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December 2023

WARM WINTER WISHES

Brrrr! Just when you think Winter will never come, here it is. We wish everyone a great month and cozy times with family and friends. And, as always, we thank you for all you do to help others. ♥

—From the Volunteer Center Staff

Sign Up to Participate in MLK Day of Service! On Monday, January 15, the Volunteer Center will hold its annual MLK Day of Service event featuring a variety of service projects for people to join in and volunteer! We will celebrate the life and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through service to our community.

This year’s event will feature a variety of volunteer projects at the North Bethesda Marriot and several Community Recreation Centers. Participants will also be able to connect with local organizations to learn more about their missions and volunteer needs. To learn more about how to participate in the 2024 MLK Day of Service and to register, click here to visit our MLK Day web page.

A message for MCPS Students and Parents. Winter Break (December 23, 2023 - January 2, 2024) and the MLK Week of Service (January 13-21, 2024—see above for registration info) are wonderful times to earn SSL hours! Don’t forget that students must earn 75 SSL hours to graduate from high school. Nonprofit organizations continue to host in-person and virtual/remote SSL opportunities for students, so sign up online today.

Remember to complete an SSL activity verification form to get credit for service. Instructions and due dates are on the form.

If you have any questions about SSL opportunities, contact the MCPS SSL office at SSL@mcpsmd.org.

As a reminder, when signing up for an opportunity, please ensure that the blue MCPS SSL bar is present before responding.

Heart Pillows for Cancer Patients. All ages are welcome! Heart pillows are ideal for cancer patients who received surgical procedures near the underarm, and can act as a protective barrier between sensitive areas and the car seatbelt. Volunteers may choose to make sewn or crocheted heart-shaped pillows to show patients that we care.

Making heart pillows can earn service hours. For every pillow made and submitted, volunteers may earn one SSL or service hour. There is no maximum number of hours for this activity. Note: Students seeking SSL hours must make at least one heart pillow for quality completion of the service project.



Kits to Heart provides tutorials with instructions and requirements for making and submitting pillows. For details, visit the Kits to Heart page on the Volunteer Center website. If you have questions, email volunteer@kitstoheart.org.

Pictured (left to right) are Jennifer Freeman (CFS Founder and Executive Director), host Sandy Smith, and Hoang Edullantes (CFS Operations Manager).

In November, Make a Difference host Sandy Smith interviewed Jennifer Freeman and Hoang Edullantes and learned about how Community Farm Share (CFS) helps families and works for a better food future. Click here to view the video.

CFS links families experiencing food insecurity with fresh produce from local vegetable farms. They partner with local organic, regenerative and naturally grown vegetable farms in Montgomery County which produce a weekly variety of fresh seasonal produce. Through generous donations from community members, CFS buys CSA shares* from the farmers to provide weekly produce bags to families experiencing food insecurity throughout the growing season (typically about 25 weeks). This means each family in the program can rely on knowing they will be able to have healthy meals each week, delivered to their home by volunteers. CFS partners with other food assistance and social service providers to help identify the families most in need of such healthy local produce.

Make a Difference is Montgomery County's cable TV show that shares how local volunteers help make a difference every day. If you know a special volunteer whose story might be featured, email cassandra.smith@montgomerycountymd.gov.

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* CSA stands for community-supported agriculture. Members pay a subscription to farmers in return for a share of the season's harvest.

Remember, new opportunities are posted often on the Volunteer Center website—Montgomery Serves—and there are many ways to search. You can try different combinations of filters to find the best volunteer fit for you. And share exciting links and opportunities with others.

Here is a set of quick links for more information:

Search for Volunteer Opportunities

Student Service Learning - SSL

50+ Volunteer Network

Volunteer Opportunities for Groups

Search by Organization

Court - Ordered Service

Days of Service (including MLK Day and much more)