- Volunteer
Volunteer
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VOLUNTEERING DURING COVID-19
Since safety is our priority, opportunities have been modified to follow safety protocols. All volunteers need to show proof of being fully vaccinated.
Looking to give back to your community? Whether you’re looking to adopt a stream, offer your professional skills, or lend your talents in other ways, you’ll find there are opportunities to get involved in causes that matter to you right in Rockville.
Volunteers provide quality services to the citizens of our community. Volunteering often leads to personal and professional growth and development, which may include:
- Learning a new skill or trade.
- Gaining valuable work experience.
- Meeting new people.
- Helping people/animals in need.
- Networking and making professional contacts.
For the latest volunteering news and opportunities to serve your city, subscribe to the "Volunteer Rockville" email newsletter. The bimonthly newsletter delivers to your inbox news about nonprofits, city and community programs seeking volunteers, Student Service Learning credit opportunities, and profiles of volunteers and organizations serving as agents of change in our community.
SSL hours are available to MCPS students for most of the city's volunteer opportunities.
Students can now earn SSL hours for some limited remote/virtual service completed from home under the supervision of an approved nonprofit organization. Read the temporarily amended MCPS SSL guidelines for virtual/remote volunteering.
Student volunteers usually participate in the city by working with children as a mentors, doing cleanups in the community, snow shoveling, removing weeds at city parks or supporting other activities in the city.
CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE CITY OF ROCKVILLE
Horticulture Kids
SSL Available, For All Ages
Children participate in garden-based activities that teach gardening, planet conservation, biology, chemistry, and even math. We also enjoy discussing processes such as pollination and photosynthesis. Kids experience the various growth stages of their vegetables ranging from planting to harvesting.
For more information, contact Cecil Rucker, Program Coordinator, at crucker@rockvillemd.gov.
Join a Board or Commission
Adults Only
Join a boards or commissions and provide the Mayor and Council with informed public opinions, thoughts and ideas that shape the city.
Animal Aide
SSL Available, For Ages 14+, Not Wheelchair Accessible
Students would be trained by nature center staff and work under the guidance of staff naturalists as they are performing daily animal care duties. This position includes onsite check-ins with the CCNC volunteer coordinator to determine work schedule, quality of work, hours worked, etc. Since animal care is so important, this position’s work will require extensive group training as well as one-on-one work with staff. Students will be supervised by the volunteer coordinator and staff naturalists.
Adopt a Stream
SSL Available, For All Ages
Individuals, families, businesses and community groups can adopt a stream in Rockville and organize cleanups to help our waterways stay free of litter and other contaminants.
Environmental Education Assistant
SSL Available, For Ages 14+, Not Wheelchair Accessible
Students would collaborate with nature center staff to develop and implement environmental education themed activities for the general public and for special events at CCNC. Volunteers would be supervised by the Volunteer Coordinator as well as staff naturalists as they perform the work on site.
Mentoring a Child
SSL Available, For Ages 16+
Mentoring is a one-on-one relationship over a period of time between a youth and more knowledgeable and supportive person who provides consistent support, guidance and concrete help.
Mentoring programs operate at Twinbrook Elementary School, Meadow Hall Elementary School, and Beall Elementary School.
If you are interested in being a mentor, you must complete an application and participate in a screening process.
The commitment is for at least one hour a week for 10 months.
Self-Guided Litter Cleanup
SSL Available, For All Ages
Volunteer to complete a self-guided litter clean up to help keep Rockville trash free and earn SSL hours while do in it! You must provide your own equipment.
Student Ambassador
SSL Available, High School Students Only
Rockville’s Human Rights Commission (HRC) is seeking students to serve as ambassadors that will function as liaisons between the commission and high schools that serve the City of Rockville.
Trail Guardian
SSL Available, For Ages 14+, Not Wheelchair Accessible
Students would receive and orientation course as well as direct guidance on where and when to perform the work. This position includes daily check-ins with the CCNC volunteer coordinator to determine work schedule, quality of work, hours worked, etc. Students will be supervised by the volunteer coordinator and staff naturalists.
Weed Warriors
SSL Available, For All Ages
Weed warrior volunteers help the city by removing invasive species from park land, wooded and open space areas that can take over native plants and trees.
Help With the Learn to Swim Program
SSL Available, For Ages 14+, Must Be Able To Demonstrate Swimming Skills for the Level You Work With
Volunteers work as instructors’ aides and are paired in the pool with paid instructors. They help take attendance, set out kickboards, diving rings and lifejackets, and help put away swim equipment. A time commitment of seven to eight weeks is required.
A successful background check is required.
This opportunity is year-round. Lasts a full session and is divided into six sessions (each lasting about eight weeks).
Session dates are (roughly): Early January-mid-February; mid-February-early April; mid-April-mid June; mid-June-early August; early September-late October; late October-mid-December.
other volunteer opportunities
Representative Payee Volunteer
For Adults Only
Volunteer with Every Mind and assist vulnerable Montgomery County residents with a disability or mental illness with managing their finances. Click here to learn more and apply online.
Friendly Visitor Volunteer
For Adults Only
Volunteer with Every Mind and play a critical role in the lives of older adults in the community by visiting individuals who may be isolated and lonely. Click here to learn more and apply online.
Volunteer to Help with COVID-19 Vaccinations
For Adults Only
To volunteer to help with COVID-19 vaccinations, register with the Maryland Responds Medical Reserve Corps.
The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a national network of community-based groups of volunteers—medical and public health professional and others—who assist their communities in activities that promote and strengthen public health, emergency response, and community resiliency.
The MRC acts as a registry of volunteers that can be activated to respond and support the county’s response to public health emergencies like COVID-19.
Help with Adult English classes
For Adults Only
There are thousands of adults who want to learn English yet do not have enough opportunities to attend classes or receive tutoring. There are groups, organizations and volunteers that need financial and professional development assistance and as MCAEL works to expand the coalition offerings to better meet the need. There are opportunities for individuals, businesses and community organizations to work with MCAEL to increase access to adult ESOL learning spaces. More Information Here
Spanish-Speaking Food Pantry Volunteer
For All Ages
So What Else operates a food bank Monday-Friday as part of our Emergency Response Plan. Giving out around 50,000 meals every day, Our food pantry is looking for volunteers fluent in both Spanish and English to provide translation services for the Spanish-speaking clients at our food pantry. More Information Here.
Twinbrook Food Distribution Hub
SSL Available, For All Ages
The new Interfaith Works Food Distribution Hub, in the same building as the Interfaith Works Clothing Center, at 751 Twinbrook Parkway, offers two opportunities for residents to volunteer:
To register and for more information, visit the Interfaith Works Hub at Twinbrook.
Montgomery County Volunteer Center
Volunteers and donors are needed throughout the county to assist with food security and other needs related to the pandemic. Learn more ways to get involved.
So What Else
A non-profit organization providing FREE positive, enriching out-of-school programs for children ages five through 18. Some of the services are emergency hunger relief and youth development in order to continue serving our students. More Information Here.
Delivering Meals and Groceries to Vulnerable Seniors
The Meals on Wheels website lists ways to volunteer with this critical organization.
Helping Schools
Community members can check with their area’s school system to see if they need volunteers. Volunteer With MCPS.
Montgomery College
Volunteer opportunities at Montgomery College. Student Volunteer Opportunities
Other Ways to Give
Rockville is a community of neighbors looking to help in this time of need. We’ve put together some ways for you to give back to the community and help those neighbors in need.
Donate Blood
Blood donations have decreased dramatically. Local Red Cross or other blood donation websites provide ways to help.
Give to the Rockville Emergency Assistance Program
The COVID-19 crisis is unprecedented in how it is affecting your neighbors through financial hardship. If you have the means and would like to partner with the City of Rockville to help your neighbors in need, considering donating to the Rockville Emergency Assistance Program (REAP). 100% of donated funds go to help Rockville families!
If you would like to make a donation via check, please make the check payable to the City of Rockville with "Rockville Emergency Assistance Program (REAP)" in the memo line and address your envelope to:
Community Services
111 Maryland Avenue, 1st Floor
Rockville, MD 20850
Donate a Meal to Volunteer Firefighters
The fire service has a long tradition of preparing meals together but during this emergency, they have insufficient time to shop and cook. If you are a restaurant or caterer who would like to prepare meals for our on-duty personnel, please email meals@rvfd.org with your contact information. Community members interested in donating a meal can easily donate money online, we cannot accept home-prepared food at this time. All money donated will be used for meals.
Give to the Recreation and Parks Fund
Help provide financial assistance to someone who may not be able to afford summer camp or other recreational activities in the coming months due to the loss of a job or other financial hardship. You can contribute online when you register for a recreation program by "Add Up or Add On" on the registration form. Round your payment to next easy denomination, and enter this additional amount on Recreation Fund Donation line. Call 240-314-8620 for more information. Donate online.
Donate Food at The Senior Center
Many Seniors in our area are struggling with food during these difficult times. You can donate dry goods at the senior center. this is an ongoing activity: Please bring your donations to the Rockville Senior Center located at 1150 Carnation Dr. Rockville, MD 20850.
Host a Food Drive in Your Community
When you host a food drive you will enable our neighbors experiencing hunger to get the food they urgently need. Together we can fight hunger and feed hope. Learn how to host a food drive.
Help to Fight Hunger with Nourish Now
Discover how to help Hungry Families in Montgomery County and volunteer opportunities with Nourish Now.
Donating Medical Supplies and Equipment
Residents with medical supplies or equipment to donate can do so at the Montgomery County Volunteer Center or email FEMA’s National Business Emergency Operations Center at nbeoc@fema.dhs.gov.
Donating or Volunteer Safely with Food Banks and Pantries
Information about giving, donating and volunteering at food banks and pantries can be found on the City’s website. People can also visit Feeding America or Food Pantries to find an organization near them.
Donating to Nonprofits
Cash donations are the best way to support nonprofits. The National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) lists organizations supporting COVID-19 response efforts. Guidestar and Great Nonprofits also have search engines to locate organizations that need help.
Staying in Touch
One simple way to help is to check on neighbors, friends and family – especially those who are older or may be alone. A phone call, text, or a conversation through the door could brighten their day.
