Needs From: United Way of Portage County

5 Reading Role Models will be needed at Willyard Elementary.  We are adding Willyard as a monthly reading event.  Please see list of dates below and sign up for as many as you wish.  Thank you.

Below is some basics for Reading Role Models:
• Wear your United Way Reading Role Model shirt
• Bring 4-5 books age appropriate to read to kindergarten class during the ½ hour reading
• Try to arrive 5-10 minutes prior to reading time
• Sign in with front office (office attendant will direct all readers to kindergarten rooms)
• Have FUN! This is a great time to encourage early grade reading, feel free to include audience participation by asking questions or by having a short discussion after you read.

PLEASE log your volunteer hours :)

Reading Role Models are needed for 2 Pre -K classrooms and 2 Kindergarten classrooms at 2:30 p.m. for the dates listed. 

2 Reading Role Models are needed for the 2 Pre-K classroom for 11:00 a.m. for the dates listed.

Below is some basics for Reading Role Models:
• Wear your United Way Reading Role Model shirt
• Bring 4-5 books age appropriate to read to kindergarten/Pre-K class during the ½ hour reading
• Try to arrive 5-10 minutes prior to reading time
• Sign in with front office (office attendant will direct all readers to kindergarten rooms)
• Have FUN! This is a great time to encourage early grade reading, feel free to include audience participation by asking questions or by having a short discussion after you read.

PLEASE log your volunteer hours :)

There are 4 kindergarten classes, we will need 4 readers.  Readings will be the second Friday of the month.  All readings will start at 9:15 a.m.  Please see listed dates and register under those dates.  Thank you.

Below is some basics for Reading Role Models:
• Wear your United Way Reading Role Model shirt
• Bring 4-5 books age appropriate to read to kindergarten class during the ½ hour reading
• Try to arrive 5-10 minutes prior to reading time
• Sign in with front office (office attendant will direct all readers to kindergarten rooms)
• Have FUN! This is a great time to encourage early grade reading, feel free to include audience participation by asking questions or by having a short discussion after you read.

PLEASE log your volunteer hours :)

We partner with Kent State University staff and students who volunteer to create and assemble literacy kits that are distributed to local Kindergarten and Pre-K students.  Click HERE to learn more about this program and see past Literacy Kits

4 Reading Role Models are needed for 4 classrooms from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. for the dates listed.

Below is some basics for Reading Role Models:
• Wear your United Way Reading Role Model shirt
• Bring 4-5 books age appropriate to read to kindergarten class during the ½ hour reading
• Try to arrive 5-10 minutes prior to reading time
• Sign in with front office (office attendant will direct all readers to kindergarten rooms)
• Have FUN! This is a great time to encourage early grade reading, feel free to include audience participation by asking questions or by having a short discussion after you read.

PLEASE log your volunteer hours :)

Make a Difference in Your Community—Right from Home!

Are you passionate about your local community and want to help others discover how to give back? We're looking for seeking enthusiastic volunteers to help us update and enrich local pages on Ways to Connect, our national directory of volunteer sites.

Ways to Connect is a crowdsourced platform designed to boost traffic and engagement to local volunteer websites—like this one! With just a bit of online research and your enthusiasm, you can help neighbors easily find volunteer opportunity platforms, service clubs, mutual aid groups, and more—making it simpler than ever for everyone to make an impact locally.

What You'll Do:

Conduct quick, simple online research to identify active service clubs, mutual aid groups, and upcoming volunteer events in your community.

Enhance your community's page on Ways to Connect by ensuring the information is current, accurate, and inviting for potential volunteers.

Optional: Promote your community’s page on social media to help friends and family find a path to service.

Why Volunteer with Inspiring Service?

Easy and flexible: Volunteer remotely at your convenience.

Immediate community impact: Help your neighbors discover meaningful ways to contribute.

Small commitment: Volunteer for as little as 2 hours, or as much as you'd like.

Growth opportunities: Volunteers can explore deeper involvement through our Ambassador program.

Ready to help your community thrive? Join us today and make volunteering more accessible for everyone.

Girls on the Run Northeast Ohio is always looking for volunteers in Portage County. Interested in learning more? Contact Mackenzie Smith via email at mackenzie.smith@girlsontherun.org or via phone at 234-206-0786 EXT. 702

Our website www.gotrneo.org is updated daily to showcase what sites are in need of coaches. 

Answer phones, prepare documents, help with mailings, miscellaneous tasks as needed.  No prior office experience is needed.  We will train.

We need people willing to commit to a 4-hour shift to monitor our guests while they are in the building.  Monitors will answer the office phone, distribute bed linens, make coffee, run dishwasher, light cleaning as needed, open tote rooms for guests to obtain their personal items, and other miscellaneous tasks.  Depending on the shift hours, bed linens also need to be laundered.

Our monitors are people willing to help the less fortunate in non-judgmental ways.  We provide professional social services when requested so you do not need to be a counselor or professional social worker.  There is minimal training and we try to be flexible with scheduling.

These are our current shifts that need additional people:

     4:00pm-9:00pm     Mondays

     4:00pm-9:00pm     Tuesdays

     4:00pm-9:00pm     Fridays

We could also use people who cannot commit to a regular schedule but would be willing to fill in when someone cannot fill in on their regular shift due to illness or vacation time. 

Let us know which day works into your schedule!

Wash and dry bedding, towels, washcloths.  Our guests will do their own personal laundry.

Deep cleaning our facility in the kitchen, dorms, bathrooms, common areas and laundry room.

Kent Distribution - 1st Wednesday of each month from 9am - 10:30 am.  Location:  1972 East Summit St., Kent, 44240, across from the Kent Christian Life Center.

The Salvation Army's Red Sheild Food Pantry has a monthly distribution location in Windham where they are in great need of volunteers for each of the dates listed below.  Volunteers must be able to lift boxes of food and place in vehicles.

Windham Distribution - 4th Tuesday of each month 9:00am - 10:30 am.  Location: 9005 Wilverne Dr., Windham, OH 44288

NAMI Family-to-Family is a free, evidence-based, 8-week educational program for family, significant others and friends of people with mental health conditions. Family is something different for everyone; and we at NAMI Portage want to recognize that. We want to embrace different definitions of family. NAMI-trained volunteer leaders who have lived experience as family members of a person with a mental illness teach about mental health diagnoses/symptoms, current therapies/treatments, communication strategies, coping skills, and self-care.

We are looking for someone with lived experience as a family member/caregiver of someone living with a mental health condition to teach our Family-to-Family course.

Peer-to-Peer is an eight-session educational program for adults with mental health conditions who are looking to better understand themselves, their diagnosis, and their recovery. NAMI-trained volunteer leaders with lived experience provide a safe, confidential space where participants learn about setting goals, mental health treatment options, how to strengthen personal relationships and partner with healthcare providers, and stress management/self-care.

We are looking for a peer, living with a mental health condition, to teach our 8-week course. 

CONNECTION support groups are peer led support groups open to all adults that have experienced symptoms of a mental health condition. These support groups are 90-minutes; and are led by NAMI-trained individuals. These groups are a safe space to share one’s coping strategies, learn from each other’s experiences, and offer acceptance and understanding.

We are looking for an individual with lived experience as someone living with a mental health condition to facilitate a support group for fellow peers.

Family support groups are volunteer led groups for family members and loved ones of someone that has experienced symptoms of a mental health condition. Family is something different for everyone; and we at NAMI Portage want to recognize that. We want to embrace different definitions of family. Each group is 90-minutes; and led by NAMI-trained volunteers. These groups are a safe place to share one’s coping strategies, learn from each other’s experiences, and offer acceptance and understanding.

We are looking for volunteers with lived experience as a family member and/or caregiver of someone living with a mental health condition to facilitate a support group for other family members/caregivers.

We provide Hospice Services to Residents at home and in facilities, throughout Portage, Summit, Stark, and Medina Counties. Our volunteers have opportunities to serve in many capacities: - Administrative Volunteers assist with administrative needs in our office, including filing, photocopying, assembling information packets, assistance with mailings, making phone calls, etc. - Direct Care Volunteers visit our patients in their homes or in nursing facilities, providing companionship, emotional and spiritual support to patients and their families. They may provide respite care, and may also make “tuck-In calls” to our patients on a regular basis, particularly prior to weekends or holidays, to ensure that they have adequate supplies, in an effort to avoid any emergencies. - Bereavement Volunteers are advised by the Bereavement Coordinator and serve as an additional support to the bereavement program, which provides services to grieving families and caregivers during the 13-month period following the death of the hospice patient. Support by the volunteer may include assistance with administrative tasks (such as standard mailings), assistance with a Bereavement Support Group and/or assistance with the Annual Memorial Service. These volunteers must undergo some additional training.

We provide Hospice Services to Residents at home and in facilities, throughout Portage, Summit, Stark, and Medina Counties. Our volunteers have opportunities to serve in many capacities: - Administrative Volunteers assist with administrative needs in our office, including filing, photocopying, assembling information packets, assistance with mailings, making phone calls, etc. - Direct Care Volunteers visit our patients in their homes or in nursing facilities, providing companionship, emotional and spiritual support to patients and their families. They may provide respite care, and may also make “tuck-In calls” to our patients on a regular basis, particularly prior to weekends or holidays, to ensure that they have adequate supplies, in an effort to avoid any emergencies. - Bereavement Volunteers are advised by the Bereavement Coordinator and serve as an additional support to the bereavement program, which provides services to grieving families and caregivers during the 13-month period following the death of the hospice patient. Support by the volunteer may include assistance with administrative tasks (such as standard mailings), assistance with a Bereavement Support Group and/or assistance with the Annual Memorial Service. These volunteers must undergo some additional training.

We provide Hospice Services to Residents at home and in facilities, throughout Portage, Summit, Stark, and Medina Counties. Our volunteers have opportunities to serve in many capacities: - Administrative Volunteers assist with administrative needs in our office, including filing, photocopying, assembling information packets, assistance with mailings, making phone calls, etc. - Direct Care Volunteers visit our patients in their homes or in nursing facilities, providing companionship, emotional and spiritual support to patients and their families. They may provide respite care, and may also make “tuck-In calls” to our patients on a regular basis, particularly prior to weekends or holidays, to ensure that they have adequate supplies, in an effort to avoid any emergencies. - Bereavement Volunteers are advised by the Bereavement Coordinator and serve as an additional support to the bereavement program, which provides services to grieving families and caregivers during the 13-month period following the death of the hospice patient. Support by the volunteer may include assistance with administrative tasks (such as standard mailings), assistance with a Bereavement Support Group and/or assistance with the Annual Memorial Service. These volunteers must undergo some additional training.

We provide Hospice Services to Residents at home and in facilities, throughout Portage, Summit, Stark, and Medina Counties. Our volunteers have opportunities to serve in many capacities: - Administrative Volunteers assist with administrative needs in our office, including filing, photocopying, assembling information packets, assistance with mailings, making phone calls, etc. - Direct Care Volunteers visit our patients in their homes or in nursing facilities, providing companionship, emotional and spiritual support to patients and their families. They may provide respite care, and may also make “tuck-In calls” to our patients on a regular basis, particularly prior to weekends or holidays, to ensure that they have adequate supplies, in an effort to avoid any emergencies. - Bereavement Volunteers are advised by the Bereavement Coordinator and serve as an additional support to the bereavement program, which provides services to grieving families and caregivers during the 13-month period following the death of the hospice patient. Support by the volunteer may include assistance with administrative tasks (such as standard mailings), assistance with a Bereavement Support Group and/or assistance with the Annual Memorial Service. These volunteers must undergo some additional training.

We provide Hospice Services to Residents at home and in facilities, throughout Portage, Summit, Stark, and Medina Counties. Our volunteers have opportunities to serve in many capacities: - Administrative Volunteers assist with administrative needs in our office, including filing, photocopying, assembling information packets, assistance with mailings, making phone calls, etc. - Direct Care Volunteers visit our patients in their homes or in nursing facilities, providing companionship, emotional and spiritual support to patients and their families. They may provide respite care, and may also make “tuck-In calls” to our patients on a regular basis, particularly prior to weekends or holidays, to ensure that they have adequate supplies, in an effort to avoid any emergencies. - Bereavement Volunteers are advised by the Bereavement Coordinator and serve as an additional support to the bereavement program, which provides services to grieving families and caregivers during the 13-month period following the death of the hospice patient. Support by the volunteer may include assistance with administrative tasks (such as standard mailings), assistance with a Bereavement Support Group and/or assistance with the Annual Memorial Service. These volunteers must undergo some additional training.

We provide Hospice Services to Residents at home and in facilities, throughout Portage, Summit, Stark, and Medina Counties. Our volunteers have opportunities to serve in many capacities: - Administrative Volunteers assist with administrative needs in our office, including filing, photocopying, assembling information packets, assistance with mailings, making phone calls, etc. - Direct Care Volunteers visit our patients in their homes or in nursing facilities, providing companionship, emotional and spiritual support to patients and their families. They may provide respite care, and may also make “tuck-In calls” to our patients on a regular basis, particularly prior to weekends or holidays, to ensure that they have adequate supplies, in an effort to avoid any emergencies. - Bereavement Volunteers are advised by the Bereavement Coordinator and serve as an additional support to the bereavement program, which provides services to grieving families and caregivers during the 13-month period following the death of the hospice patient. Support by the volunteer may include assistance with administrative tasks (such as standard mailings), assistance with a Bereavement Support Group and/or assistance with the Annual Memorial Service. These volunteers must undergo some additional training.

We provide Hospice Services to Residents at home and in facilities, throughout Portage, Summit, Stark, and Medina Counties. Our volunteers have opportunities to serve in many capacities: - Administrative Volunteers assist with administrative needs in our office, including filing, photocopying, assembling information packets, assistance with mailings, making phone calls, etc. - Direct Care Volunteers visit our patients in their homes or in nursing facilities, providing companionship, emotional and spiritual support to patients and their families. They may provide respite care, and may also make “tuck-In calls” to our patients on a regular basis, particularly prior to weekends or holidays, to ensure that they have adequate supplies, in an effort to avoid any emergencies. - Bereavement Volunteers are advised by the Bereavement Coordinator and serve as an additional support to the bereavement program, which provides services to grieving families and caregivers during the 13-month period following the death of the hospice patient. Support by the volunteer may include assistance with administrative tasks (such as standard mailings), assistance with a Bereavement Support Group and/or assistance with the Annual Memorial Service. These volunteers must undergo some additional training.

United Way is in need of a volunteer that is available to come in a couple hours a week to help out with some Administrative/Clerical duties.  If you have a few extra hours a week and would like to give back to your community, this is the perfect volunteer opportunity for you.  For questions email me at maureeng@uwportage.org or just sign up and I will contact you to schedule a time that works for you.

1.  Respond to this need if you are a Board Member and/or Committee Member

2.  Add Hours under this need for all board/committee meetings you attend along with any UWPC events that you attend as a board/committee member.

For questions, please email maureeng@uwportage.org

Would you like to help promote the love of reading?  Volunteer to build the next Big Red Bookshelf and help bring the love of reading to children in Portage County.  Click HERE for a complete set of building plans and material list.  NOTE: the paint should be Sherwin Williams Real Red #SW6868.

A community-based match meets in the community. Some Bigs meet their Littles on the weekends, and others get together with their Littles on weekday evenings. Each match is unique and develops a schedule that works for them. Community-based mentoring relationships involve one-on-one outings and activities, doing things the Big and Little enjoy together, like taking a walk in the park, going to museums, going to an event hosted by the local BBBS affiliate, listening to music, hanging out, and talking. 

Big Brothers Big Sisters staff member interviews, screen, and trains volunteers.

A Site-Based Plus match meets at a designated site and in the community. Some Bigs meet their Littles on the weekends, and others get together with their Littles on weekday evenings. Each match is unique and develops a schedule that works for them. Site-Based Plus mentoring relationships involve one-on-one outings and activities, doing things the Big and Little enjoy together, like taking a walk in the park, going to museums, attending an event hosted by the local BBBS affiliate, listening to music, hanging out, and talking. 

Big Brothers Big Sisters staff member interviews, screen, and trains volunteers.

Volunteers will meet their Little at the King Kennedy Community Center to participate in activities that a Youth Outreach Worker facilitates. Volunteers also have the opportunity to spend additional time with their Little going out in the community. 

CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate.  CASA volunteers are highly trained community advocates who are appointed by the court to cases of child abuse and neglect.  As officers of the court they act as the eyes and ears of the court.  CASA volunteers meet with the children assigned to their case and independently gather information from others who are involved in the child's life.  The CASA volunteer then reports back to the court about the status of the case and makes recommendations regarding the best interest of the child.  

A CASA volunteer meets with the child a minimum of once per month.  You help identify and locate resources in the community to meet the child's needs.  You attend all court hearings and other meetings about the case and the children and are the voice of the child in court.  All CASA volunteers maintain a professional level of confidentiality.   

The volunteer position includes the following:

- Greeting clients to the food pantry
- Checking identification
- Checking eligibility and information in Pantry Tracker database
- Basic Data entry in Pantry Tracker database
- Distribution of Food boxes

- Also assists in filling food boxes with available product
- Sometimes checking in donations and food orders as well

Pantry operates weekly, Tuesday and Thursday, 9:30am to 3:30pm
Confidentiality and ability to work well with other staff, volunteers and clients is required.

Volunteer to Create an Impact in Portage County
United Way of Portage County invests funds into valuable community programs through the dollars raised during the annual campaign. This allocation of grants is performed with volunteer panels who review grant applications, complete site visits and make recommendations for funding. These key Grant Review Volunteers engage in a multi-year selection and review process that match community needs, evidence based best practices and program interventions to ensure the best outcomes for residents in our community. This committee selects the most effective programs monitors their long-term outcomes.

Links

Grant Review Volunteer Guide

From time to time we are in need of volunteers to help deliver Literacy Kits to local Portage County Schools, Big Red Bookshelves and/or Big Red Bookshelf books to locations within Portage County.  To learn about our Literacy Kit program, click HERE

The dimensions of the bookshelves are 40” H x 36” W x 12” D.  Each bookshelf will be delivered with 3-4 boxes of books.  To learn about our Big Red Bookshelf program, click HERE

Coordinate your efforts with your co-workers, family, neighbors or community groups to conduct a book drive. Donated books will be used to create new bookshelves and re-stock existing locations. 

The Big Red Bookshelf project places bright red bookshelves, stocked with new or gently-used books appropriate for children ages birth - 3rd grade, in the community where families with young children visit. These books have been donated by community members. Children are invited to take a book home to keep and share!

As we receive gently used and new donated children's books for our Big Red Bookshelf program these books need to be sorted by reading level and packed in boxes for distribution to keep the bookshelves located throughout Portage County full.  This is done in the United Way office in Ravenna.

Fill food boxes and hand them out to families in need at both locations Ravenna and Windham 

The Center of Hope is in need of pantry office volunteer to answer the phones and schedule appointments. The schedule for pantry office volunteers is Monday: 9am - 12pm and/or Monday - Friday: 1pm - 3pm. 

We are looking for candidates who would like to volunteer with the Portage Senior Center. Training will be provided. The volunteer opportunities include, but are not limited to: 

Person need to up keep bathrooms and floors including sweeping, mopping, & Vacuuming.  

Volunteer needed to answer phones, take messages and provide assistance.  Person must be friendly, speak clearly and be organized.

Help pack boxes of food, collect pertinent information, and place food into client vehicles.