Montgomery County Volunteer News

Montgomery County

Volunteer News

volunteer@montgomerycountymd.gov

240.777.2600

www.montgomeryserves.org

September 2025

IN THIS ISSUE (scroll down to "read all about it")

►Hear Ye: Stay Informed on Volunteer Center Social Media

►Spotlight on: Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County

►Fall Into Service at The Urban Winery

►More September Opportunities

►Make a Difference: Student Service Learning in Montgomery County

►Volunteer with AARP Foundation Tax-Aide

PLUS

►Stay Tuned to County Updates

►Quick Tips

We have a new Instagram page! Follow us: @MontgomeryServes. Tag us on Facebook and Instagram when you're out volunteering, and make sure to use #IMakeADifference!

—From the Volunteer Center Staff

Spotlight on: Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County

The Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County (HOC) works to ensure everyone in Montgomery County has access to safe, affordable, high-quality housing and services to reach their fullest potential.

Join the newly launched HOC Volunteer Corps to support and interact with youth, adult and senior residents of the community through programs focused on education, the arts, wellness, career advancement and more.

Volunteers help HOC execute and promote life-enriching programs and events such as the annual Back to School STEM Festival, Senior Prom and the Holiday Store.

To find and apply for volunteer opportunities, visit the HOC page on MontgomeryServes.org or call HOC directly at 240-627-9400 to learn about current needs.

Fall Into Service and Make a Difference

Join the Montgomery County Volunteer Center at The Urban Winery in Silver Spring to kick off Community Service Month.

Enjoy the venue while connecting with local nonprofits that need your help. Meet furry friends looking for “furr-ever” homes and participate in small, impactful service projects, such as making dog and cat toys.

We will also be accepting donations of non-perishable food and professional clothing. It is a perfect evening to unwind, socialize and give back to your community. Come discover how rewarding volunteering can be!

Date: Sunday, September 28

Time: 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Location: The Urban Winery in Silver Spring

More Info: Fall Into Service - Montgomery County Volunteer Center

More September Opportunities

Do you love animals? So do we! You can volunteer as an Animal Caretaker with Star Gazing Farm. You can also bring your friendly dog on comfort visits with People Animals Love. This helps those in hospice and retirement homes feel better. Or, you can help cats and dogs find loving homes by volunteering with A Home of Their Own Animal Rescue.

Make a Difference: Student Service Learning in Montgomery County

The September episode highlights how the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Student Service Learning (SSL) requirement fosters student growth, civic engagement and personal transformation.

Join Florence Jewell and Volunteer Center Intern Alexandra Palencia as they talk with MCPS Coordinator for Student Leadership and Service Learning Donna Kleffman and 2025 Youth Volunteer of the Year Aarna Gundeti. They will discuss how students are shaping a better future through volunteering.

Donna Kleffman, Aarna Gundeti, Alexandra Palencia and Florence Jewell on the set for Make a Difference.

Enjoy the full September episode on YouTube soon, and check out the series on County Cable Montgomery.

Volunteer with AARP Foundation Tax-Aide

It's that time of year again! The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program is seeking dedicated volunteers for the upcoming tax season. This is a great opportunity to use your skills to help Montgomery County residents prepare their taxes for free.

There are various roles to fit different interests and schedules, whether you prefer working directly with people, troubleshooting technology or volunteering from home.

Tax Counselor: Assist clients with federal and state tax preparation.
Technology Support: Help set up and maintain hardware at tax sites.
Client Facilitator: Greet clients and assist with administrative tasks at a local site.
Appointment Scheduler: Schedule appointments for clients from the comfort of your own home.

Attend an information session in November to learn more. If you have questions, email taxaide4mc@gmail.com.

Stay Tuned

So much is going on in Montgomery County every day. Subscribe to County newsletters and stay up to date!

Montgomery County eSubscriptions.
Montgomery County Office of Community Partnerships.

Quick Tips

We provide hyperlinks for more information in this newsletter in light blue italics. Many links take you to the Volunteer Center website, which contains hundreds of volunteer opportunities, complete with search filters to help you find the ones that interest you the most. The calendar is a great way to make plans, too. Thoughts and suggestions are welcome, and our suggestion box is always open.

Montgomery County Volunteer Center

volunteer@montgomerycountymd.gov

240-777-2600

www.montgomeryserves.org

Montgomery County Volunteer Center Staff

Faith McNeill, Volunteer Center Manager

Lindsay Niemoller, AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP Manager

Florence Jewell, Outreach & Engagement Manager

Roslyn Houston, Agency Training & Support Manager

Newsletter Team

Janis Tabor, Lead Editor & Designer

Alex Ferguson, Writer & Editor

Erica Joo, Writer & Editor