Many Volunteer positions are available through the Volunteer Center For Anne Arundel County. If you do not see an opportunity below that fits your needs, contact the Volunteer Center at info@volunteerannearundel.org or 410-897-9207. Check our Website: www.VolunteerAnneArundel.org. A few current volunteer opportunities are listed below.
Emmaus Center
Emmaus Center is a nonprofit organization which serves poor and homeless people to give them a sense of community by providing resources that otherwise would not be available. There is an immediate need for a volunteer to help cook lunch four days a week. Can split between different people and hours. We also need someone who can help with fundraising efforts. For more information, contact 410-766-7729 or bhudgens.emmauscenter@gmail.com. Web: www.emmauscenter.net.
First Book-Anne Arundel County
First Book Anne Arundel is a nonprofit whose mission is to provide children from low-income families with their first new books free. Volunteers are needed to help organize fundraising events and to help with grant writing. For more information and to volunteer contact Mikio Manuel at mikiom@gmail.com or 443-994-5471. See website at: www.firstbook.org. Extra volunteers are needed for the following:
- 8:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m, and 1:30–6:00 p.m., Mon.-Fri., Dec. 2–6, 2013, First Book National Book Distribution: The First Book National Book Bank will be in Baltimore distributing new books to programs serving children in need. Hundreds of thousands of such books are distributed nationally every year. Volunteers are needed to help with sorting and moving boxes weighing between 10-30 lbs., affixing shipping labels on boxes, preparing pick-up orders, greeting local programs picking up books, and loading cars with boxes of books. Volunteers will be on their feet during the two available shifts, required to wear closed toe shoes, and most of the help needed is physical labor in a warehouse setting. A few volunteers will be needed on Mon.-Wed. only for non-lifting activities. Snacks and water will be provided and volunteers working both shifts will be provided lunch. Contact The First Book National Book Bank Team at fbnbb@firstbook.org to sign up.
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. 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.operationwelcomehome.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 410-757-0982 for questions.
Maryland Highway Safety Office, Maryland Remembers Ceremony, Dec. 12, 2013
On December 12, 2013, the Maryland Highway Safety Office will host the 10th Annual Maryland Remembers Ceremony to honor the victims of impaired driving-related crashes. This ceremony is open to all families and friends of those loved ones lost in these terrible tragedies, and we invite you to reach out to any families that may benefit from this time of gathering and remembrance. Law enforcement officers are requested to attend and escort the victims’ family members and friends down the aisle as a sign of their ongoing commitment to ending impaired driving. Please RSVP through http://www.marylandremembers.com/. The site also contains parking directions to the Navy-Marine Corps Stadium where attendees will be provided with free shuttle rides to and from the event. Please note that doors open at 10:00 a.m. and the event processional will begin at 11:00 a.m. Refreshments will be provided before and after the event. Families and friends are encouraged to bring photographs of their loved ones to be used in the processional.
Sarah’s House
Sarah’s House is a supportive housing program for homeless women, children, and men in Anne Arundel County providing case management, childcare, transportation and employment services at Ft. Meade. Volunteer orientations are offered periodically at Sarah’s House. Volunteers can work directly with guests or behind the scenes. There are a variety of volunteer opportunities for individuals, families, businesses and groups of all faiths and ages. Especially needed are volunteers for childcare while parents attend training classes and to help with tutoring children with their homework during the school year. Please RSVP to Bruce Clopein at 410-519-5085, or bclopein@catholiccharities-md.org. Visit www.cc-md.org/sarahs-house/ for volunteer opportunities and donation wish lists.
- 9:00 a.m., Sat., Nov. 30, 2013, Tom’s 12th Annual 5K Reindeer Run: Volunteers are needed to help with this run in memory of Tom Linsenmeyer which benefits Sarah’s House. Check-in is from 8:00-8:45 am at West Laurel Community Building. For more information and to sign up, contact John Linsenmeyer at jlinse@hotmail.com. See website to register for the run, sponsorship opportunities, and directions at www.tomsreindeerrun.org/.
- 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Sat., December 14, 2013, Christmas Open House: The public is invited to the Open House at Sarah’s House, 2015 20th St., Ft. Meade, MD 20755. It is requested that you bring a gift card or a new, unwrapped toy to help stock Santa’s workshop for families at Sarah’s House. Activities will include free pictures with Santa, Arts and Crafts, and raffles. For more information call 410-551-7722, X 1240 or email SHChristmasteam2013@cc-md.org.
University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center
University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center’s Auxiliary/Volunteer Program is service-based and dedicates hours to most departments within the medical center. Duties can range from escorting patients and visitors, filing, entertaining patients with games and puzzles, answering the phone and running errands to other departments. Auxiliary/volunteers can also assist medical floors through Serving Spoons, a program that trains individuals to help feed patients. Auxiliary/volunteers also sponsor fundraising activities throughout the year and manage the hospital’s gift shop. Auxiliary members also serve in different areas of the hospital, such as the Gift Shop, Mailroom and Business Office. For more information, please call 410-787-4504 or email Susan Ward at: sward@bwmc.umms.org. See Website at: www.mybwmc.org.
Volunteer Center for Anne Arundel County
The Center now has a Holiday Volunteer Guide listing volunteer opportunities and donation needs through December 2013. Volunteering is a way to support your favorite cause, even when you are short of cash. Gifts of time and in-kind donations can be pivotal at this time of year for the charities listed in the Holiday Volunteer Guide. You can receive a copy of the Holiday Volunteer Guide by stopping by the Volunteer Center, located at 2666 Riva Road, Suite 130, Annapolis, MD 21401 or via e-mail by sending a request to info@volunteerannearundel.org. This new Holiday Volunteer Guide is also posted on the Volunteer Center’s Website: www.VolunteerAnneArundel.org/Resources and can be downloaded for FREE. For more information, please contact the Volunteer Center For Anne Arundel County at 410-897-9207 or at info@volunteerannearundel.org. Website: www.VolunteerAnneArundel.org .