Resolve to Get Involved!

Why not ring in the New Year by resolving to volunteer?

If you already volunteer, please consider sharing your experiences and encouraging others to volunteer!

There are so many opportunities out there just waiting for the right person to come along and help. There are boards and committees seeking new members, non-profits looking for people to assist with outreach and education, carpentry, mentoring, and fostering animals (just to name a few).

If you have specific skills or knowledge, you can also contact an agency that interests you directly to see if they might have a need for your talents.

Volunteering can help you meet new people, have fun, learn about our community, discover pressing issues and needs, share what you know, learn something new, and discover ways in which you can be a force for positive change.

So much is happening here in Howard County. Start the New Year right by resolving to be more active in our community through volunteering!

Wishing you all the Happiest of New Years and Best Wishes for a wonderful 2009!


Register with the Volunteer Center Serving Howard County today to find volunteer opportunities related to your skills and interests! You can also visit our website at www.volunteerhoward.org to search for current opportunities, view the calendar, fan us on Facebook, or find agencies addressing a social issue that interests you.

Longest Night of the Year

Taken from the National Coalition for the Homeless website:

Each year since 1990, on or near the first day of winter and the longest night of the year, National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) has sponsored National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day to bring attention to the tragedy of homelessness and to remember our homeless friends who have paid the ultimate price for our nation's failure to end homelessness. This year, the National Health Care for the Homeless Council (NHCHC) has joined us in co-sponsoring this event.

In an effort to maximize the impact of the day, NCH and the NHCHC have encouraged local and statewide organizations to hold memorials of their own. Last year, over 100 cities across the nation, from Detroit to Seattle to Washington, DC, sponsored events to honor those who had died and to recommit to the task of ending homelessness.

This Year, once again, NCH is encouraging groups to plan a special event on or around December 21, 2008. Some groups may decide to hold their event a day or so before the date.

Locally, a public memorial service will take place on Sunday, December 21 at 5:00pm at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor Amphitheatre, to remember those men and women who died in 2008 without a regular place to stay. Memorial Day events are organized locally by SHARP, a coalition of individuals and organizations working to “Stop Homelessness And Reduce Poverty.” For more information, please contact Adam Schneider at (410)837-5533 x1398 or aschneider@hchmd.org.

There is more that you can do. Check this list of agencies addressing poverty issues, visit their websites, learn about their volunteer and donation needs. The number of those living in poverty is rising daily, and local agencies need your support now more than ever. Thanks in advance for doing what you can to make a difference in the lives of those affected by poverty this winter and all year-long.

Wishing you all the best this holiday season,
The Staff of the Volunteer Center Serving Howard County



Register with the Volunteer Center Serving Howard County today to find volunteer opportunities related to your skills and interests!

YouTube Project for Awesome 2008

The 2008 YouTube Project for Awesome is on December 17th, 2008. Celebrate your favorite non-profit or charity with the YouTube community by creating a video and uploading it to YouTube! Make sure to include why the non-profit or charity is important to you and why you support it.

Here are the instructions and the templates, if you're interested.

Another way to support local non-profit and governmental agencies this holiday season is by discovering their volunteer and donation needs in the Holiday Guide to Giving 2008. This year's guide features over 45 local agencies, so consider making the season a little brighter for those in need by viewing the guide today!

Thanks for all that you do to make a difference in our community!


Register with the Volunteer Center Serving Howard County today to find volunteer opportunities related to your skills and interests!

A Blog for Volunteers!

Welcome to the Volunteer Center Serving Howard County's Volunteer Blog!

Our hope is to keep you informed and inspired about issues related to volunteering, everything from local needs and efforts to national news and trends.

We also plan to spotlight what volunteers are doing in our community, so please let us know if you have a great story, pictures, or videos to share.

Thanks for all that you do to make a difference in our community!

Register with the Volunteer Center Serving Howard County today to find volunteer opportunities related to your skills and interests!