Are you looking for ways to make a difference in your community? Baltimore County, Maryland offers a plethora of volunteer opportunities for people of all ages. From youth-focused resources to programs for seniors, there are plenty of ways to get involved and make an impact. The Baltimore County Volunteers program is a great place to start. This organization coordinates and organizes volunteer efforts in the county.
Through their online portal, people of any age can search for volunteer opportunities in the greater Baltimore region. Youth-focused resources include job monitoring, service-learning hours, and internships. Art with a Heart is a great example of this. Their mission is to improve the lives of people in need through visual art.
They bring interactive visual arts classes to schools, community centers, group homes, shelters, hospitals, permanent housing centers and senior housing centers. They also offer youth leadership programs for tenth and eleventh grade students and employment programs for youth ages 14 to 24. The Johns Hopkins Harriet Lane Adolescent and Young Adult Health Center runs PrEP is for YoTH, a program that educates young people ages 13 to 25 about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and other ways to stay on top of their sexual health. The Baltimore County Retired and Elderly Volunteer Program (RSVP) is another great way for seniors to get involved. This program has nearly 800 active older adult volunteers, ages 55 and older, who are dedicated to making a difference in their communities by supporting local government agencies, non-profit organizations, faith-based community services and unique health care organizations.
Through the local Baltimore County team, volunteers provide friendly home and phone visits to eligible older adults who lack social support and are at risk of social isolation. The Baltimore County Department of Aging's Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program also offers unique opportunities for caring and compassionate people to connect with long-term care residents of Baltimore County and make a difference in their lives. They offer independent living programs for adoptive youth and adoptive parents for 17 to 21 year olds (statewide) as well as work development services for disconnected youth ages 18 to 24 in the city and county of Baltimore. Baltimore County has also launched a partnership with Hands On Connect to make it even easier to find volunteer opportunities. Led by the Baltimore City Department of Health and the Baltimore City Family League, B'More for Healthy Babies (BHB) brings together communities, organizations and resources so that every baby can have the best possible start. If you're interested in volunteering in Baltimore County, you can contact the Baltimore County Department of Aging Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program at 611 Central Avenue Towson, Maryland 21204 or visit their website for more information.
