elders who live in their own homes. Each volunteer shopper in this program will receive a list, by phone or in person, from the older adult, purchase the items and then deliver the groceries. In order to meet the client's needs, this service is generously provided on a weekly basis. JSSA volunteer visitors are paired with a frail elders, and meet with the elder at least every other week for about one hour. The frail, homebound elders live in Montgomery County and Northwest, Washington, D.C. Volunteers will be matched with elders as geographically close as possible. Volunteers must have their own transportation. For more information or to volunteer, call Diane Hays-Earp, 301-816-2639.
Volunteers are being recruited to help clients of Montgomery County's Victim Assistance and Sexual Assault Program providing 24-hour crisis counseling and companion services to victims of rape and sexual assault at Montgomery County hospitals and police stations. Persons interested in serving are currently being interviewed for fall 2006 training program which will be held — at a date to be determined — in September. Volunteers must reside in Montgomery County, have a valid driver's license and immediate access to transportation, and make a 12-month commitment. Contact the Montgomery County Victim Assistance and Sexual Assault Program at 240-777-1355 or visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/vasap.
The Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad seeks men and women age 16 years and older to become volunteer Emergency Medical Technicians, Paramedics, Firefighters, and Administrative Members. Applicants need no prior experience and receive free, professional training, as well as annual physicals. Volunteers are required to stand duty one night a week at the station, 5020 Battery Lane, Bethesda. Call 301-657-5557 or visit www.bccrs.org.
Volunteer to Crew on a C&O Canal Boat. C&O Canal National Historical Park is looking for volunteers to help run its canal boats, the Charles F. Mercer or the Georgetown. They will train you, provide you with living history clothing, steel-toed boots and any other safety and similar clothing and equipment you may need. Boat crew members will need to be able to push lock gate arms or pull ropes to maneuver the boat into and out of locks or through the canal. Some crew positions are available that involve handling mules, for volunteers interested in learning those skills. Boats are operated 2-3 times a day, Wednesday through Sunday. Schedules are flexible. To sign up contact David Tune at david_tune@nps.gov or Aly Baltrus at alyssa_baltrus@nps.gov.
Maryland-National Park and Planning Commission seeks volunteers at local parks in the area. For a full listing of all the opportunities available, contact Jayne Hench at 301-495-2504 or e-mail jayne.hench@mncppc-mc.org.
The Literacy Council of Montgomery County has more than 200 adult students on its waiting list for tutors. Become a volunteer literacy tutor and teach an adult to read, write, or speak English. No foreign language skills are necessary. Tutors work one-on-one or with small groups, and meet with students in libraries or community centers at mutually convenient times. Call 301-610-0030 or email info@literacycouncilmcmd.org.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-Atlantic, a non-profit organization that fulfills the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions, is seeking wish-granting volunteers and has a critical need for bilingual (Spanish-English) volunteers. The Foundation has had an increase in the number of Spanish-speaking children who are eligible for a wish and needs bilingual volunteers to help make these children's wishes come true. Bilingual volunteers are specifically needed to serve as wish granters, interview interpreters and document translators. The time commitment is ongoing but flexible. For more information, contact the Make-A-Wish Foundation at 301-962-9474.
JSSA, a nonsectarian social service agency serving the greater Washington area, is seeking volunteers to deliver Kosher Meals on Wheels to frail, homebound elders. With the generous assistance of volunteers, JSSA has been able to deliver more than 30,000 meals each year and help clients remain independent in their own homes. There is no minimum time commitment for volunteer drivers and mileage reimbursement is available. For more information or to volunteer, call Diane Hays-Earp at JSSA, 301-816-2639.
The Montgomery County Board of Elections is seeking students grades 6-12 to serve as Election Day student aides during the 2008 Presidential General Election. Students must attend mandatory training to serve on Election Day and, if applicable, receive Student Service Learning (SSL) credits. Available to all students within a public, private, independent, religious, or home-school setting located in Montgomery County. Visit www.777vote.org or e-mail Future.Vote@montgomerycountymd.gov for applications.
Montgomery County’s Board of Elections is seeking individuals to serve as election judges at polling places on November 4. If you would like to serve in this capacity, call 240-777-8533 or email electionjudge@montgomerycountymd.gov.
Circle of Hope Therapeutic Riding, (CHTR), a non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging the physical and mental development of children and adults with disabilities through horseback riding, is seeking volunteers to assist participants and work with horses. No experience necessary. 2-2.5 hour training sessions are held each month on one Saturday and Sunday. Our next Training session will be held on Sept.13th and 14th. CHTR is located in Barnesville, Md. Call 301-916-2040 or visit www.CHTR.org.