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Financial Stability Network
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Financial Stability Network
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Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities
Community Companions' Classroom Volunteer
Community Companions Classroom Volunteer
The Community Companions Program was established in 1989 as an after-school program for children and young adults with Developmental Disabilities. The program has since expanded to serve children with autism and has grown to include school-respite days and summer camp programs. The program, located in Rockville, Maryland, has the capacity to support 30 children who reside in Montgomery County, Maryland. Licensed by the Maryland Child Care Administration, it is one of the few quality childcare programs for children with disabilities in Montgomery County. The program strives to help children develop in the areas of communication, functional living, and gross and fine motor, recreational/leisure, self-help, and social behavioral skills. These skills are addressed in a safe, fun, and age-appropriate environment through activities that include cooking, computer activities, outings to various community locations, various board games, a variety of sports equipment and much more. The program also participates in community integration activities with community-based groups within Montgomery County.
Volunteer Impact:
- The volunteer will work with one or two students that are not engaged in the large group activity.
- This work will provide diversity in teaching techniques for our participants, which may help staff discover other options for keeping participants engaged in activities.
- Participants will benefit from spending time with a volunteer that is willing to work with them and engage in an interactive activity that they may enjoy.
- This is also an opportunity to discover additional skills that students may have or be able to improve.
- This will also relieve stress from the student by allowing them a choice to be engaged in something different within reason. ·
- The volunteer’s impact may be evaluated based on participation of students, student reactions, staff feedback, and feedback from parents when appropriate.
Duties & Responsibilities: ·
- Facilitate/teach/deliver/organize activity and distribute supplies.
- Volunteer will be responsible for setup and clean up for activity within reason.
- Enjoy time with the student. ·
- Play!
Qualifications
- Must have a CJIS background check. ·
- Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Must speak and read English.
- Some Spanish is a plus.
- Patient and Energetic
- Able to sit or stand while working with students
Desired Skills, Experience & Characteristics: ·
- Desire to work with children
- Able to follow printed directions
- Experience working with children or people with developmental disabilities
Volunteer Benefits
- Volunteer can gain work experience in a licensed childcare facility.
- Leadership skills
- Facilitator experience
- Learn more about the early childhood profession
- Experience working with students with developmental disabilities.
Support
- Staff will be present and available for support or assistance of any kind.
Time Commitment
- Minimum of 1-2 hours per week
- In order for the children to become comfortable with the volunteer to work one-to-one they must have a consistent presence. Must be available at least once per week for a 1-2 hour session.
Location
- Address: 1010 Grandin Ave, Rockville, MD 20851
- Parking is available
- Metro accessible: Rockville Station is ~20 minute walk from our building
- Building is at the intersection of Grandin Ave & Woodburn Ave.
- Parking lot is located on Woodburn.
- There is an entrance on Woodburn and on Grandin which are both accessible but will require a code to enter. Chosen volunteers will receive the code after their first visit.
Community Companions Support Volunteer
Community Companions Support Volunteer
The Community Companions program strives to help children develop in the areas of communication, functional living, and gross and fine motor, recreational/leisure, self-help, and social behavioral skills. These skills are addressed in a safe, fun, and age-appropriate environment through activities that include cooking, computer activities, outings to various community locations, various board games, a variety of sports equipment and much more. The program also participates in community integration activities with community-based groups within Montgomery County.
Duties & Responsibilities:
- Collect demographic information and required documents from clients
- Assist with outreach into the community
- Coordinate schedules and communicate with volunteers and parents
- Support Community Companions staff by processing client intake calls, inputting data, and other administrative tasks
Qualifications:
- Basic computer skills (Office 365)
- Communication skills
- Available to volunteer in-person
Desired Skills, Experience & Characteristics:
- Passionate about helping others
- Adaptable & Flexible
- Patient
Volunteer Benefits:
- Volunteers will make a difference to the community and gain work experience while being part of a diverse and professional team
- Volunteers will develop professional skills
Support:
- Community Companions Volunteers are provided on-site supervision and training by the staff members with whom they work.
Time Commitment:
- 8-10 hours per week- Between 10AM and 6PM
- Two days a week- Between Monday and Friday
Location:
- Community Companions is looking for volunteers to serve at their Rockville site. (1010 Grandin Ave, Rockville, MD 20851)
- Parking lot onsite as well as street parking available. Walking Distance from Rockville Metro Station
Management Plan:
- Pamela Bennett, Program Manager
Home Organizer Volunteer- COMPASS Program
Friend of COMPASS – Home Organizer Volunteer
Description of the Volunteer Position:
The Home Organizer Volunteer will help seniors who have lived in their homes for over 40 years. This volunteer will make a lasting impact by assisting seniors in organizing, sorting, and creating a safer, more comfortable living space in their own homes. All seniors are members of the COMPASS program, a mobile case management program serving DC residents over the age of 18 years old.
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Duties & Responsibilities:
Volunteers will:
- Assist seniors in sorting and organizing their belongings in their own homes.
- Assist seniors with posting saleable items on various reselling websites.
- Provide compassionate support throughout the process.
- Help create a safer and more manageable home environment for the seniors.
Qualifications:
Volunteers must:
- Be at least 21 years old.
- Live in the DC, Maryland, Virginia (DMV) area.
- Possess a professional home organizer certification (such as ASPO or NAPO) and/or at least 3 years of experience working with others to declutter living space .
- Know how to sell items via Facebook Market Place, Etsy, and other reselling websites.
- Be proficient in utilizing the Internet.
- Be able to assist with light physical tasks such as sorting and organizing.
- Be able to bend, stand for extended periods, and lift as much as 20 lbs. If assistance with heavier items is needed, it will be provided.
- Have basic English language proficiency.
- Be able to commit to a regular schedule for the duration of the process.
- Be able to drive.
Desired Skills, Experience & Characteristics:
Volunteers should:
- Be patient, respectful, and compassionate and have a positive attitude toward helping seniors.
- Be able to form supportive relationships with seniors.
- Have a strong desire to help others and make a meaningful impact in the lives of seniors.
- Be interested in gaining experience in social services and community engagement.
- Have a passion for giving back to the community and contributing to positive social change.
- Be interested in developing soft skills like empathy and communication while making a tangible difference.
Impact of Volunteers:
Volunteers will:
- Provide essential support to seniors who may feel overwhelmed by the process of decluttering after many years in their homes.
- Help create a safer and more organized living space in seniors’ homes.
- Help reduce seniors’ stress and improve their quality of life.
- Offer companionship, understanding, and a sense of empowerment to seniors, thus fostering a positive emotional and mental environment.
Benefit to Volunteers:
Volunteers will:
- Gain hands-on experience in providing support to seniors.
- Improve practical skills like sorting, decluttering, and home organizing.
- Learn valuable skills in organizing, communication, and problem-solving.
- Develop key interpersonal skills such as empathy, active listening, and patience,
- Expand their community networks by connecting with other volunteers, and community organizations.
- Be part of a collaborative, effective team committed to a shared vision.
- Increase their awareness of the needs and challenges of seniors, gain a deeper understanding of the aging population, and understand the importance of community support.
Support for Volunteers:
Volunteers will:
- Participate in a COMPASS-specific preparatory session with COMPASS staff.
- Meet with a COMPASS staff partner and the senior to be assisted to discuss the specific project and the senior’s vision for her home.
- Receive onsite support for the first three sessions.
- Receive weekly support from a COMPASS staff partner throughout the process.
- Engage in regular check-ins with and receive feedback from the senior throughout the process.
- Be encouraged to reflect on and share their experiences and observations regarding their contributions and areas needing improvement.
Time Commitment:
Volunteers must:
- Make a minimum commitment of 3 months and 2 projects, with a 6-month and 4-project commitment being preferred.
- Devote 2-3 hours per week on each project, with the exact schedule to be determined by mutual agreement between the volunteer, the senior, and the COMPASS staff.
Location:
Volunteers will:
- Work in-person in seniors’ homes.
- Assist seniors who live primarily in DC Wards 7 and 8.
I'm not sure what ongoing role, could someone talk me through my options?
This application is for anybody who is interested in an ongoing volunteer role with one of our programs. Typically, people commit to serving ~4 hours a week for 6 months to a year. You then would have the option to sign up for another year or to take a step back. These roles require screening and your attendance at an orientation.
If you are not interested in serving on a weekly basis (or want to get started right away), please feel free to check out our Volunteer Calendar to see individual opportunities where you can simply "sign up and show up" right away!
Either way, if you complete this application, we will give you a call to talk through the roles that are available!
