Volunteer Opportunities in Annapolis and Nearby

Many volunteer positions are available through the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Center. If you do not see an opportunity below that fits your needs, contact the Volunteer Center at ask.aacvc@outlook.com or 410-897-9207. Check our Website: www.aacvc.org. A few current volunteer opportunities are listed below.

Happy Helpers for the Homeless, Saturdays and Sundays

This nonprofit organization provides food, toiletries, and clothing to the hungry and homeless. Volunteers, as young as 6, are needed Saturdays (11:30am-2:30pm) and Sundays (1:00-4:00pm) to assist in distributing items and bag lunches in downtown Baltimore and Glen Burnie. Ongoing donations needed: men’s socks, toiletry items, men’s clothing, blankets, shoes in very good condition, sturdy napkins/paper towels, mustard, juice boxes, fold-over sandwich bags, lunch meat and fresh fruit. Volunteers can meet in Glen Burnie to caravan up to Baltimore. Contact Bobbi Coffman at 443-433-2416 oremailhappyhelpersforthehomeless1@yahoo.com for more information about volunteering on all projects and events. Additional events for which many volunteers are needed:

· 10:00 am–11:30 pm, Sat., Nov. 22, 2014 “National Family Volunteer Day”: Hundreds of sandwiches will be prepared at Grace Point Presbyterian Church, 615 Donaldson Ave., Severn, MD 21144, while simultaneously Hundreds of Christmas presents will be wrapped at Happy Helpers Headquarters.

· 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, Thanksgiving Day, Thurs., Nov. 27, 2014 –We will meet in Glen Burnie and caravan to Curtis Bay for a big Thanksgiving Dinner and Distribution for the Homeless.

· 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Sat., Dec. 13, 2014 - Christmas Party for Guatemalan Children - We will meet in Glen Burnie and caravan to rural Caroline County, MD for this truly festive event.

· 10:00 am–3:30 pm, Sat. Dec. 20, 2014, Annual Christmas Party: This party for Anne Arundel County’s Homeless will be held in Glen Burnie at the Harundale Presbyterian Church. There will be entertainment, Lunch, distribution of presents, and fellowship.

· 10:00 am-3:00 pm, Sun., Dec. 21, 2014 Christmas Gift Distribution-We will be gathering at the bridge near Our Daily Bread Employment Center for this grand event, where we will be distributing mind-blowing amounts of gifts. Please join us for this awesome event!

Historic Annapolis

Volunteers are needed to assist with upcoming events. Contact Janet Hall at410-990-4514 or janet.hall@annapolis.org for more information and to sign up for any of the following events:

· 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m,, Saturday, December 13th, 2014, William Paca House:Come have fun teaching about the rich history of colonial Annapolitans through a variety of hands on activities. Volunteers are needed to assist with the family programs.

· 2:30 p.m. – 5:00 pm, Wednesday afternoons through the year, Footprints Programs: In this afterschool program, volunteers are needed to work with elementary school children learning about the rich and diverse history of Annapolis. The programs typically run on Wednesday afternoons and are truly a fun experience when kids have an “ah-Ha” moment connecting history to their present day lives.

· 5:00 p.m.–11:00 p.m., Multiple shifts, Thurs., Dec.4th, Dec. 11, & Dec. 18th, 2014, Museum Store: Volunteers are needed to staff the store at 99 Main Street in downtown Annapolis. Celebrate the Midnight Madness shopping by taking a two hour shift on one of the above nights. Volunteers will help by greeting guests, and offering light refreshments while customers enjoy the festive Moonlight Madness event.

We Care and Friends

We Care and Friends is a grass-roots organization that depends on volunteers to help where needed. If you are interested in volunteering during one of our fundraisers, mentoring youth, at summer camp, in the office, during Thanksgiving or the Christmas Toy Drive, please contact us. We have a current need for adult volunteer, 3 days per week (Tue., Wed., and Fri.) from 1-5 pm to help in the office. The volunteer needs to have familiarity with general bookkeeping, QuickBooks, and will also be expected to answer phones and keep an organizational calendar. Contact Larry Forrester at 410-263-2874 orlarry@wecareandfriends.org. See website at: www.wecareandfriends.org.

· Monday, November 24, 2014, Annual Annapolis Thanksgiving Dinner:This annual dinner is being held at The Stanton Center in Annapolis for the homeless and others in need. Volunteers, age 16 and up, are needed to help with serving and cleaning up on the day of the dinner. If you are able to help out please contact Kathy Mogelinski at kbm@arinc.com. For more information about We Care and Friends, check out the website atwww.wecareandfriends.org.

Hospice of the Chesapeake

Hospice of the Chesapeake improves the quality of life for those in our communities experiencing advanced illness or bereavement through hospice and other palliative care, compassionate support and education. Volunteers with four-wheel drive vehicles are needed to assist Hospice of the Chesapeake patients and staff in Anne Arundel and Prince George’s Counties during inclement weather conditions. For additional information or to volunteer, please contact our Volunteer Department at 443-837-1549 or toll free 800-745-6132. In addition, The Hospice is also seeking volunteers to assist at its upscale resale store, “Treasures”, at Park Plaza in Severna Park where an Annual Christmas Holiday Open House is being held from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. on Sat., Dec. 6, 2014.Call 410-384-9260 or visit the website at www.hospicechesapeake.org.

Recreation Deeds for Special Needs

Recreation Deeds for Special needs is a nonprofit whose mission is to enhance the well-being and quality of life of all Anne Arundel County residents by providing recreational opportunities to all citizens including those with challenges or obstacles due to disabilities, financial difficulties or environmental barriers. The organization will work toward this mission by fundraising, including seeking grants, promoting recreational opportunities throughout Anne Arundel County, continuing to prioritize accessible programming and creating funding and scholarships. Volunteers are needed throughout the year to provide accounting assistance and to help with fund raising events. For more information contact Wendy Scarborough at 410-222-7313 or info@recdeedsforspecialneeds.org. See web site at: www.recdeedsforspecialneeds.org.

Wreaths Across America, Annapolis National Cemetery, Sat., Dec. 13, 2014 at 12 Noon

Wreaths Across America, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, was formed as an extension of the Arlington Wreath Project in 1992. Last year, Annapolis National Cemetery received over 1000 donated wreaths from individuals, organizations and businesses. There are approximately 3000 graves at Annapolis National Cemetery and the goal this year is to have a wreath for each gravesite. The Annapolis community can make this happen. Wreath donations are being sought: Visit web site: www.wreathsacrossamerica.org to sponsor a wreath for $15; designate the wreath to the Annapolis National Cemetery by entering SPONSOR LOCALLY, group name FRIENDS OF ANNAPOLIS. The deadline for wreath donation is Friday, November 29, 2014. Also, Volunteers are needed the day of the ceremony to lay wreaths on the graves. Contact Kristina Seidel at seidelclan@verizon.net for any questions/concerns.

Y of Central Maryland

Volunteer mentors, age 21 and up, are needed for the Y’s Reach and Rise Mentoring Program at the Greater Annapolis Y location (1209 Ritchie Hwy., Arnold 21012). The program is free and intended for at risk youth ages 6-18. All mentors are screened through state and national background checks and provided with a 15-hour training program. A one-year commitment of one, 2-hour session per week is expected from the volunteer mentor. Both the mentor and mentee participant will receive a free one-year membership at the Greater Annapolis Family Center Y. For more information and to volunteer, contact Candice Jacobs at candicejacobs@ymaryland.org or (410) 544-2525.

###