Keep Warm By Volunteering

First some good news! 5,000 volunteers took part in the Martin Luther Luther King, Jr. Day of Service in Montgomery County. Here are some encouraging stats for this “Day On”:

• 43,000 pounds (21.5 tons!) of food collected at all 28 Montgomery County Giant locations led by volunteers and Giant employees.
• 3,000 volunteers completed service projects and learned ways to get involved throughout the year at the Bethesda North Marriott Conference Center.
• 13 service project locations outside the Marriott engaged over 1,000 volunteers on Monday January 17th.
• 1,500 bag lunches made for area shelters!

If you’re stuck inside this winter looking for something meaningful, there are always opportunities to help in Rockville. Here are some of this month’s highlights from the Montgomery County Volunteer Center:

Make a Meal for the Homeless (MCPS SSL Approved)
The Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless needs your help! They serve 3 meals a day everyday almost entirely with volunteer donations. They do not have a kitchen at the shelter so they rely on volunteers to provide food, make it at their own site, and then deliver it to the shelter. Don’t feel obligated to contribute the entire meal for 200 as any donation is greatly appreciated! During the winter they are especially in need of hot dinners but also accept both hot and bagged lunches and breakfasts. They do allow for serving if the meal is made for the entire shelter. This is a great opportunity for families and children of all ages can help! Contact Jacqueline Havens at 301-917-6658 [email protected].

Visarts-Metro Center For The Visual Arts
The mission of VISARTS is to serve residents and artists of the City of Rockville, Montgomery County, metropolitan Washington by making the visual arts accessible to all. There are many volunteer opportunities for adults and students. Camp Assistants are needed for spring and summer art camps. Help with Art Parties, Office Work, Customer Service and more. Opportunities are on the website or contact Kate Kregloh, 301-315-8200, [email protected]

Pets on Wheels
The Mental Health Association seeks volunteers (minimum age 18) and their family pets to bring friendship, socialization and tactile stimulation to people living in nursing homes, hospitals, group homes, assisted living facilities and adult day care programs. Volunteers also visit hospice clients on a case-by-case basis. Volunteers visit regularly at a location near their homes. Pets are screened for suitability and volunteers attend an orientation. Volunteers are required to commit to one year of service. Contact Doris Greene at 301-424-0656, Ext. 540 or send email to [email protected].

Weekend to Weekend Pick: Save Lives With Amnesty International

Amnesty International Group 82’s Holiday Card Writing and Celebration

When I was in college, I was a member of Amnesty International. All these years living in Rockville, I didn’t know we had a local group. One of the main activities of Amnesty is to mail cards and letters to prisoners of conscience, those who have been imprisoned solely for the non-violent exercise of internationally recognized human rights. These correspondences give the prisoner hope and also let officials know that people are aware of the prisoner’s situation and are taking action. I can’t think of better cards to send out during this holiday season.

Date and Time: Sunday, December 19, 2010 at 12:00 noon
Location: At the Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockville, Room 52 (in the basement - take elevator at end of entrance hall of the new Sanctuary Building at 100 Welsh Park Drive.

From Group 82:

Amnesty International U.S.A.is a local community based group of the U.S. section of Amnesty International. We are one of hundreds of other such groups which are the heart of the worldwide human rights organization. Group 82 was created in 1976 by members of the Unitarian Church of Rockville. Although we enjoy some financial support and the facilities of the church there is no formal connection to the church and most members of the group have no connection with the church. The group meets the third Sunday of each month at noon.

The primary focus of our group is to work for the release of prisoners of conscience. We are assigned such a person with available information on the case, and we work for his or her release.

There are a variety of ways to get involved:

• Help work on behalf of our prisoner of conscience
• Work on anti-death penalty campaigns
• Participate in special short term campaigns (about 3 months average) emphasizing human rights abuses in specific countries or targeting certain groups such as women, children, conscientious objectors, refugees, and indigenous peoples.
• Join the Urgent Action letter writing network. Our coordinator sends out one case a month for prompt action. This is a good way to get involved for those unable to attend monthly meetings.

There are no membership dues.

How to get to the Amnesty Meeting:
If you are approaching Rockville on Route 270, take exit 6 heading East. Mannakee Street is the first street on your left. Follow Mannakee around the circle and then watch for the sign to turn right to the church as you come to Welsh park. If you are approaching from the East, continue on West Jefferson and then West Montgomery to Mannakee on your right.

Help And Save With A Rockville Rewards Card

Yesterday I purchased my Rockville Rewards card from Community Ministries of Rockville. This new program designed by the Rockville Chamber of Commerce as part of the Buy Rockville campaign “combats the increased needs in our community”.

Simply put, you can purchase a card for $25 from one of the nonprofit organizations (or local businesses selling them on behalf of the organizations), then use the card for discounts and deals. The cards are currently valid until June 30, 2011 so the sooner you purchase one the longer you can enjoy the benefits.

Everyday Rewards categories include Business to Business, Events, Health & Beauty, Food & Drink, Retail, Services, and Activities. All you have to do is present your card. Here are some examples of the savings:

• Talk of the Town – 10% off any party rental, excluding entertainers & performers.
• Acqua Nails – 10% off any service, until 02/15/11.
• VisArts at Rockville – VisArts Too – 10% off any item
• Bark! Pawsitive Petfood – Bark! Pawsitive Petfood in Congressional Plaza. $5.00 off your first purchase of $25.00 or more!

If you’re into dining out, these are deals:

• The Bean Bag Deli & Catering Company – Come in to The Bean Bag deli & Catering Co for Breakfast or Lunch Mon-Sat. and receive 10% off your in-store order. Excludes delivery orders.
• Ben & Jerry’s of Rockville – 15% off of any scooped cone, sundae, shake, mash, smoothie or coffee ‘Joe’ drink. Also $3.00 off any ice cream or yogurt, handpacked cake.
• Cake Dreams – 10% discount on cupcake and basic cake purchases. Excludes custom cakes and cupcakes.
• Gordon Biersch – 10% off total check, excluding alcohol.
• Il Pinito – 20% off total check. Dine in only. Not valid with any other offers. One card per table.
• Jackie’s Wine Club – From 4-7 p.m. daily, enjoy 15% off!
• Lola’s Cafe & Bakery - From 3-7 p.m. daily, enjoy 15% off!
• Oro Pomodoro Pizzeria Ristorante – Get 10% off entire check excluding alcohol. Valid for Lunch & Dinner Dine-In only. Not valid on Fridays & Saturdays. Cannot be combined with other offers.
• The Potomac Grill – 25% of total check up to $20 dollar maximum discount. Valid 1 card per table, not valid on holidays or New Year’s Eve.
• Potomac Pizza – 10% off dine-in or carry-out purchase. Expires 5/31/11
• Robeks Fruit Smoothies – Buy One Get One Free Smoothie or Frozen Yogurt!
• Timpano Chophouse and Martini Bar – 10% off your total bill when you dine. Offer is valid in our dining room only for lunch or dinner. Offer not valid in the bar & lounge, on holidays, banquets.
• Phillips Seafood: Receive a complimentary appetizer, order two (2) full-priced entrees and present your Rockville Rewards card. All offers subject to black-out dates & availability.

When you register your card online by providing your name, email, and zipcode, you will receive notification of Weekly Hot Deals. Quite frankly, anything hot sounds good to me right now.

The organizations can make up to $25,000 each if they sell all their cards so join me in purchasing one!

Here are the organizations you can help:

The Arc of Montgomery County
Bikes for the World
Child Center and Adult Services
Community Ministries of Rockville
Jobs Unlimited/Upscale Resale Thrift Shop
Literacy Council of Montgomery County
Manna Food Center
Montgomery County Humane Society
Montgomery County Stroke Association
Musical Theater Center
Pain Connection-Chronic Pain Outreach Center
Premier Homecare
Rockville Community Nursery School
Rockville Concert Band
VisArts of Rockville

“Give a little, get a lot.”

Two Ways To Help For The Holidays

Every year our community makes sure that those most in need have happy holidays. If you want to help this December, the City of Rockville and Community Ministries of Rockville both have programs to make sure those living in the City limits and surrounding area receive something special for the holidays.

Community Ministries of Rockville

Every year CMR distributes gift cards to children who are served by their programs. Gift cards are also given to adult clients during the holiday season.

Here’s a Wish List

(250) gift cards in denominations of $15 for children at the CMR holiday party
(30) gift cards in denominations of $25 for the residents of Hope Housing
(45) gift cards in denominations of $25 for the residents of Chase Partnership House
(50) Giant, Safeway, CVS gift cards for Rockville Emergency Assistance Program and Elderly Ministries clients

Some specifics:

For gift giving to the children at the holiday party, we prefer gift cards to Target or Wal-Mart in denominations of $15 each by December 7, 2010. For holiday and winter gifts for our adult clients, we are seeking gift cards from major department stores such as Target, Wal-Mart, Kohl’s, and Macy’s. Donations of Visa gift cards are also welcomed. All financial contributions will be greatly appreciated. Monetary donations will be converted to gift cards for easy distribution. All gift cards need to be donated by Monday, December 21, 2010.

Monetary donation information is here. Checks can be mailed to Community Ministries of Rockville, 1010 Grandin Ave., Ste. A1, Rockville, MD 20851

City of Rockville

“Take part, give from the heart!” For over thirty years, the City of Rockville has distributed food baskets and new toys to needy Rockville families. Last year 729 Rockville households received a Thanksgiving dinner and 1,390 children were given for toys and gift cards for the holidays. The annual Rockville Holiday Drive depends on local churches, schools, civic organizations, service clubs, businesses, social service agencies, and individuals to work together to make everyone’s holidays happy.

How You Can Help

The biggest need right now is to sponsor a family. This means buying gifts and food for the December holidays for a specific family’s need (usually valued around $250). Organizations will be matched with one or more families, depending on the size of the organization. This activity is ideal for a business or civic group. Call Cynthia Bangaliu at 240-314-8317 to sign up.

Ways to Donate

Donate $15 gift certificates to local stores, e.g., Target, Sports Authority, Best Buy, Old Navy, Giant, Safeway by December 17, 2010.

Donate new toys for children, ages 11 and under. School age children like action figures, coloring books, building toys, costume jewelry, play phones, purses, toy watches, toy cars, Barbie dolls, and sports gear (basketballs, soccer balls). Infants and toddlers need musical toys, board books, shape sorters and soft dolls (multicultural).

Make a tax-deductible monetary contribution. Checks should be made payable to City of Rockville Holiday Drive Fund and mailed to City of Rockville Community Services, 30 Courthouse Square, Suite 100, Rockville 20850.

Call the City of Rockville Community Services Division 240-314-8310 with questions. The address for deliveries is also 30 Courthouse Square, Suite 100, Rockville 20850.

Pick One Way And Give From The Heart!

Volunteer For Veterans

Each month we highlight the opportunities from the Volunteer Center and this month in honor of Veterans Day, we have a few ways to serve those who have served our country.

Do you like puppies? Would you be willing to raise a Hero Dog? Hero Dogs, Inc. provides independence and improved quality of life to our nation’s veterans by training and placing service dogs (“Hero Dogs”) with military veterans who became disabled while serving honorably in the United States Armed Forces. Apply to join the Board of Directors, or become a Puppy Raiser. Contact: [email protected]

Can you volunteer to write grants? Thomas Jerome House in Rockville seeks to honor the lives of those veterans who have sustained traumatic brain injuries in the name of freedom and sacrifice to America. It is a community where servicemen and veterans with traumatic brain injuries and their assistants, live together as family, respecting the dignity of the human person. Grant writers are needed now. Contact: [email protected]

Do you like kayaking or other white water sports? Team River Runner in Rockville gives active duty service members and veterans an opportunity to find health, healing, and new challenges through whitewater boating and other paddling sports. Established in 2004 by kayakers in the Washington, DC area to help active duty military personnel who were recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, TRR has expanded with chapters across the country. Contact [email protected] to see how you can volunteer with the local chapter.

Community Service Day Is Full Of Opportunities

What are you planning to do for a few hours on October 23rd or 24th? Although national volunteer days have emerged, Montgomery County’s Community Service Day has been instrumental in helping local nonprofit agencies. Last year more than 2,200 people volunteered at over 70 agencies.

Lake Needwood in Rockville was cleaned-up with the Lucky Clovers 4-H Club and organizers had nothing but good comments about the effort.

Sunday was a perfect, fall day. Our volunteers enjoyed the beautiful park while we picked up trash near the shoreline of the Lake Needwood. We gathered 18 bags of trash. That’s good news — the park was in great shape already. The woodland areas, picnic, trails and parking lots were well maintained. After picking up trash, several youth enjoyed the amenities of the park including fishing.

The wonderful part of Community Service Day is the opportunity to join together with family, friends, neighbors, fellow students, or co-workers to work as a group. Groups can develop their own projects.

Groups or individuals can select a service project from the Volunteer Center’s website.

Manna Food Center is seeking volunteers to collect food at 12 locations on October 22, 23 & 24. The need for food assistance has risen drastically since the start of the recession and they need to restock for what is expected to be a difficult winter. SSL Hours are available. Youth volunteers need to be 16 years of age or accompanied by an adult to participate. Contact Manna to sign up to help with the Feed The Hungrey Food Drives.

If you don’t have time to volunteer, you can also donate food, clothing, bikes, furniture, and treats for troops. Here’s the complete list for donations.

This is a true Community Day!

Buy Pumpkins From Our Volunteer Fire Department

The Rockville Volunteer Fire Department’s holding a Halloween Pumpkin Sale right across the street from the fire station at the intersection of Hungerford Drive and Beall Avenue.

Our family loves carving pumpkins on Halloween then roasting the seeds with salt. This snack helps to lower the sugar consumption from Trick or Treating. I always save at least one uncarved pumpkin until Thanksgiving weekend. Autumn with all its bright colors and traditions definitely is a favorite time of year for me.

For over 80 years the RVFD has served the community, Without the support of volunteers and monetary contributions, the four stations would not be here today. Buying pumpkins from the Fire Department is a fun and easy way to help, so stop by and pick out a big one!

The hours of operation are 10 AM to 10 PM.

October Volunteer Highlights And Community Service Day

Each month we describe some of the volunteer openings in Rockville from the Montgomery County Volunteer Center. Right now if you go to the Volunteer Center website, over 275 opportunities are listed for our Fair City. If you want or need (Student Service Learning hours!) to volunteer, plenty of people can use your help.

From the Volunteer Center

One Time Chance
10/17 - Halloween Young Run, (MCPS SSL Approved) The Montgomery County Road Runners need volunteers to help with this popular non-competitive running event for children. They need volunteers to prepare and serve food, to clean up, and to help with kids games. For more information, contact Binni Chadda at [email protected].

Ongoing Need
Volunteer Shopper, Jewish Social Service Agency. (Approved SSL MCPS) Volunteers are needed to shop for and with frail elders who live in their own homes. Shoppers receive a weekly list (by phone or in person) from the elder, purchase the items, and deliver the groceries. Volunteers will be matched with elders as geographically close possible. Contact Diane Hays-Earp at [email protected].

Community Service Day

October also brings Montgomery County’s Community Service Day on the 23rd. You can still:

Sign Up For A Project

or

Plan Your Own Project with your school, neighbors, or other group.

E-Recycle And Help A School

Periodically the City of Rockville collects unwanted electronics for recycling but you need to check for the specific dates. This fundraiser for Twinbrook Elementary School makes it easier.

You can drop these types of electronics into a box in the Twinbrook Elementary Main Office (map) during school hours throughout the school year:

• inkjet/laser cartridges
• cell phones
• ipods
• digital cameras
• GPS devices, and
• laptops (with enough charge to turn on or preferably a power cord to make sure the battery does not die in transit).

Twinbrook PTA President, Susan Pickell, encourages everyone to recycle the unused electronics cluttering up your homes and support the PTA as they strive to lower as many barriers as possible for students at Twinbrook Elementary. Many are on the Free and Reduced Meals program. The school offers two field trips per grade each year and some students can use help paying their way. These important learning opportunities can be expensive, as even renting the buses to the Smith Center in Rockville can cost as much as $300. The PTA offers many services to families. They even provide a vinyl folder for each student to facilitate communication between home and school. All of the money raised will help pay for educational programs. The processing plant pays for each item and even covers the UPS shipping costs.

Recycling at Twinbrook Elementary started during their 2009 Earth Day endeavors which were funded by a grant from the City of Rockville. The school community came together on a Saturday to landscape the property and started recycling. Last spring they also held another green initiative by having a used book drive.

If your church, office, or other group would like to join together for an electronics recycling drive for Twinbrook Elementary contact Susan Pickell at 301-294-6573.

We all know we have them laying around. What a tremendous way to support recycling and Twinbrook ES!

Certify Your Property As a Wildlife Habitat [UPDATED]

Photo from Anne Goodman

Last Saturday Croydon Creek Nature Center and the Rockville Community Wildlife Habitat team co-sponsored a tour of some local backyards. Rockville is on a quest to certify as many yards as possible as wildlife habitat. The leaders of the tour wanted to show how easy it is to provide for neighborhood wildlife in your very own backyard. The tour was led by Julie Super, a naturalist with Croydon Creek Nature Center, and Anne Goodman and Jim Farrelly, co-leaders of the Habitat team.

Photo from Anne Goodman

Anne Goodman was happy with the participation.

It was a rousing success, in my view. The weather was perfect. We had 14 people who were interested and interactive. Several mentioned that they got some good ideas from what they saw, and they seemed to enjoy the experience. We visited 5 homes: Audra and Bryan Lew, Mark Pierczhala and his wife Lesley Cross, Joe Andrews, Ruth Hanessian, and us.

Photo by Cindy Cotte Griffiths

At each home, the participants observed food, water, cover, places to raise young as well as sustainable gardening practices. All yards contained beautiful native plants. The Lew yard had lots of compost, wood features that provided shelter and places to raise young for insects, and unusual and attractive rain barrels. The Pierczhala/Cross yard was beautifully designed for enjoyment and to slow heavy water running through the property. One item in the chain of water runoff retention was a rain garden. The Andrews home was a townhouse. The plantings were nicely structured, and there were some unusual and lovely water features for birds. The Hanessian home was relatively wooded, had a very interesting low technology bird bath (a pail of water with a large rock on which the birds could sit), and a brush pile owned by a catbird. Our Goodman/Farrelly yard featured sunflowers, a fish pond, a home-made rat-proof bird feeder, and a solar fountain.

Photo from Anne Goodman

In order for the City of Rockville to be recognized, 200 residential certifications will need to be issued by the National Wildlife Federation. Right now, 110 have completed the process which involves filling out a form and paying a $20 fee. In addition to the residential certifications the City needs a minimum of 5 schools (we have 4) and 3 public places (we have 4). The certification is done on a points system with an individual home worth a point, a school 5 points, and a public area 3 points for a grand total of 300 points.

I was surprised to discover our property already qualifies, perhaps yours does too. The National Wildlife Federation explains the requirements on their website. All you need is provide elements from each of the following areas:

Photo from Anne Goodman

• Food Sources - For example: Native plants, seeds, fruits, nuts, berries, nectar
• Water Sources - For example: Birdbath, pond, water garden, stream
• Places for Cover - For example: Thicket, rockpile, birdhouse
• Places to Raise Young - For example: Dense shrubs, vegetation, nesting box, pond
• Sustainable Gardening - For example: Mulch, compost, rain garden, chemical-free fertilizer

Rat-proof bird feeder photo from Anne Goodman

If you register your backyard with the National Wildlife Federation’s Certified Wildlife Habitat program, please let us know.

Reader Note from Tom Miner: The Digits! Fifth Annual Benefit Concert For Manna Foods

This Reader Note is from Tom Miner. I asked him to give us an update on The Digits! fundraiser and here it is!

This past Saturday, on 9-11, The Digits! performed their Fifth annual benefit concert and this year the performance supported Manna Food Bank’s Smart Sacks program. The beautiful weather brought a good crowd of about 250 neighbors and fans show to the outdoor concert at the Woodley Gardens Pool in Rockville.

Photo from The Digits!

In addition to asking for a $5 donation, additional funds were raised through a Silent Auction which was organized and conducted by Dawn Titmas and Naomi Miner. Over 50 items were donated and auctioned, including signed books by local authors, original art works, creative gift baskets, and gift certificates to local restaurants. Hard Times Café and Carmen’s Italian Ice were also on site providing complementary hotdogs, wings and Italian ice – all for small, additional donations.

Photo from The Digits!

Many thanks to Girl Scout Troop 2228. They staffed the Carmen’s Ice Cream Cart and also collected and delivered over 212 lbs. of donated food items! That’s the Scouting spirit.

Photo from Cindy Cotte Griffiths

The total donations raised on Saturday were an outstanding $5,025 for Manna! This money will be used to help provide over 1,400 bags of kid friendly – yet nutritious food every Friday for school children who receive subsidized school breakfasts and lunches. It’s generally known that these children may be experiencing hunger on the weekends. Teachers have remarked that children come to school on Mondays full of energy that they lacked before participating in Smart Sacks program.

Photo from The Digits!

Naomi Miner (L) and Dawn Titmas (R) presented the $5,025 to Manna Food Bank

As founder of The Digits! and an early instigator of the Annual Benefit Concert series, I am humbled and thankful to know so many friends, neighbors, and fans who generously donate to our benefit events. It’s the people of Rockville that makes Rockville such a great place to live.

Tom Miner

This is a Reader’s Note. We welcome submissions on all sorts of things — shopping, restaurants, performances, art, cultural events, and more. Rules: it should be in Rockville, and you should try to be nice. Get in touch with us using our contact form if you would like to submit something!

Registration Opens For Rockville University

Two years ago I enrolled in Rockville University and I can’t recommend it enough. As I explained,

You may not need to know how many street lights stand in Rockville or how many arrests were made for burglary, but the whole Rockville University experience will make you feel more connected. Places, names, and faces will be familiar. When you turn on the tap, you’ll picture exactly where that water has traveled since it left the Potomac River. You’ll know why the police reach out to our community and how inspection services protects you (even when they constantly tell you “no”). When you study the population trends and learn about zoning with the planning department, you’ll picture the Rockville of the future. If you have ever wondered about something in Rockville, you can find out more by enrolling in Rockville University.

One of my fellow classmates, Mary Hillstrom summed it up best:

Sitting in on this Commission meeting, as well as attending Rockville University, transformed my impression of the city government from a huge anonymous entity to a collection of caring individuals, similar to me. My image of the commission members went from “Commissioners,” with a capital C, to citizens and neighbors – regular everyday people. The city became human-size in my mind. Now I can see myself volunteering for a Rockville commission or joining my neighborhood association or getting involved in some other aspect of Rockville city life. I’m excited. Watch out Rockville, here I come!

The new Rockville Latino Alliance was spearheaded with the help of two Rockville University graduates. This is a true example of residents finding out how to get involved and meeting a need in our community.

If you want to learn and be inspired, register for Rockville University. It’s a free citizen-awareness program run by the City of Rockville. Anyone can join as long as you are older than 16 years.

Registration is available online or via phone at 240-314-8344.

Rockville University allows residents to:

• Hear about the history and demographics of Rockville.
• Learn about the Council/Manager form of government.
• Visit City facilities such as the Water Treatment Plant, Gude Drive Maintenance Facility, Rockville Senior Center, Rockville Swim and Fitness Center, community recreation centers, and City parks.
• Discover ways to get involved in the community and City Hall.
• Find out what each City departments does and how it impacts residents.

Because of safety concerns, you really can’t visit the Water Treatment Plant any other way. The tour really gives you a complete understanding of the challenges involved with bringing water to our residents. As I read the Municipal Growth Element report, I knew exactly what our City is facing.

The next session of Rockville University begins Wednesday, October 13, 2010. Classes will be held on October 13, 23, 26, and November 6, 10, and 17. Wednesday classes will be held in the evening and most classes last two hours. The time flies!

Rockville University is only offered once per year with a class limit of 25 people.

For more information about Rockville University visit the website or contact Hjarman Cordero, neighborhood resources coordinator, at

Drivers Needed For Primary Election Day

Although this call for volunteers is not specifically in Rockville because the Montgomery County Board of Elections is up the road in Gaithersburg, we want to help facilitate our elections in every way possible.
Volunteer drivers are needed early in the morning on Primary Election Day to transport miscellaneous items such as computer or printer power cords, various types of papers, etc. from the Board of Elections office to various precincts around the County on Tuesday, September 14, 2010.

Early Tuesday morning, volunteers would need to arrive at 6:00 AM and stay until assigned a delivery to a precinct, which could take until 9 AM. The Board of Election is located at 18753-210 North Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg, MD 20879.

If you are willing to volunteer, you must send an email ASAP but no later than noon on Monday, September 13th, to Thomas Street, Assistant Chief Administrative Officer at [email protected].

Volunteers will be contacted by close of business on Monday with the logistics for Tuesday morning.

Three Great Ways To Get Involved In September

#1 Mentor A Student

With the arrival of the new school year, the City of Rockville needs volunteers for its Mentoring Program. Now entering its 16th year, this program gives adults and high school students a chance to work one-on-one with elementary and middle school students to help them develop their academic and social skills. Volunteers are placed at schools throughout Rockville. Businesses are encouraged to get involved by giving employees the flexibility to serve during the day.

From the City of Rockville’s Community Services:

Mentors are paired with students who share their general interests and strengths. The program is designed to improve the self-esteem and confidence of the students, to motivate them academically and in other avenues, assist them with problem solving, and teach life skills.

“Mentoring provides a wonderful experience for the volunteers and students,” said Cynthia Bangali. “Volunteers do not need any special skills; just a desire to listen and offer guidance, encouragement and friendship.”

The pair meets for one hour, one day each week after school from October through May. The mentors and mentees work in a group setting with other mentors and mentees.

High school students can earn Student Service Learning credit hours for their participation.

For more information, call Cynthia Bangali at 240-314-8317 or e-mail [email protected].

A an online application and a video about the program are available.

#2 Volunteer on Patriot Day

President Obama amended the Patriot Day proclamation on September 10, 2009 to officially and permanently make 9/11 a National Day of Service and Remembrance. Visit the national site and search on Rockville to find participating groups. You can search by the type of organization such as civic, health, human services, or the arts. You can also sign up and share your good deed. “Reignite the spirit of unity and service that inspired Americans in the days after the September 11, 2001 tragedy.”

#3 Provide Ongoing Help To A Local Nonprofit

Community Ministries of Rockville
Community Ministries of Rockville (CMR) improves the quality of life for the most vulnerable residents by providing services to numerous community programs. Volunteers have been essential to providing these basic services. CMR seeks volunteers with many different skills such as for building repairs, computers, or administrative work. For more information please visit the Community Ministries of Rockville webiste or contact Lynn Arndt, the Director of Volunteer Services at (301) 637-0705 or [email protected]

Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Literacy
The Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Literacy (MCAEL) is looking for a volunteer Professional Development Assistant. They need someone to assist with their Professional Development Institute, which provides training workshops and other support to program staff and instructors of the over fifty programs in Montgomery County that teach adult ESOL. The hours are flexible from home or in their office. The time demands will vary depending on when workshops are scheduled, but would generally be no more than 2-3 hours a week. Contact Rachel Glass at 301-881-1136 or [email protected]

Volunteers Honored For Their Service

Last night the City of Rockville thanked the volunteers who gave their time to all the many different boards, commissions, task forces, activities, events, and programs offered throughout the City. If you spent any time helping in any way, you received an invitation to the festivities on the lawn of Glenview Mansion.

All of the Mayor and Council were present. Many City staff, including City Manager Scott Ullery and Recreation and Parks Director Burt Hall, took the time to mingle and thank those who have helped. Although many of the efforts are ongoing, some are special one-time initiatives.

After posting yesterday’s Weekend to Weekend Pick, I had the pleasure of meeting the couple who are trying to get Rockville certified as a National Wildlife Federation Wildlife Habitat. What a coincidence and a treat!

About the same time she retired from the federal government, Anne Goodman attended the Legacy Leadership Institute which matched volunteers with a project and she worked with the Environmental Management Division. She and her husband, Jim Farrelly, discovered the National Wildlife Federation website and realized they could certify their backyard as a wildlife habitat. They decided to persuade people to work to clean up the water and raise plants through the program. Anne and Jim will be leading the backyard tour from Cryodon Creek Nature Center on September 11th and their yard will be on the tour. Register here by 9/4.

In order for a backyard to be certified it must have (3) sources of food, (1) source of water, (2) places to raise young, and (2) places to shelter. (The shelter and raising young places can be the same.) It’s that simple. The program encourages sustainable gardening with mulch, compost, and native plants.

This is only one example of how residents are volunteering. There are hundreds of different examples. Jim also sings in the Rockville Chorus, Rockville Singers, and the Men’s Chorus. Volunteers talked about helping at the Senior Center with bingo and the Young At Heart Club. Former City Councilmember Bob Dorsey serves on the Human Service Advisory Commission. Chas Hausheer works hard to bring information to the East Rockville Citizen’s Association. When you look out over the large crowd, the realization of how many volunteer hours have been contributed is always astounding.

As Mayor Phyllis Marcuccio said, “Thank you so much.”

Although the event is rain or shine, the evening’s weather was as pleasant as possible. Everyone was treated to a spectacular sunset on the way home. Did you see it?