Happy National Volunteer Week!

National Volunteer Week is our time to say thank you to all of the incredible people in our community who volunteer

Maybe you are motivated by an issue: animal welfare, education, health, children, the environment, aging, arts and culture, or others.

Perhaps you have a specific skill or talent that you like to share: building, public relations, web 2.0, accounting, playing games, drawing or painting, writing, making videos, listening, reading, research, or fundraising (just to name a few).

Thank you for taking the time to find or to create a volunteer opportunity, based on addressing a specific social issue or based upon your skills or interests.

Thank you for becoming a volunteer and supporting local nonprofit and governmental agencies.

Thank you for stepping up to play an active role in our community.

Thank you for being a force for positive social change.

Thank you for all that you do to make a difference in Howard County, throughout our region and around the world.

And if you aren't volunteering yet, there are plenty of ways for you to get involved. You can check the key word search or calendar on the volunteer center's website (www.volunteerhoward.org) or register with the Volunteer Center Serving Howard County today to find volunteer opportunities related to your skills and interests! You'll be glad that you did.

Young People Making a Difference

The Volunteer Opportunities for Teens guide was just updated and is available in the side bar as well as on the website at www.volunteerhoward.org.

The guide includes a variety of local non-profit and governmental agencies that welcome younger volunteers, and the entries include contact information, minimum age requirements and website links to help you learn as much as possible about the agency and the opportunity. There is also an index in the back to help young people find opportunities based on their interests.

April 24 - 26, 2009 are Global Youth Service Days. The goals of this event are pretty straightforward:

• To MOBILIZE youth to identify and address the needs of their communities through service.
• To SUPPORT youth on a life-long path of service and civic engagement.
• To EDUCATE the public, the media, and policymakers about the year-round contributions of young people as community leaders

If you are interested in helping the Volunteer Center plan projects for Global Youth Service Days, contact Mickey via email or call 410.715.3176. We'd also love to hear from you if you know of a non-profit or governmental agency that would like to host a project, or if you are part of a group that would like to participate.

We'll be sure to keep you updated, so check here or the website to learn the latest about this exciting event. Please save the date and we hope to see you there!



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

Call to Service

President-Elect Obama is calling for a national day of service on Monday, January 19th. It's no coincidence that it happens to be on the holiday designated to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a day already linked to community action.

“If you want to be important—wonderful. If you want to be recognized—wonderful. If you want to be great—wonderful. But, recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That's a new definition of greatness.”

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta, Georgia, on 4 February 1968.

In 1994, Congress designated the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday a national day of community service further commemorating a man who lived his life in service to others. As a tribute to that legacy and to the very real needs of our nation, the President-elect and Vice President-elect are calling on citizens and volunteers across the country to plan, organize and stage non-partisan, volunteer community service events in their neighborhoods from Saturday, January 17th through Monday, January 19th, 2009 to celebrate the life and lessons of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

While this call begins with service on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President-elect Obama is asking for more than just a single day of service. He is calling on all Americans to make a continued commitment to service. This is an excellent way for volunteers to engage their community and collaborate with local organizations to create service opportunities.

And here is a video appeal from the website www.usaservice.org:



To find an opportunity near you, visit www.usaservice.org or simply click here. The Volunteer Center staff will continue to encourage local agencies to register their events through this newly created site. We'll be sure to update our 1-800-Volunteer.org listings, as well.

Even if there is not a lot to do locally, please remember that this call to service is not a one-time request. Rather, it's a challenge to make an ongoing commitment to volunteerism. Each and every one of us has something to give back to the community, whether it's a special skill or talent or simply offering to help with an existing opporunity to serve.

Please feel free to give us a call, send an e-mail or visit the website if you would like to learn more about volunteering in Howard County, MD. We'd also like to hear your ideas for projects you'd like to see, and would be happy to work with you in planning and implementing service initiatives throughout the year. Thanks!

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!