Looking to make a difference in your community? There are many opportunities available!
General Volunteer Opportunities:
If you love animals, please consider volunteering with, or donating supplies to, local branches of the Humane Society in Washington County or Pleasants County.
If you're passionate about the arts, contact the Blues, Jazz and Folk Music Society, Parkersburg Art Center or Peoples Bank Theatre.
If you enjoy working with younger children, consider local Boys & Girls Clubs in Washington County or Pleasants County or the Marietta YMCA. You can also apply to be a 4-H summer camp counselor.
If you are concerned about the environment, the Marietta Area Recycling Center (the oldest volunteer recycling center in the State of Ohio) is always looking for volunteers!
If you are concerned about food shortage issues in our area, consider local food pantries or the Washington County Harvest of Hope.
If you are concerned about homelessness in our area, consider the Latrobe Street Mission in Parkersburg, WV.
If you enjoy the great outdoors, consider serving in the Ohio River Islands Wildlife Refuge or Wayne National Forest.
If you love history, volunteers play a huge part in preserving history at Campus Martius and Ohio River Museums.
If you are interested in helping teens understand car safety, check outthe 4-H CARteens Program in Washington County. CARteens is a group of 14-18 year olds who teach teen traffic offenders the dangers of speeding, texting & driving, and intoxicated driving. Contact Kathryn Hartline 740-376-7431 or [email protected] for more information.
If you would like to serve those veterans who have served our country, please contact the Washington County Veterans Service.
If you've ever thought about being a first responder, contact your local Volunteer Fire Department. Did you know Washington County has 18 fire departments, 17 volunteer departments, one full-time department, and two EMS-only departments?
Middle and high school students are also invited to join the Marietta Community Foundation's Youth Advisory Council.This group meets every other Wednesday evening from 6:30 - 7:30pm at the Marietta Community Foundation Office. Contact Britani Merrit at (740) 373-3286 or via email at [email protected].
Note: if you belong to an organization who would like to be listed here, please contact Holly Cunningham ([email protected]). This site will be updated frequently as new opportunities arise!
Examples of PAST OPPORTUNITIES - check to see if they are available in the future!
Prudential Spirit of Community Awards
As of Oct. 8, just four weeks remain for youth volunteers to apply for a scholarship, national recognition and more from the 2020 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. The application deadline is November 5, 2019.
This program is an excellent opportunity to shine a spotlight on students who have distinguished themselves through community service and celebrate the spirit of volunteerism at your school. We hope you'll encourage your community-minded students to apply.
2020 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards are open to students in grades 5-12 who have participated in a volunteer activity within the past year. Honors are granted at the local, state and national level. Top honorees from all 50 states and the District of Columbia receive a scholarship and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. for four days of special recognition events.To apply, please:
- Find the application at http://spirit.prudential.com or www.nassp.org/spirit
- Complete the application and the student/parent agreement
- Go to the "certification" tab on the application, then email instructions to your certifier
- Applications can be certified by a middle or high school principal, or the head of a county 4-H organization, Girl Scout council, American Red Cross chapter, YMCA or Points of Light Global Network member.
To learn more about The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, call 888.651.2951 or visit http://spirit.prudential.com.
Past events that may be available again:
Building Bridges to Careers (BB2C) has reorganized its Student Ambassador program.
Responsibilities:
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Create connections with students in all grades
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Communicate with teachers as needed
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Knowledge of all BB2C programs and Makerspace activities and classes
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Promote BB2C events
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Increase engagement of students in BB2C programs
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Student liaison between BB2C and students
Benefits:
Qualifications / Skills Needed:
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Strong organizational skills
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Strong communication skills
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Creativity to identify various ways to communicate with students
Recovery is Beautiful High School Summer Camps & School Year Program
Attention current freshmen, sophomores and juniors interested in a future in mental health care: Washington County Behavioral Health Board and Building Bridges to Careers is looking for 2 students from each area school to participate in a Recovery is Beautiful High School Summer Camps & School Year Program
Purpose:
*Develop mental health career pathways for high school students
*Promote career pathways in the behavioral health areas and increase awareness of the diverse roles
*Create direct connections between students and local behavioral health employers
*Create high school clubs that promote healthy behaviors and develop education and prevention opportunities for students
*Address the stigma associated with behavioral health and addiction disorders
Two students and one staff member from each school district will attend the Ohio Teen Institute Conference from June 10th - 14th @ Heidelberg University, where they will become equipped with knowledge and skills to become positive leaders in their schools and develop programs to address mental health issues and substance misuse in their schools. The group will then organize a 3 day camp in Marietta at BB2C Epicenter, designed to expose students to local issues related to mental health and substance misuse; local providers currently addressing these concerns; and career pathways available in our community. Each school will present a project on the final day that they plan to implement in their schools in 2019-2020.
Please let Mrs. Cunningham know by Thursday, April 18th if you are interested!
Memorial Health System's Youth Volunteer Summer Program provides high school students the opportunity to give back to their local community while gaining leadership and communication skills as well as experience in a healthcare environment. Deadline for applications: Friday, April 26, 2019. In addition, seniors may apply for a $500 Healthcare Scholarship. Students must:
• Be 16 – 18 years of age.
• Agree to a minimum of 50 volunteer hours to be completed by Friday, August 9.
• Attend volunteer orientation, six Lunch & Learn program sessions, a celebration ceremony, and an exit interview.
• Complete the annual education online training (HIPAA and hospital safety training).
Learn more about the Summer Program at mhsystem.org/volunteering. Please go to mhsystem.org/summer program to apply online.
iBELIEVE Foundation is sponsoring iSERVE this spring for Global Youth Service Day! Global Youth Service Day 2019 is April 13th and we're challenging the entire iBELIEVE community to get involved. We've organized food packing events with The Pack Shack at 4 locations in 3 different states and we want YOU and anyone you can bring to be there! We look forward to serving the community with you and hundreds of other dedicated leaders!
Interested in community service but not sure where to start? Your local church, elementary school, hospital, library, or senior citizen center/nursing home may be good possibilities. Washington County's website and the AmeriCorps Guide at WSCC both have opportunities and here are a few more places you might find enjoyable and rewarding.