Volunteer Opportunities in Crofton and Nearby

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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 the Website: www.aacvc.org. A few current volunteer opportunities are listed below.

Annapolis Film Festival, March 26-29, 2015

A large number of volunteers are needed in a variety of positions to help with The Annapolis Film Festival which is returning to Annapolis Thursday evening, March 26 to Sunday, March 29, 2015. All of the excitement of Hollywood on the Chesapeake comes back for a third year with more than 70 narrative and documentary films, Q&A sessions with the filmmakers and other visiting industry guests, special panels and showcases, and great parties. Opening Night at St. John’s Key Auditorium kicks off the Festival. Volunteer information is provided and registration is accomplished on the website at www.annapolisfilmfestival.com. Any volunteer who works 6-hrs.will receive a special pass which allows them into any screening via the “stand-by” line as well as a festival pass. Volunteers who work 12-hrs. or more for the film festival will receive a special pass, as well as one ticket to any 2-hr. block of programming, guaranteeing you a spot in the most popular shows that often sell-out (excluding the Opening Night screening). Contact volunteer@annapolisfilmfestival.net for further information.

Annapolis Maritime Museum

The Museum needs volunteers on a continuing basis to maintain and expand its innovative environmental education program, conduct tours to the historic Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse, restore wooden boats, interpret the Museum’s exhibits to the public, and help with the winter seminar series, the summer concert series, and events like the Annapolis Oyster Roast & Sock Burning in March and the Boatyard Beach Bash in September. For more information, contact atvolunteer@amaritime.org or 410-295-0104. Check website atwww.amaritime.org. Upcoming event for which additional volunteers may be needed:

· Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday March 21, 2015, Annual Annapolis Oyster Roast & Sock Burning: This Maritime Museum fundraising gala has great food and entertainment for everyone and is held at the museum’s waterfront campus at the end of 2nd Street in Easport. The festivities include the burning of the socks - a spring tradition at the Museum - plus live music by The Eastport Oyster Boys and the LP’s!For more information or to purchase tickets, call 410-295-0104 or visit www.amaritime.org.

Anne Arundel Dept. of Recreation and Parks Rec Deeds Challenge 5K Run, March 28, 2015

8:00–11:00 am, Sat., Mar. 28, 2015, Rec Deeds Challenge 5K Run & Family Fun Walk: Recreation Deeds for Special Needs is a non-profit friends & family organization established to provide camp scholarships, adaptive equipment, training and volunteer support to people with disabilities. The Recreation Deeds Challenge 5K Run and Fun Walk fundraiser is being held at Downs Park, 8311 John Downs Loop, Pasadena, MD 21122 and the race starts at 9:00 a.m. Volunteers are needed on the day of the event starting at 8:00 a.m. to assist with race support, be a course monitor, register participants and give out race bags, mark course, and take pictures. Volunteers should arrive at 8:00 a.m. to register and get volunteer assignments. For more information, contact Nicki Fiocco at 443-336-4539 orvolunteer@aacounty.org. Also, volunteers may register online atwww.aacvc.org/OpportunityCalendar.

Arundel Lodge

Arundel Lodge Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program partners with individuals and families to improve behavioral health through recovery-oriented services. A variety of volunteer opportunities are available to help with Arundel Lodge projects, facilities maintenance, and events. Contact Cindy Garmoe, Volunteer Coordinator at 443-433-5906 or cgarmoe@arundellodge.org. We are currently seeking volunteers for the following projects:

· 11:00 am., Thursday, March 26, 2015, Toiletry Toolkit Assembly: Help us collect and assemble items for toiletry kits for individuals in our Residential and Community Behavioral Health Programs. Some items needed include bar soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, shampoo, body lotion, shaving cream and q-tips.

· Sat. & Sun., May 2 & 3, 2015, Residential Home Painting: Join us to help paint two of our Residential Behavioral Health Program homes, or support those who will be doing the painting. We need painters, lunch leaders, site coaches and other volunteers. Wall prep experience a plus. Individuals and groups welcome!

Historic Annapolis Foundation

We are looking for volunteers for all the programs that Historic Annapolis shares with our neighbors and visitors! We need docents at the historic Paca House and Gardens who receive training and continuing education so they may share what they’ve learned with visitors to Annapolis. Contact Janet Hall at 410-990-4514 orjanet.hall@annapolis.org for more information about volunteering and training opportunities. Upcoming training and events for which extra volunteers are needed:

· 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.

· 1:00 pm–3:00 pm, Thurs., Mar. 19, 2015, Garden: Paca HouseDocent Training: Training will be with Mollie Ridout and will be held at the Paca House. D

· 10:00 am–5:00 pm, Sat., Mar. 21 & 12:00 pm–5:00 pm, Sun., Mar. 22, 2015, Maryland Day Celebration: Volunteers are needed for all shifts for the Paca House & Garden, Brice House and Freedom Bound: training is provided! We have many shift times to fit your schedule! There will be living history re-enactments at Hogshead and the Paca House and Gardens! It’s going to be a wonderful celebration and we need your help so we can share our historic sites with fellow Marylanders and visitors.

· 8:30 am Mon., March 23 & Tues., Mar. 24, 8:30 am, Museum Store Inventory: Counters Needed!

It’s that time of year! What could be more fun than being in a beautiful teal Museum Store counting wonderful things with nice people! Come help Julie Western and her staff. We need 6 helperson Monday, and 20 helpers on Tuesday. Many helping hands make counting fun!

· 10 am–12 pm on Tues., Mar. 31 & Wed., Apr. 1, 2015, Docent Training for Whitehall Historic House: Guided tours of Governor Horatio Sharpe’s country home, built circa 1764, will be offered from12:30 pm to 3:30 pm the 2nd Sun. of the month, April through September. It is truly an architectural gem that has rarely been open to the public. The Mar. 31 training will be held at Whitehall and theApr.1 training at the Paca House.

Homeless Resource Day, March 28, 2015

A large number of volunteers are being sought for Anne Arundel County’s 8th Annual Homeless Resource Day, Saturday, March 28, 2015 at Annapolis High School 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This is a “one-day, one stop” opportunity for individuals and families experiencing homelessness to access benefits, medical care, substance abuse resources and mental health counseling as well as a variety of social services which can ultimately lead to housing and self-sufficiency. Also needed are donations of cash and NEW items: socks, underwear, backpacks, personal hygiene items (toothpaste, toothbrush, etc.), disposable wipes, and hand sanitizers (all in trial or travel sizes). Last year there were more than 600 homeless present. See www.aacounty.org/homelessresource for more information and to sign up or contact Justin Bieler, at 410-269-4462 orjustin.bieler@maryland.gov.

· 4:00 p.m. – 8 p.m., Fri., Mar. 27, 2015, Setup: Volunteers 15 years of age and older are needed to help set-up tables, chairs, and signs and sort and stuff bags with donated canned food and toiletry items to be given to the homeless.

· 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Sat., Mar. 28, 2015 (4 hour shifts), Guides and other Helpers: Volunteers 18 years of age or older are needed until event close at 4:00 p.m.; additional volunteers 15 years of age or older are needed for breakdown after 4:00 p.m.