The pandemic has put all of us under considerable stress, and many in our community are needing mental health services. For nonprofits providing mental health services, such as EveryMind, demand for services has increased dramatically across all program areas.

For sixty years, EveryMind has provided community education, advocacy, and direct services to everyone in our community -- from children to teens, from younger to older adults, from families to veterans. Their goal is that everyone will optimize their mental health just as they would their physical health.

The call volume to EveryMind's Hotline has shot up 43 percent since COVID began. And with many volunteers experiencing their own challenges and transitions during this period, the need to recruit new volunteers is at a high. EveryMind is currently seeking volunteers for their Representative Payee, Friendly Visitor, Hotline Specialist, MCPS Schools Program, Veterans Program, and Homeless Outreach.

"There is a volunteer opportunity for everyone at Everymind, says Director of Human Resources Marcela Compagnet-Oreliana. "What makes a good volunteer is the desire to help and support our overall mission, flexibility, and compassion. We seek people with patience, who have good communication skills, and are passionate about this work. Our volunteers come from all walks of life." All volunteers must be able to pass a background check and clearance process.

While all volunteers are welcome, retirees or semi-retired community members are sought for longer-term volunteer opportunities for programs such as the Friendly Visitor program, which requires commitments of six months or more one day/week, because these volunteer roles require consistency to build and nurture relationships with clients.

EveryMind is currently ramping up the recruitment of volunteers as Hotline Specialists for the next several months for a new initiative. To learn more see their current opportunities on the MCVC website. "No one knows when life may feel like too much," says Marcela. "Everyone deserves the resources, talents, and the compassionate team of EveryMind."

If your New Year's resolution is to give back to your community, here's a great opportunity for you -- volunteering from the comfort of your own home! The AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP/AARP Tax-Aide Program provides free tax preparation by trained volunteer Tax Counselors for low-to-moderate-income Montgomery County residents. For the upcoming tax season (mid-January-April 15, 2022), Volunteer Schedulers are needed to make Tax-Aide appointments for clients. Schedulers work from home, using County-provided laptops and headsets with Acuity scheduling software and AVAYA's cloud-based phone system. Excellent free training is provided. Phones are answered Monday-Friday with morning or afternoon shifts. Click here to learn more. To be considered as a volunteer, email montgomerycountytaxaide@gmail.com.

Older adults in our community are at particular risk of isolation as well as increased health risks this winter due to the prolonged pandemic period, and are so grateful for volunteers who make the effort to connect and engage with them. Here are just a few of the volunteer positions that local nonprofits and government agencies are currently recruiting for that benefit older adults. Search organizations on the Volunteer Center website to find more ways to serve.

SEND LETTERS OF ENCOURAGEMENT to older adults at Housing Opportunities Commission Senior Housing, such as Waverly House and Elizabeth House, and EveryMind's senior programs, Representative Payee and Friendly Visitor (see more about EveryMind in this newsletter's Agency Spotlight, above). Help bring back the lost art of letter writing and send along good cheer. This opportunity is part of the MLK Week of Service.

STUDENT MUSICIANS WANTED FOR VIRTUAL CONCERTS: Calling all student musicians from 6th to 12th grade! During the pandemic, come and join the UNMUTE student musician group in Maryland to share your love and music talents with older adult residents in the Assisted Living facilities. All music levels and music genres are welcome.

DISTRIBUTE FOOD BOXES ONCE A MONTH TO LOW-INCOME SENIORS: Volunteers will bring food inside the building to the 2nd-floor lobby using carts and elevators for low-income senior citizens at AHC's Charter House, an affordable housing apartment building located in Silver Spring. Residents will pick up food boxes. Please use the sign-up sheet located on the opportunity page link above.

TECH TUTORS NEEDED to help seniors and retirees of Bethesda Metro Area Village, many of whom would like help in learning how to better use their devices to add apps, use the camera more effectively, manage contacts, or help with settings. Students are needed weekdays after school for one-on-one tutoring sessions for 30-90 minutes, depending upon your availability. Detailed information is available on the organization's opportunity page on our website.

FRIENDLY PHONE CALLS/VISITS FOR OLDER ADULTS: Silver Spring Village helps seniors remain engaged in their community and continue to live at home with the support of their neighbors. Their service area includes zip codes 20901, 20910, Kemp Mill, and the section of 20815 east of Rock Creek Park. Members are looking to connect with people through friendly phone calls or visits with Village volunteers. The schedule is flexible; volunteers must undergo a criminal background screening and attend an orientation/training before volunteering.

Opportunities marked with the graduation cap icon meet the MCPS guidelines for Student Service Learning (SSL) hours--but they're not just for students! Other opportunities may be eligible for SSL hours; visit the MCPS SSL website to learn more.

The Roscoe R. Nix Distinguished Community Leadership Award is presented each year by the County Executive to individuals who, over the course of their lives, have made extraordinary contributions to the quality of our community at the very highest levels of excellence. This prestigious award was established by County Executive Ike Leggett in 2012 to honor community icon Roscoe Nix, who gave a half-century of service to Montgomery County. The Nix Award is the county's equivalent of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the local version of the nation's highest civilian award.

This December the following honorees were acknowledged: Byron A. Johns, a leading advocate for educational equity for more than 10 years; the late Blanca King, who served for four decades as a media spokesperson, community leader, and victims' rights advocate; and Diego Uriburu, co-founder of Identity to help immigrant youth fleeing violence, natural disasters, and poverty in Latin America. Learn more about each of the award recipients here.

Congratulations to the awardees for their years of leadership, excellence, and commitment to community service!

A great way to introduce yourself to our outstanding Montgomery County nonprofits as well as to new volunteer opportunities is to watch this entertaining and informative County Cable program, hosted by Montgomery County Volunteer Center's Sandi Smith. Programs air on Comcast ch 6, RCN ch 6, and Verizon ch 30 at the following times: Sunday (2:30 pm, 6:30 pm), Monday (10:30 am, 12:30 pm, 7:30 pm) Tuesday (2:45 am, 11:15 am), and Saturday (5:15 pm). You can also watch the short 15-minute episodes anytime on YouTube. Add a bowl of popcorn and you're all set!

MCPS' SSL Hub for Students and Families -- a one-stop-shop for accessing SSL forms, opportunities, guidelines, and more! We encourage anyone interested in learning more about the SSL program and its resources to check out the new MCPS SSL Hub. Student Service Learning is a requirement for high school graduation in Montgomery County. In the process of gaining those SSL hours, students can learn about the number of ways they can be of service to the community.

The school system has extended its temporarily established virtual SSL guidelines. This means students may continue to earn SSL hours for select virtual/remote service completed from home under the remote supervision of an approved nonprofit organization (or school sponsor) throughout this summer and until the end of the 2021-2022 school year. In addition, students may continue to engage in traditional MCPS SSL opportunities offered in a public space under the direct supervision of a nonprofit representative, at the discretion of the student’s parent/guardian.

Due to extenuating circumstances related to the pandemic, any unsubmitted SSL forms for service completed after June 1, 2019, will be accepted by schools’ SSL coordinators when students return to school in the fall. Please note that after the 2021-2022 school year, SSL forms will no longer be accepted from previous school years. A complete list of SSL coordinators may be found on the MCPS SSL webpage at www.mcps-ssl.org.

Any questions about the SSL program may be directed to the SSL dropbox at SSL@mcpsmd.org.