By Gary Bennett
Does the never ending political rancor of the day have you down? Other than turning off Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC, I have the perfect antidote for you – volunteering!
There are so many human needs out there, and let’s face it, government can never hope to serve them all, nor should it. That’s where we come in. Endless opportunities await you in Frederick County and beyond, if you have a sincere desire to make a difference.
I know what you’re thinking: “I’d like to volunteer but I just don’t have the time” …or maybe “I don’t know where to start.” If you live here but work in Montgomery County or Washington D.C., you may have a very good point on the first issue. I’ve been there, too. After three or four hours of roundtrip commuting piled on top of your work day, there is little time left for much more than dinner, TV and bedtime. No one can blame you for not getting involved.
But, I’m here to tell you that most volunteer organizations will happily take as much or as little time as you can spare. I can assure you that two hours spent volunteering once a week will feel much better to you than those two hours spent watching TV.
Actually, volunteering just two hours per week would make you a super volunteer. According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency, Americans who volunteer average about one hour per week doing so. And, there are a lot of us volunteers. Seventy-seven million adults in the U.S., or about one in three, volunteer in some capacity in 2017.
As for not being sure about where to start, I can help you there, too.
Like to walk or run? Why not help out with an annual 5K or 10K walk/run to benefit a local health-related charity? There are too many to make a comprehensive list so I’ll mention just two: the annual Walk
MS: Frederick will be held April 13 at Fredrick High School was held May 4 at Harry Grove Stadium to benefit the Multiple Sclerosis Society and people with MS Relay for Life on May 17 and 18 at Frederick Community College benefiting the American Cancer Society and celebrating cancer survivors. Organizations like these always need volunteers to set up, tear down, mark the course, serve refreshments, or to simply cheer on the participants.
Like to clean? Believe it or not this activity is therapeutic for some people including ones like me who sit behind a desk all day. If so, why not volunteer for the annual Bring a Broom Saturday event on April 27 to help clean up downtown Frederick and ready it for tourist season. Sponsored by the Downtown Frederick Partnership, this event is perfect for those of us who burst with pride for downtown Frederick and want it to look its best.
Similar to that event but available on an ongoing basis is the State Highway Administration’s Adopt a Highway program. Since that program started in 1989, 120,000 Marylanders have cleaned over 15,000 miles of roadside. If either of these programs seems a little daunting, you can bet your local homeowners association will have a cleanup day. If not, start one!
Can you speak, write, and read English reasonably well? The Literacy Council of Frederick County is always in need of English tutors. This activity is typically accomplished one-on-one with one or two students and only takes a few hours per week. The staff at the Literacy Council makes it extremely easy to be a tutor. They will train you over two Saturdays and provide all the materials you will need and a step-by-step lesson plan. If you are interested, contact Holly Bohman or Jennifer Szabo at the Council. I can tell you firsthand that being an English tutor is an amazingly rewarding experience.
Can you make more of a commitment? If so, I can recommend any of Frederick’s venerable service clubs. Each has a little different focus, but all are committed to making Frederick County a better place to live and work. For example, the FSK Lions Club, to which I belong, focuses on eye health but also gets involved in many other things such as childhood cancer, diabetes, environmental issues and hunger. Besides the Lions Club, there are the Elks,
Kiwanis, Moose, Knights of Columbus, Jaycees, Boys and Girls Club, Frederick Women’s Civic Club, and Rotary Clubs, to name a few. Take a look online at what they do and arrange a visit. They will be happy to see you and will probably invite you to dinner.
Do you have aging parents and care deeply about the Greatest Generation and other seniors? Then reach out to the Frederick Senior Center. They sponsor fitness classes, arts and crafts, health information programs and other special events. They also serve up a nice lunch and support Meals on
Wheels. You could also reach out to Hospice of Frederick County, which helps to ensure a gentle passage through the final phase of life. Volunteers can work with terminally ill patients and their families to offer companionship, respite care and other services such as light housekeeping, running errands or pet care.
Want to make sure no one goes hungry? The City of Frederick and the Frederick Community Action Agency needs volunteers to help serve meals at the Community Table and to help gather and stock food items at the Food Bank You’ll be in good company. Collecting, distributing, preparing, and serving food is the No. 1 area of volunteerism in America.
And this is just the tip of the iceberg. National organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, American Red Cross, and United Way all have numerous local opportunities to help with housing, emergency relief and other human needs. Youth sports leagues need coaches, refs and other helpers. And don’t forget about local churches, volunteer fire associations, hospitals and libraries. All want and need your talents.
I highly recommend volunteermatch.org. Just plug in your zip code and they will serve up to you weekly all the close-in volunteer opportunities for you to consider.