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 [email protected] or 410-897-9207. Check our Website: www.VolunteerAnneArundel.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. Ongoing through winter is the, coat, blanket, and gloves drive. Volunteers can meet in Glen Burnie to caravan up to Baltimore. There is also a critical need for cash donations to help pay rent for space used by Happy Helpers. Contact Bobbi Coffman at 443-433-2416 or Jeremy Putt – 301-943-3927or emailhappyhelpersforthehomeless1@
- · Bag a Breakfast Project. Put together a bag breakfast for a homeless individual. Include box of cereal, with spoon and cup, poptart, fruit, hot chocolate package with cup and spoon, juice box, and napkin. Can be done anytime. Just drop off at Happy Helpers.
- · Holiday Donations: Clothing (all sizes and ages), Food (especially turkeys or hams and trimmings), Christmas presents: backpacks, hats, gloves, socks, McDonald’s meal certificates, toys, books, thermal underwear, and sweatshirts, toiletries. Can pick and drop off after 4 pm, seven days a week. Contact Bobbi as above. Additional events for which many volunteers are needed:
- · 10:00 am–3:30 pm, Sat. Dec. 15, 2012, Annual Christmas Party: This party for Anne Arundel County’s Homeless will be held in Glen Burnie. There will be entertainment, lunch, distribution of presents, and fellowship.
- · 9:00 am–5:30 pm, Sat., Dec. 22, 2012, Annual Christmas Party for Guatamalan Families in Marydel: Craft-making, food, Santa, and lots of presents are a part of this great event, a Happy Helpers favorite.
- · 10:00 am–4:00 pm, Sun., Dec. 23, 2012, Christmas Gift Distribution: Two-thousand Christmas presents will be distributed directly to homeless men, women, and children in Baltimore by an army of volunteers. Lunch, Christmas cards, and candy will also be distributed. Meet at the Happy Helpers Baltimore Headquarters.
Movable Feast
This nonprofit provides home delivered meals for clients who are homebound with HIV/AIDS. Volunteers are needed to deliver meals Monday through Friday between 10 am and 2pm. Meal delivery takes about 1 hr and drivers have flexibility in setting their schedules. Volunteers are also needed in the kitchen to prepare baked goods and as general kitchen assistants. Clerical and events assistants are also needed, and volunteers are needed to make deliveries during extreme weather conditions with their 4-wheel drive vehicles. Contact Tom Patrick at 410-327-3420, X31 or[email protected]. See www.mfeast.org.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
NAMI Maryland depends upon volunteers to keep its organization going strong. There are so many ways you can give your time to help NAMI Maryland. You can help with advocacy, fundraising, training, education, community outreach or administrative assistance in the office. Whether you have a lot of free time or only a little, they can use your help. Let them know what your volunteer interests are by calling 410-884-8691 or e-mailing [email protected]. See web site at:http://www.namimaryland.org.
National Remember Our Troops Campaign
The National Remember Our Troops Campaign is a 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to honoring all military service members, all veterans, and their families, for their service and sacrifice, supporting those in need to the best of our ability, and letting them know they are not forgotten. More specifically, we provide recreational therapy for wounded troops and disabled veterans. We offer employment programs for unemployed veterans, transitional housing for homeless vets… We are proactive combating major stress, PTSD and suicide among service members and veterans… and we honor the families of service members killed in the line of duty. For more information about volunteering visit the website at www.nrotc.org/volunteer.htm, contact Tom Ruley at [email protected]/www.
Opportunity Builders, Inc.
This nonprofit provides vocational training and employment services to adults with developmental disabilities. Volunteer Instructor Aides, minimum age 18, assist clients with staying on-task to meet production quotas and help them to learn appropriate work skills and techniques. Volunteers who can commit to coming to the Millersville facility, once a week for at least 3 months are preferred. Volunteers, individuals and groups, also conduct job interviews, teach computer classes, assist with special events, painting and maintenance projects, serve on an OBI committee and more. Contact Megan Gibbs at [email protected] or 410-787-0700. Website: www.obiworks.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 as young as 15 (14 when accompanied by an adult) are needed to assist in serving lunch from 9am-1pm daily. Donations of casseroles, cookies, desserts, canned foods, baby food, diapers, and seasonal decorations are needed. Contact 443-986-9031or the website: www.catholiccharities-md.org.
Pets on Wheels
Volunteers for all these programs visit one-on-one or with their pets or children at homeless shelters, nursing
homes, hospitals, assisted living facilities, adult day-care centers or other sites where people lack visits from
family and friends. Volunteers are asked to share at least one hour each week at the facility of your choice. With more than 76 facilities to choose from throughout the county, there are many opportunities to brighten someone’s day close to your home. Minimum age of 18 if visiting one-on-one with own pet, under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Call410-222-0738 or e-mail [email protected] for more information. Web: www.powlemm.org.
• 10:00 am, Wed., Dec. 4 or 6 pm, Dec. 5, 2012, Orientation Session: Those interested in become a volunteer with their pet should register and attend one of the sessions. Call 410-222-0738 or e-mail [email protected] for more information and to register.
Salvation Army
Food Pantry – Volunteers are needed to drop off food donations Monday through Friday for the Salvation Army’s food pantries in Annapolis and Glen Burnie. Suggested food items include nonperishable canned goods and boxed food. Donations of toiletries are also welcome. Groups that hold food drives can make arrangements to have the food picked up.
Christmas Programs–Volunteers are needed for the Salvation Army’s Christmas Angel Tree and kettle Programs each year; volunteers are needed through Dec. 7 at the Westfield Annapolis Mall to sign up Angel Tree donors, and through Dec. 19, 2012 to organize and distribute the toys. Volunteers for the kettle program are needed throughout the county. For more information and to volunteer, contact Captains Richard and/or Ruth New at 410-263-4091 or[email protected].
Toys for Tots Campaign–U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
The local Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots is a toy drive for the underprivileged children in the local area. With many Marines serving on foreign shores, now more than ever, the Toys for Tots program needs the assistance of members of the community to help make this year’s campaign better than ever. Long & Foster Real Estate, Sandy Spring Bank, Edward Jones, & Prudential PenFed Realty in Severna Park and Big Vanilla in Arnold, have already committed to being a drop-off location. For more information on the program and a list of sponsoring businesses across the county, go to http://edgewater-md.
