VOLUNTEER TOP PICKS OF THE MONTH
Looking for a way to meet new people while positively impacting the community you live, grow, and work in? Check out the January top volunteer picks and get started today.
VOLUNTEER WITH THE PROJECT HEAT TELETHON
Help keep your neighbors warm this winter and get 30 seconds of fame! Join WCSH6 on Thursday, January 19 for the annual Project Heat Telethon to raise money for Keep ME Warm, Maine’s emergency heating assistance fund. Volunteers answer phones and process donation information in 4-hour shifts, from 5am–8pm at WCSH6, One Congress Square in Portland. (Volunteers are asked to arrive 30 minutes prior to their shift for training.) FMI, contact Kim Charland, kimberly.charland@wcsh6.com.
ASSIST STUDENTS WITH COLLEGE ASPIRATION ESSAYS
Maine College Circle partners with schools across the state to help get kids thinking about college at an early age. Westbrook third and fourth graders have been working on a college exploration unit. Volunteers are now needed to help students draft and edit their College Aspiration essays which share careers that interest them and which colleges could help them get there. Student writers represent a range of abilities and may need support at different stages of the writing process (i.e. just getting started, having some work done, or having a complete draft written). Finished essays will be submitted for judging, and winners will receive scholarship money to be used toward future college expenses. Volunteers are needed at Canal Elementary School, 102 Glenwood Ave. for one or more dates (Wednesday, January 11, Wednesday, January 18, Monday, January 23, Wednesday, January 25, and Monday, January 30) from 12-1pm. There will also be opportunities at Congin Elementary School as well. Staff will provide volunteers with an overview and guidance. FMI, contact Karen Stephenson, kstephenson@unitedwaygp.org.
HELP POWER THE RIVERTON WALKING SCHOOL BUS
Riverton Elementary School is starting a Walking School Bus program to help decrease absences. Volunteers will be walking students from their homes to their bus stop each morning. Riverton is currently looking for 3-4 volunteers each day who would be available from 7:25-7:55am one morning per week. If a group of 4 people from one company or organization wanted to share the responsibility, they could choose to rotate weeks and only be responsible for one day a month. This has been piloted at another Portland elementary school with great success and has become a fun event for students and volunteers. FMI, contact Kathy Cole, Community Coordinator, at colek@portlandschools.org or call (207) 874-8210.
MENTOR NEW MAINERS
The New Mainers Resource Center at Portland Adult Education works with new Mainer professionals seeking to enter the workforce. The Center seeks people to serve as mentors in different capacities with individuals or professional groups for six months at a time. FMI, contact Moey Burchenal at burchm@portlandschools.org.
January is also National Mentoring Month! Check out our January Newsletter for more mentoring opportunities or search online at http://volunteer.unitedwaygp.org.