Volunteer Opportunities in South County: June 5

From the Volunteer Center of Anne Arundel County:

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.

Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management. The AA County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) coordinates resources and facilitates the response and recovery efforts of local, state, federal and private agencies in emergencies.  OEM is recruiting citizens to teach emergency preparedness in communities, senior citizen centers, and faith-based organizations, etc. Additionally, volunteers are needed to staff tables/booths during fairs and various community affairs to give information about emergency preparedness. Volunteer Emergency Operations Center (EOC) call takers are needed to take calls from citizens for referral to agency representatives within the EOC or provide answers within their realm of knowledge.  Bi-lingual (and American Sign Language) citizens are also needed.  Training will be provided. Contact Karen Johnson at 410-222-0611 or FDJOHN99@aacounty.org for more information.

The Arc of the Central Chesapeake. The Arc Central Chesapeake Region provides programs, services and advocacy for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Volunteers are needed to help with fund raising, assist in the office, with special events and for a variety of other tasks.

• 7 to 11 p.m. July 14. Fifth Annual – Run for a Reason 5K:  The Bowen Foundation for Autism and The Arc Central Chesapeake Region are seeking about 20 volunteers to help with this fifth annual fundraiser. Volunteers are needed to help with set up, clean up, registration, marking course, manning water tables, and directing the runners. Contact Angie DeMoreland at (410) 268-8085, (410) 269-1883, or ADemoreland@thearcccr.org.

Best Buddies of Maryland. Best Buddies enhances the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-on-one friendship and integrated employment. Volunteers, 18 and older, will be matched with an adult who has an intellectual disability. Matches are based on age, gender, proximity and similar interests. Once matched, the pair is asked to maintain weekly contact, via phone or email, and visit twice a month. Some monthly outings include going to concerts, dining out, watching movies and more. Volunteers are needed in Baltimore City and surrounding counties (and throughout the State of Maryland).

Arundel Lodge, Inc. Arundel Lodge in Edgewater is a community mental health center serving mentally ill adults and is in need of a volunteer to staff the front desk and answer the door on Wednesday evenings from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Contact Ann Jackson at ajackson@arundellodge.org or 443-433-5942 to volunteer or for more information.

Big Brothers and Sisters of the Greater Chesapeake. Want an excuse to be a kid again?  Play catch?  Fly kites? Most volunteers start because they want to give back and help a child.  Soon, they discover being a Big Brother or Big Sister is one of the best experiences of their life! As a Big, you are simply a friend.  We ensure your experience fits your lifestyle, and we have something for everyone.  Busy people of all ages can get involved.  You can choose the program that works best for you.

Volunteers spend time with a child (age 7-15) a few times per month, a few hours each time, over the course of one year.  Big Brothers Big Sisters provides a monthly list of free or low-cost activities to give you ideas and are with you every step of the way. For more information about being a Mentor, please contact Shawnice Jackson at 410-319-0066 or sjackson@biglittle.org.

Calvary Food Bank. Calvary Food Bank is certified by Anne Arundel County Food Link to provide free food to area residents; on Tues. evenings each week food is distributed to 75-100 needy persons. Volunteers are needed to help pick up and store food from Giant Food and other area supermarkets for about two hours on Mon. and Tues. mornings using the Calvary Food Bank truck. For more information call 410-969-5100 or e-mail: Francur07@aol.com.

Creating Communities. Adult volunteers are needed for the award-winning Creating Communities Arts Mentorship Academy, June 18-22, 2012 at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts. Volunteers will help mentors run various arts classes, greet parents and guardians, serve simple meals, take attendance and participate in program activities. Volunteers are asked to give a minimum of 2-3 full days out of five for program continuity. No artistic experience is required. The Arts Mentorship Academy serves 100 economically-disadvantaged yet talented youth from Anne Arundel County. All volunteers must pass a basic background check and be ready for random drug testing. Please contact Rob Levit, rlevit@comcast.net for more information.

Project Linus- Anne Arundel County. The mission of this nonprofit organization is to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need, through gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly made by volunteer “blanketeers.” Volunteer “Blanketeers” of all ages are needed to sew, quilt, knit or crochet washable and child friendly new blankets for such children, up to age 18. This is a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups, as well as an opportunity to socialize as you complete these blankets, much like an old-fashioned quilting bee, but with a modern flair. Blankets also can be made at home and dropped off at collection sites. Contact Karen at (410) 255-0182 or krnsway@hotmail.com.

• 10 am to noon, June 16. Project Linus will meet to brush up on knitting and crocheting skills.  There will be no meetings in July and August.  We will resume meetings in September. Join other “Blanketeers” at the Community Center in Severna Park working on projects that could use an extra set of hands to complete, such as cutting, matching fabric, sewing, pressing, tying knots, embroidery, or quilting to name a few. Volunteers can be as young as 8, but a parent must accompany if younger than 14. For more information, contact Karen Harper at baylinusblankets@yahoo.com or annearundel_md@projectlinus.org.