Volunteer Program

WELCOME TO THE DOVE CENTER VOLUNTEER SURVEY

We are glad you are interested in helping the Dove Center a way that best suits your talents and best fulfills the needs of the Dove Center clients. In order to place you and your talents, we are asking you to complete a survey so that we may better understand how your interests, experience, and skills may best be used to support the Dove Center in the future. By completing this survey, you will also assist us in creating a more comprehensive volunteer program to support the Dove Center and our entire community.

Survey Procedure:

Review (read) the Volunteer Opportunity Descriptions and the Volunteer Events Description that are below on this page. Reviewing these descriptions in advance will enable you to provide accurate responses to our survey.
To include your survey in our files, we require answers to all questions marked with an asterisk *.

Volunteer Opportunity Descriptions

Volunteer Training: Formal Volunteer Training for Court Watch and Shelter/hotline coverage usually consists of 15 classroom hours dispersed over 5 consecutive week days (Monday – Friday evening.) Interested volunteers must complete this course to work at the shelter and cover the Hotline. Shelter shifts are usually 8 hours assignments.

Court Watch – When requested, monitor court cases and complete appropriate paperwork to drop off at the Dove Center. This opportunity does not include interacting or advocating for clients. The volunteer observes and documents case outcomes.

Shelter/hotline coverage – Cover the hotline. Mentor clients with activities such as resume writing, creating budgets, job searches and informal counseling. Oversee compliance with shelter guidelines, monitor safety of shelter, assist with shelter cleaning and putting away donations.

Poster/Flyer Distribution – Visit commercial locations in your area to distribute flyers for upcoming events and refill information pamphlets for posters.

Children’s Activities – Plan children’s activities such as arts and crafts to be shared at the shelter when children are residents. Offer children’s activities to out patient clients at main office. Babysitting for shelter clients, Domestic Violence/Sexual Violence victims' groups, and victims' job interviews.

Fundraising – Participate as needed at various fundraising events in a variety of capacity’s such as: set up, tear down, food service, ticket sales etc.

Public Awareness - Participate at public events sharing testimony, selling tickets, set up, tear down, covering information tables etc.

Provide job skills training - Plan and implement sessions on resume writing, how to interview, job searching techniques and tips. (Related experience preferred)

Security – Prerequisite – volunteer law enforcement officers – Resources to volunteer during high alert timeframes.

Fundraising Event Descriptions 2010

Walk & Rock - July 24
Glades Park Check with staff for details and hours.

Participants can walk or rock in rocking chairs. They obtain pledges. Activities are provided for children.
Volunteers necessary for set up, clean up, food service, and registration. Most importantly volunteers to walk and rock are what truly make our event successful.

Deep Creek Chili Splash - August 7
12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Wisp Resort, McHenry, MD

This event is held at Wisp. It is a qualifier for the national chili cook-off. There is live music, chili tasting, children’s activities and audience participation games.
Volunteers needed for registration, children’s activities, selling 50/50 and extra tasting tickets. Shifts are 4 hours each.

Yard Sale - September 10 (Rain Date 17)
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Parking lot between Oakland Car Wash and First United Bank drive-through

Yard sales are typically held behind the Dove Center offices.
Volunteers for set-up and tear-down are needed. We always need tables and help collecting items, especially non-clothing items.

Maryland State Banjo, Fiddle, and Mandolin Championships - October 8-9
Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Music begins at 7:00 p.m.
Southern High School, Oakland, MD

We host the Maryland State Banjo, Fiddle, and Mandolin Championships.
Volunteers needed for Set-up on Thursday night and Friday afternoon. Workers are needed Friday and Saturday for ticket sales, door monitors, raffle sales, contestant registration, food sales, and judge assistants. Hours vary depending on position.

The Great Pumpkin Race - October 10
Registration begins at 10:00 a.m. Events begin at 11:00 a.m.
Adventure Sports Center International, atop Marsh Mountain, McHenry, MD
Includes Decorated Pumpkin Contest, Pumpkin Plunge Raft Race, Pumpkin Regatta, and Hooligan Race

Held at the Adventure Sports Center on Wisp Mountain. Pumpkins are sold for $5 each. They are numbered and raced down the white water course. A hooligan race, where teams make their own water craft to race down the course and a pumpkin carving contest are additional activities at the annual Pumpkin race.
Volunteers are needed to sell pumpkins onsite, sell refreshments and help register contestants. It’s about a 5 hour commitment.

Festival of Trees - November 24-27
For more specifics watch this space for a link to the Festival of Trees.

· Held at the Armory. Trees are donated and decorated by local businesses. Activities include bingo, breakfast with Santa, and a VIP reception for donors, gala evening with auction, and other children’s activities.

Volunteers needed for set-up, tear-down and tree delivery, and at all events. Also ticket collectors and food service help is necessary each day of the event. Opportunities to sell tree spots, sponsorships and wreaths exist. Lots of volunteers are necessary for this event. Children volunteers are welcome; to dress as costumed characters. (Service learning hours available for the children)

Designer Resale - December 6-11

A shop of gently used clothing, including designer items.
Help setting up, tagging and hanging. Help selling. Help with tear down.

Click Below to go directly to the Survey:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9DT2RCG