Listings are accepted on a space-available basis. Deadline is 5 p.m. Thursday prior to date of publication at the latest. To submit volunteer items, mail to Volunteers, Patuxent Publishing Co. Editorial, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD 21278; email hccalendar@patuxent.com; fax 410-332-6336; or call 410-332-6497.
Howard County Autism Society — Seekings volunteers to help with its horse competition fundraiser to benefit HCAS. Volunteer as riders compete in cross country, show jumping and dressage; help kids make their own stick horsesl; oversee pony rides, hay rides, and other fun games. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 10, Merry Acres Farm, Ellicott City. 410-290-3466 or info@howard-autism.org.
Columbia Association Senior Advisory Committee — Seeking residents to serve a two-year term on the committee, whose goal is to advise CA on the needs, interests and concerns of Columbia's senior residents. Nominees must have demonstrated interest in the senior population, be at least 55-years-old and be knowledgeable of senior programs and services in Howard County. Letters of interest should be mailed to Columbia Association, 10221 Wincopin Circle, Columbia, MD 21044, Attn: Michelle Miller; or emailed to Michelle.Miller@ColumbiaAssociation.com. Michelle Miller, 410-715-3170.
Howard County General Hospital — Seeking volunteers to help provide multi-denominational spiritual care for patients and their families at the hospital. Offering a 16-week training program, which will be held Tuesday evenings, starting Sept. 20. Following training, participants will be asked to volunteer two hours a week for at least one year. Registration deadline is Sept. 8. Chaplain Jack Dunlavey, 410-740-7898
American Cancer Society's Road to Recovery — Seeking volunteer drivers (and their vehicles) to help provide transportation assistance for Howard County cancer patients who need transportation to and from treatment facilities. "Road" volunteers provide an essential and necessary service for patients who have no car, may be too ill to drive or have family members and friends who may not have the time or financial means to provide this support. Shelby, 410-781-4316.
Howard County Legacy Leadership Institute for the Environment — Recruiting for the 2012 Class of Legacy Leaders to participate in its environmental education and volunteer leadership program, designed for ages 50 and older who want to gain skills and knowledge and create a legacy through their volunteer work with partner organizations. Offering six weeks of classes on Mondays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., starting February 1, 2012. After completion on March 14, Legacy Leaders begin 150 hours of field placement with partner organizations March-September 2012. Classes meet at the Robinson Nature Center, 6692 Cedar Lane, Columbia; the Goddard Space Flight Center, in Greenbelt; and the Howard County Conservancy at Mt. Pleasant Farm, in Woodstock. $50 fee is required at enrollment. http://www.howardllie.com. Dr. Barbara Schmeckpeper, 410-381-5279, or Cathy Hudson, 410-796-7232, or HocoLLIE@gmail.com.
A-OK Mentoring-Tutoring Inc. — Recruiting adult volunteers to be mentor-tutors to Howard County public school students who are struggling to succeed. Volunteers meet with students during the school day or in after-school programs, individually or in small groups. Volunteers should be able to commit to one hour/week for one school year. Participating elementary schools are Atholton, Bryant Woods, Cradlerock, Forest Ridge, Guilford, Longfellow, Phelps Luck, Running Brook and Stevens Forest. There are also limited opportunities to meet with older students. Chaya Kaplan, 410-730-6030 or aokmentor@gmail.com.
Howard County Conservancy — Seeking Wednesday morning drop-in gardening volunteers to help maintain the many thematic and native plant gardens on the Conservancy property. All levels of experience welcome. Chris Garbart, 410-465-8877 or chris.garbart@hcconservancy.org.
Howard County Conservancy — Seeking volunteer naturalists for its fall 2011 field trip programs. Naturalists will assist Conservancy staff during field trips by leading nature oriented hikes on the conservancy's property. Fall field trips are offered during October and November, and naturalists are asked to lead a minimum of three hikes. Training takes place Thursdays in September for the elementary program and Tuesdays for the secondary program, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Participants will receive a manual and learn ecological concepts as well as the history, plant life and wildlife of Howard County. Cost for materials is $10. 410-465-8877.
Oakland Mills Community Association — Seeking vendors for the annual Cultural Arts Festival, held Oct. 15, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., in the Oakland Mills Village Center. Food/beverage, arts and crafts, and nonprofits; Howard County political candidates and commercial vendors are all welcome. Reasonable rates. http://www.oaklandmills.org. 410-730-4610 or omcaadmin@columbiavillages.org.
Columbia Association's Middle School and Teen Advisory Committees — Seeking students, ages 11-19, to become members of the committees and who want to make a difference, get involved in their community and be an integral part of the solution — while having fun and making new friends. As members of the committee, teens can create and implement events and programs for their peers. Past activities have included Teen Idol Competition, Teen Role Model Competition, Battle of the Dance, charity fundraisers, Teen Tuesdays concerts at the lakefront, a free college fair, Save the Planet Day and more. Teen Advisory Committee members, ages 13-19, must attend meetings every other Thursday, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at CA Headquarters. Middle School Advisory Committee members, ages 11-13, must attend meetings once a month on a Wednesday, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at CA Headquarters. Carol Wasser, 410-715-5523.
Kidspeace — Seeking caring families and individuals to give guidance and stable homes to children and teens. Therapeutic foster parents receive training, support, financial reimbursement, 24-hour support and personal satisfaction. 410-964-9329 or http://www.fostercare.com.
Neighbor Ride — Seeking volunteers to help Howard County seniors remain active and independent by providing rides for medical appointments, shopping, social outings, fitness classes, personal care and business appointments, religious services, volunteer commitments and other day-to-day activities. Flexible daytime, evening and weekend volunteer opportunities are available. Volunteer drivers choose rides that fit their work and personal schedules and are convenient to their homes, offices and daily routines. Parent volunteers may bring their children along for an intergenerational experience. Rosemary Noble or Patrice Cerwonka, 410-884-7433 or volunteer@neighborride.org.
Better BedRest Inc. — A nonprofit that provides resources, support and referrals for women on bed rest because of high-risk pregnancies. Seeking volunteers to talk to women on bedrest and help with fundraisers. Phone volunteers must have had a pregnancy bedrest experience or connection to bedrest (non-phone volunteers do not need bed rest experience). Training provided. http://www.betterbedrest.org. 410-740-7662 or Diane@betterbedrest.org.
Baptist Family and Children's Services — Seeking volunteers. 7161 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite A, Columbia. Cindy, 800-621-8834, ext. 120.
Gilchrist Hospice Care — Seeking volunteers who want to help "guide the way" for patients who have been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness and will visit Howard County patients in their homes, long-term care facilities or in the Gilchrist West Inpatient Unit. Kim Bray, 443-849-8248 or http://www.gilchristhospice.org.
Laurel Regional Hospital — Seeking volunteers to assist at the hospital's main information desk and in the hospital's gift shop primarily on evenings and weekends. Volunteers must be dependable, responsible and friendly adults who are able to commit to a scheduled three-hour shift for the information desk. Shift times available vary, but are generally 8-11 a.m., 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 2-5 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. Training provided. Director of Volunteer Services, 240-456-4764 or http://www.dimensionshealth.org.
Whipps Historical Garden Park Cemetery — Seeking volunteers to help maintain Ellicott City's only public historic garden-park. Every Thursday, 9 a.m.-noon, through October, 3651 St. John's Lane, Ellicott City. Aleta Gravelle, 410-274-7795 or agravelle@verizon.net.