Results tagged “Volunteer” from Volunteer Now

Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) is the largest annual celebration of young volunteers, where millions of young people in countries everywhere carry out thousands of community improvement projects. All organizations are encouraged to plan youth-led community service projects that involve the broader community in GYSD or showcase existing projects to the media and surrounding community.

The project for GYSD has changed, we are now seeking volunteers to help clean up John Rudy County Park, which is located near Central High School in York. Help us mulch, pull weeds and clean so that all members of the community can enjoy a clean, safe park.

Our event will take place on Saturday, April 18th from 10-2 pm at John Rudy County Park, located near Central High School in York, to sign-up contact Kim Goff, 717-771-3822 or email goffk@unitedway-york.org.

The Parent Support Group at Christ Lutheran Church needs a volunteer for its Thursday evening meetings from 6-8 pm at the Christ Lutheran Church at 126 Main Street in Dallastown. Volunteer position is to assist with childcare, therefore volunteer must be at least 14-years-old, able to obtain police and child abuse clearances and have transportation. Must love kids, be creative, and have lots of energy!

If interested, please contact Raegan at 1-800-635-6619 or 717-845-5771, or email
raegan@castlc.org.

The Y.O.U.T.H. Program, Inc. was founded by Debbie Mancuso in 1987 and is located on a 10-acre farm in Felton, PA, which is known as "Shady Pines Farm". This program offers educational and recreational programs, as well as animal therapy. It was created to help familiarize youth with the textile arts and teach them how to run a agricultural business. Over the years they have held fundraisers, hosted picnics, Halloween parties and field trips. The program ran privately for seven years and in 2003 became a nonprofit organization.

Volunteers are needed to assist with art projects, animal recreational therapy and fundraisers. Volunteers get to help care, train and socialize animals!

To volunteer or schedule a tour for your class or organization, please call Deb Mancuso at 717-244-8353 or email: youthprograminc.hotmail.com. Shady Pines Farm is located at 12637 Mt. Olivet Rd, Felton, PA 17322. Check out their website: www.youthprograminc.org.

YorkArts was founded in 1990 to support local artists in all disciplines and to make the arts accessible to the general public. YorkArts fosters creativity and community through the arts.
YorkArts' educational outreach programs and first-class facilities in historic downtown York draw their success from the arts' unique ability to stimulate, challenge, illuminate, and inspire.

Recognized as a leading cultural partner, YorkArts offers individuals engaging and accessible opportunities to discover and connect with their creativity. YorkArts is also proud to provide outreach programs to the youth of York City and York County. A focused effort is made to reach at-risk children in the City of York. YorkArts' Art in the Parks summer program features art-making activities that teach social skills, respect for others, group decision-making, teamwork, and positive self-expression to more than 600 children yearly.

YorkArts also serves a broader audience through free art exhibits, its participation in Yorkfest, and many other mission-related activities. Additionally, YorkArts encourages the revitalization of the community by serving as the Resource Center for the Cultural District of York and enhances the beauty of York through its Mosaic Visions program.

Yorkarts is seeking volunteers for teaching, special events, community outreach programs, exhibit installation, fundraising, marketing and communications, administration support and gallery docents.

Contact Person:
Mindy Lombardo, Project Director (717) 848-3200
10 N. Beaver St.
York, PA 17401

Web Site: http://www.yorkarts.org

I am happy to announce that our volunteer presentations, which have only been given to middle and high school students, are now being offered to elementary school students. Our volunteer requirements, through our volunteer center at the United Way of York, mostly consists of agencies looking for volunteers who are 13 years or older. However, there are many activities that younger children can participate in to help others in need. When conducting our National Family Volunteer Day and MLK Service Day events, we had many children participate by decorating and writing "Get Well" cards for children at local hospitals as well as creating arts and crafts. Some also helped create care packets for the homeless. I noticed that the children seemed very pleased to know that the cards they were decorating were going to help "cheer up" other children. Therefore, it occurred to me that our presentations could also be conducted at the elementary school level and that it is never too early to encourage the importance and benefits of volunteering.

As I mentioned above, they may not be able to volunteer with certain local agencies, due to certain guidelines and, most of all, age requirements, but I can give them many ideas of what they can do on their own, as a family, or as a community to help others in need. Other ideas could include activities to raise money for charities such as a car wash, bake sale or participate in a neighborhood clean-up day. Again, the presentation would include a very basic, brief explanation defining volunteering, it's importance and benefits. At the end of the presentation I would have the children participate in a fun activity such as coloring or decorating cards or other arts and crafts for children at local hospitals or for seniors at local nursing and/or retirement homes.

I think these presentations would make a positive impact on children and a chance to instill a life-long interest in helping others. Our volunteer presentations are available to all schools, local agencies/organizations and/or church groups. If interested, please contact Kim Goff at the United Way of York County, 717-771-3822 or email goffk@unitedway-york.org.

Volunteer opportunities consists of many different activities that I think surprise people. Did you know that we have volunteer opportunities for Wii challengers? Yes, that's right; I have senior centers who are looking for Wii challengers for their elder residents. Wii is not just a "young" activity; it is an activity for all ages. I also have retirement homes that our looking for musicians to come and play for their residents, and I also have requests for "friendly visitors" - people just to come in and talk to their residents.

Many of the students I speak to are so surprised to hear about these volunteer opportunities. Our other volunteer opportunities include: teaching others how to read or learn a skill, taking care of pets, create and update websites for local charities and assisting special-needs children and adults. It is important to enjoy your volunteering experience and that is something I strongly encourage in my volunteer presentations. I try to encourage students to utilize their skills and/or talents for the purpose of benefiting others. We all have skills and/or talents that can help or bring happiness to someone who really needs it - and it can be fun! If you are going to volunteer your time you might as well have some fun!

To view Volunteer Opportunities in your community please visit:
http://www.unitedway-york.org/volunteerctr_main.html