Volunteer Opportunities in Annapolis and Nearby

From a news release:

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 their website: www.aacvc.org. A few current volunteer opportunities are listed below.

City of Annapolis New Year Celebration 2015

The City of Annapolis is looking for volunteers who are familiar with downtown Annapolis for the City of Annapolis New Year Celebration 2015 onWednesday, December 31, 2014. Volunteer duties will vary and individuals must be people friendly. The Celebration begins at 3pm and continues untilmidnight. Fireworks shows are at 7:30pm and midnight! If you are interested in helping with the City of Annapolis’ annual New Year’s Eve festivities, please contact Felicia Nolan, Special Projects Coordinator in the Office of the Mayor, at FCNolan@annapolis.gov or 410-263-7997.

Fouse Center

This Glen Burnie nonprofit provides transitional housing for homeless men in Northern Anne Arundel County. Its goal is to assist men with the transition from homelessness to independent and stable living. Contact Mario at 410-609-1224 or info@thefousecenter.com.

· Holiday donations are needed such as: food items, including drink mixes, prepared foods, nonperishable, frozen foods and fresh foods such as milk, eggs, fruits and vegetables; toiletry items such as deodorant, toothbrushes, shampoo, etc.; new or gently used men’s clothing, including suits, ties, shirts, dress shoes pants, jackets, hats, gloves, new socks and underwear; cleaning supplies, paper products, cookware; new or gently used linens, such as twin sheet sets, pillows, pillow cases and bath towels. For more specific information and for drop-off directions contact Mario at 410-609-1224.

Giving Back, Linda’s Legacy Program

For many years Giving Back has provided backpacks filled with new sweatshirts, warm thermals (top and bottom), hats, gloves, and socks to the homeless on the streets of Anne Arundel County, Baltimore and Washington, DC. Last year, we distributed over 2,000 backpacks, and sadly there was still not enough. We are looking for schools, church and corporate organizations, neighborhoods, families, and individuals to help sponsor and fill these backpacks for the 2014 drive. Giving Back will purchase the backpacks and provide them to those willing to collect the materials and stuff the backpacks or we can purchase these items for those willing to sponsor the backpacks at $25 per unit. We are also looking for volunteers to assist with working at our collection site at the Annapolis Farmer’s Market on Riva Road, Dec. 20-23, 2014 from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Volunteers are also needed on Dec. 24, 2014from 8:00 AM–3:00 PM to help make deliveries. For more information, please contact us at info@homelessdrive.org. Visit us on the web atwww.homelessdrive.org.

Our Daily Bread

The largest soup kitchen in Maryland is located in downtown Baltimore and serves a 780+ hot lunches 365 days a year and breakfast on weekday mornings. Volunteers, age 14 and up, are needed to assist in serving lunch from 9 am–1 pm daily. Donations of casseroles, cookies, desserts, canned foods, baby food, diapers, and seasonal decorations are needed. Contact 410-659-4016 or visit: www.catholiccharities-md.org.

Hammond-Harwood House

Volunteer docents, 18 and older, are needed to serve as weekend tour guides; those able to work to or more weekend days per month (Noon – 5pm) are preferred. Training is provided. Volunteers are also needed for publicity, children’s events, research and more. There are opportunities for volunteers to work at home on projects such as woodworking or sewing upholstered slip covers for pillows that are on display in the collection and more. Call 410-263-4683 ext. 12. Volunteers receive discounts in the Gift Shop and attend field trips, lectures, and more. See www.hammondharwoodhouse.org.

• Hammond-Harwood House also offers unpaid internships during the spring and fall semesters as well as in the summer. Students seeking unpaid internships must be currently enrolled in school and working towards a degree. The program makes every effort to offer experience in all aspects of small museum management. Students interested in applying can call Carter Lively at410-263-4683 x11, or e-mail him at clively@hammondharwoodhouse.org for more information.

Isabel’s Gift

Volunteers are needed to help support the needs of parents with children in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) at the AA Medical Center in Annapolis and the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. Support consists of providing information packets and web site information, a listening ear, and comfort bags of useful items such as water, pen & paper, reading materials, personal items, etc. to help parents cope with the stressful NICU experience. Volunteers are needed to stuff and deliver comfort bags, help with fundraising, and a host of other tasks. Monetary and in-kind donations are also needed to support the web site, printing, and purchase of items for comfort bags. For more information call 443-562-6303 or e-mail christagrim@yahoo.com. Web site:www.isabelsgift.org.

Life Renewed Corporation

Life Renewed Corp. supports foster parents in Maryland by providing free emergency food, clothing and furniture for their new foster children when they first come into their homes. Volunteers are needed to help in the Thrift Store located at 12 Mayo Road, in Edgewater. Volunteers would help organize, label, and price clothes and help manage food donations for the food pantry. Volunteers are also needed for marketing and distribution. For more information contact Judy Poe at 443-203-6568 or jude_afr@earthlink.net. See website atwww.familythriftshop.org.

Operation Welcome Home (MD)

OWHMD provides a hero’s welcome four times a week at BWI Airport to military personnel returning home from the War on Terror. Since March 2007, Operation Welcome Home Maryland has greeted over a half million Sailors, Soldiers, Marines and Airmen. Volunteers are needed to help by cheering, clapping, shaking hands and saying thanks. This is a volunteer activity for all ages! Community organizations, schools, scouts, church groups, and individuals are also needed to lead a collection drive of water or a snack drive for the snack bags. Assembly lines are set up and snack bags are made prior to the arrival of our service members. Volunteers also needed to help decorate the International terminal, the location for the events. OWHMD is always in need of handmade cards of appreciation, as each snack bag has a “note of thanks” enclosed (instructions provided on web page:www.operationwelcomehomemd.org). Volunteers are needed seven days a week, especially in need of “Night Owls”. For a list of the dates of the events, check out our web page at www.operationwelcomehomemd.org or call our event line 410-630-1555 any time after nine am for the most up to date information. Contact Kathy Thorp at navyfam6@comcast.net or 410-757-0982for questions, or visit our website: www.operationwelcomehomemd.org.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, January 19, 2015

On Monday January 19, 2015, the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Center and the Church on the Rock are co-hosting a Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. The event will take place at Church on the Rock, 649 Old Mill Road, Millersville, MD from 10am until 2pm. A large number of volunteers are needed to help with a number of craft projects and may register for one of two shifts from 10:00am-11:30am or 12:30 pm-2pm. For more information and to sign up, go towww.aacvc.org/OpportunityCalendar or contact Holli atholli.aacvc@outlook.com or 410-897-9207.

»Screenshot from Operation Welcome Home YouTube video