Many volunteer positions are available through the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Center. If you do not see an opportunity below that fits your needs, contact the center at ask.aacvc@outlook.com, 410-897-9207 or www.aacvc.org. A few current volunteer opportunities are listed below.
American Red Cross blood drives
Donors of all blood types are currently needed, and there is an urgent need for donors with blood type O negative which can be transfused to patients of any blood type. To schedule an appointment to donate, visit www.redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767. Those who donate through May 15 will be entered to win four single-day tickets to Cedar Fair theme parks.
Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre
Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre, an outdoor community theater in downtown Annapolis, welcomes the community's volunteer participation in its 50th anniversary season and celebration. To learn more, visit ASGT's brand new website at www.summergarden.com, fill out the online volunteer form, or email volunteer@summergarden.com.Upcoming volunteer opportunities include:
•Pre-Season Cleanup Day at 10 a.m. April 9. Volunteers can stop by the theater any time after 10 a.m. to help clean and organize the theater lobby, garden, backstage area, dressing rooms, attic, and stage/seating area. Snacks will be provided. Bring work gloves.
•New and returning volunteers are invited to the theater for a volunteer and tech open house at 7 p.m. April 21. Members of the theater's board will be on hand to introduce volunteers to ASGT and share details of the many volunteer positions available, including ushers, box office, tech and running crew, set painting, costuming, and publicity. No prior experience is needed and the theater will provide training.
AA County Department of Aging and Disabilities
The department's Foster Grandparent Program is looking for senior volunteers who want to make a difference in a child's life. Volunteers are ages 55 and older, on limited incomes, and able to volunteer 15 hours or more per week. Locations include Anne Arundel County public and special education schools, Head Start Centers, Department of Social Services Family Support Center, Kingdom Kare, and Boys & Girls Club of Annapolis & AA County. Benefits include a modest tax-free stipend of $2.65 per hour to volunteers with incomes less than $22,980 for a single family of one and $31,020 for couples from Social Security, SSI, and pensions. Volunteers also receive transportation, vacation and sick leave. For more information, contact the Foster Grandparent Program at 410-222-4464 or agplum77@aacounty.org.
Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival
The 27th annual Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival is being held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 24 at Susan Campbell Park at City Dock. The festival is seeking dedicated and enthusiastic individuals to serve on the 2016 Festival Planning Committee and/or join the board of directors. Those interested can send their statement of interest and/or a resume to kuntakintecelebrations@gmail.com. No experience is necessary.
Best Buddies International
Best Buddies International is a nonprofit organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The IDD community that Best Buddies serves includes, but is not limited to, people with Down syndrome, autism, Fragile X, Williams syndrome, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury and other undiagnosed disabilities. Best Buddies is the world's largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people with IDD. For individuals within this community, Best Buddies helps them form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure successful jobs, live independently, improve public speaking, self-advocacy and communications skills, and feel valued by society. Best Buddies is a volunteer-based organization and there are many ways for people to volunteer. For more information, contact christineramirez@bestbuddies.org, 410-327-9812 or visit http://bestbuddies.org/take-action/get-involved.
Epilepsy Foundation
The Epilepsy Foundation is a national voluntary health agency dedicated solely to the welfare of the nearly three million people living with epilepsy in the U.S. and their families. The organization works to ensure that people with seizures are able to participate in all life experiences; to improve how people with epilepsy are perceived, accepted and valued in society; and to promote research for a cure. A variety of volunteer opportunities are available. For more information, contact Janice Jackson at jjackson@efa.org, 301-459-3700 or visit www.epilepsy.com.
•A large number of volunteers are needed for the Epilepsy Walk, held from 6 a.m. to noon April 16 on the grounds of the Washington National Monument. Volunteers will assist with a number of the sponsor and Epilepsy Foundation tents as well as various job/duties along the walk route. This is a one-time volunteer opportunity on the day of the walk. There will be a volunteer tent where volunteers will meet to get their duties and volunteer areas. For more information and to volunteer, contact Janice Jackson.
National Electronics Museum
The museum near BWI Airport serves students and the general public by collection, preservation and display of significant artifacts and literature and the commemoration of the creativity and dedication of pioneers and workers in the field of electronics. Volunteers ages 18 and older are needed weekdays and weekends for education and outreach, for special events, as administrative assistant, as collections assistants, and for visitor services. Training will be provided. For more information and to volunteer, contact Alice Donahue, assistant director, at 410-765-9617, donahue.nem@gmail.com or visit www.nationalelectronicsmuseum.org. Extra volunteers may be needed for the USA Science & Engineering Festival, held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 16 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 17 in Washington D.C., and RoboFest, held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 30 at the National Electronics Museum, 1745 W. Nursery Road, Linthicum. For information about the science and engineering festival, visit www.usasciencefestival.org/2016-festival.html. For more information about RoboFest, visit www.robotfest.com.
The Arc Chesapeake Region
The Arc advocates for and supports county citizens with developmental disabilities. The Arc is seeking a volunteer to join The Arc's Quality Enhancement Committee. The volunteer would be responsible for attending monthly meetings on the second Wednesday of the month at the Severn office; conducting house visits during the fiscal year and completing surveys related to such visits; reviewing all incident reports, reviewing all plans for psychotropic drug use, adaptive equipment use, mechanical equipment use, chemical sedation use, behavioral plans and restrictive plans; and reviewing data to identify trends and to suggest systemic changes to services. For more information and to volunteer, contact khoyer@thearcccr.org.