(Posted April 13, 2023)
Madison County is full of opportunities to volunteer time or donate materials. Check out the possibilities.
Adult Basic Literacy Education
179 S. Main St., London 43140
Contact: Lynne Alexander, (614) 587-5718
Volunteers needed: Assisting clients with computer skills, filling out forms, computing simple math problems, and upgrading general skills; reading to and with clients; answering telephones; grading tests.
Wish list: Pens, pencils, tablets, copy paper, notebooks and binders, sheet protectors, file folders, pocket notebooks, cartridges for printers, computer programs, used books, magazines with labels removed, crayons, coloring books and puzzle books.
Friends of Madison County Parks and Trails
Website: https://fmcpt.com
Contact: Wayne Roberts, (614) 205-6754
Volunteers needed: Trail cleanup; nature preserve work; new community mural project.
Wish list: Donations to support trail and camping area maintenance and improvement. Also, FMCPT memberships which help finance trail-related projects, sponsored rides, and activities throughout the year.
Good Samaritan Food Pantry
36 S. Center St., West Jefferson 43162
Phone: (614) 379-3212
Website: www.goodsamfp.com
The pantry is open to Madison County residents in the 43162 and 43119 zip codes and in the Canaan and Green Meadows mobile home communities. Hours are Wednesdays from 2 to 3 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 to 11 a.m.
Wish list: Food donations with a special need for tuna, soup (not vegetable), pasta, peanut butter, jelly and eggs. Fresh produce from gardens. Toiletries, soap, toilet tissue. Monetary donations are always welcome.
HELP House
122 E. Center St., London 43140
Phone: (740) 852-1980 or 852-4844
Contact: Dee Heilman
Volunteers needed: Year-round to sort and hang clothes (mornings). Stocking shelves and general warehouse work. Soup kitchen preparation and shopping for customers on Mondays from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Help with carting customers’ packages to their vehicles on Mondays from 4-6 p.m., Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to noon, and Saturdays from 9 to 11 a.m. Help with outreach programs. Help with computer check-ins and general area organization.
Wish list: New children’s socks and underwear and gently used spring and summer clothing for newborns through teens; money; non-perishable food; meat items; personal care items (toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, feminine hygiene products); baby care items (large diapers size 4-6, wipes, baby food); $10 gas cards; plastic bags.
Humane Society
2020 Plain City-Georgesville Rd. NE, West Jefferson 43162
Website: www.hsmcohio.org
Phone: (614) 879-8368
Contact: Meg Werner or Cindy Grigsby
Volunteers needed: Foster care, walk and socialize dogs, socialize cats, cat and dog kennel cleaning, follow-up calls to families who adopted, fundraising and PR events, festival events, building maintenance. Go to hsmcohio.org to fill out a volunteer form.
Wish list: Soft treats for dogs, toys for dogs and cats, Purina Kitten Chow, paper towels, and gift cards to Tractor Supply, Walmart, Amazon and Kroger. Check out the Society’s wish lists on amazon.com and chewy.com. A wish list is posted on the Society’s website, as well.
Note: If interested in adopting a dog or cat, click on the link at hsmcohio.org to see available pets. If you find one you would like to meet, fill out an application. The Humane Society is scheduling appointments for people who have an approved application.
Hurt-Battelle Memorial Library
270 Lilly Chapel Rd., West Jefferson 43162
Contact: Chris Siscoe, (614) 879-8448
Volunteers needed: The library is accepting applications for volunteers on a limited basis.
Wish list: Office supplies, craft materials, and new toys for giveaways and drawings are always welcome. The library is also accepting book and movie donations again. Please do not leave donations outside the library. Businesses interested in sponsoring the library’s Summer Reading Program are asked to contact Director Chris Siscoe at (614) 879-8448.
Junior Achievement Mad River Region
P.O. Box 1023, Springfield 45501
Phone: (937) 323-4725, ext. 12
E-mail: csteiner@jrachieve.net
Contact: Crystal Steiner
Volunteer opportunities: Classroom volunteers in Madison County for grades K-12 to teach Junior Achievement programs. Programs are hands-on, activity-driven and grade appropriate, focusing on financial literacy, workforce readiness, and entrepreneurship.
Wish list: Programs are provided to schools at no cost. Monetary donations are appreciated to help cover program costs.
London Public Library
20 E. First St., London 43140
Contact: Jordan Marco, (740) 852-9543
Email: jmarco@mylondonlibrary.org
Volunteers needed: The library soon will have volunteer opportunities available for teens and adults to assist with the Summer Reading Program, sales at the Book Nook, outreach deliveries, and events. Opportunities could include filling bags, helping out during programs, cleaning up, and more. Contact Jordan Marco or fill out a volunteer application at www.mylondonlibrary.org/about/volunteer.
London Visual Arts Guild
121 E. First St., London 43140
P.O. Box 362, London
Website: www.londonvisualartsguild.org
Contact: Sandy Fox, (937) 207-7400
Volunteers needed: To serve as docents
Wish list: The guild could use paint brushes and canvas boards in various sizes.
Madison County Food Pantry
125 S. Oak St., London 43140
Pantry phone: (740) 852-5822
Contact: Jim Witwer, (614) 404-4718
Volunteers needed: People to help on short notice. Open 9-11:45 a.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays. Help with bagging food.
Wish list: Hygiene items, canned fruits and vegetables, meals in a can (stew, meat, spaghetti), tuna, soup, peanut butter.
Madison County Historical Society
260 E. High St., London 43140
Phone: (740) 852-2977
Contact: Ned DeCamp, museum director
Volunteers needed: To help with exhibits, odd jobs, yardwork, data entry, office work, general and spring cleaning of outdoor venues, and repair, washing and ironing of costumes. The museum is open 1 to 4 p.m. every Wednesday and Sunday.
Wish list: Monetary donations, paper products, and other items (call for details).
Madison Health
210 N. Main St., London 43140
Contact: Jamie Adams, (740) 845-7052
Volunteers needed: Reception desk (greeting and wayfinding), gift shop cashiers, mail sorting and delivery within the hospital. special project volunteers to assist with bulk mailings and events, such as the Memorial Golf Classic, Heartfelt Holidays, Lights of Love and Auxiliary fundraisers.
Madison County Senior Center
280 W. High St., London 43140
Contact: Janisse Williams, (740) 852-3001
Volunteers needed: Kitchen, dining room, telephone calls to shut-ins.
Madison County Special Olympics
500 Elm St., London 43140
Phone: (740) 852-7052, ext. 1917
E-mail: lincoln.comer@madison.oh.gov
Contact: Lincoln Comer, director of Special Olympics and community recreation
Volunteers needed: Coaches, chaperones, and unified partners to assist with Special Olympics events. Madison County competes year round in BISC (basic individual skills competitions), unified sports, softball, bocce, soccer, volleyball, golf, bowling, basketball, alpine skiing, track, power lifting, equestrian events, and flag football.
Wish list: Monetary donations for uniforms, sports equipment, and tournament expenses.
LifeCare Alliance
Meals on Wheels delivery drivers
Contact: Nicole Envid, community engagement manager
Email: volunteer@lifecarealliance.org
Phone: (614) 437-2957
lifecarealliance.org/volunteer/apply
Volunteers needed: Help deliver lunch-time meals to seniors and medically-challenged individuals in Madison County. Choose a shift on a recurring weekly basis, twice a month, monthly, or as needed. Make a difference in Madison County by committing about an hour of your time. Meals on Wheels routes are available in Plain City, West Jefferson, London, and Mount Sterling. Great for families, companies, church groups, or individuals. Visit the website to apply, or email for more information.
Mt. Sterling Community Center
164 E. Main St., Mount Sterling 43143
Phone: (740) 869-2453
Contact: Megan Witteman
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tuesdays, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Volunteers needed: The community center welcomes volunteers to stock shelves for the food pantry, work the reception desk, help with toddler and youth activities, monitor open gym, help with the community garden, help with fundraising, and assist with the summer lunch program and special events.
Wish list: Non-perishable food items and financial donations.
Mt. Sterling Community Museum
60 W. Columbus St., Mount Sterling 43143
Phone: (740) 869-9305
Director: Steve Chambers
Wish list: Donated or loaned artifacts. Subject display periods will be announced throughout the year. Monetary donations and old photos of Mount Sterling welcomed. The museum also is looking for Mount Sterling, Madison-Plains, Westfall, Madison South, and Fairfield high school yearbooks, as well as Mount Sterling telephone books, especially those issued before 1972.
Mount Sterling Public Library
60 W. Columbus St., Mount Sterling 43143
Phone: (740) 869-2430
Contacts: Sharon Morgan
Hours: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Volunteers needed: The library would like to thank all of its volunteers of years past. The library is not accepting new volunteers at this time, however if you are a student age 16 and up and need service hours, the library will work with you to accomplish this.
Ohio’s Hospice Loving Care
779 London Ave., Marysville 43040
Phone: (614) 965-2089
www.ohiohospicelovingcare.org
Contact: Annetta Dellinger, volunteer coordinator
Volunteers needed: To offer compassion and care for those on hospice services which can include listening and reading to patients, helping with office work, and visiting with patients. Offer respite care for caregivers. Veterans to honor patient veterans. Choose your own hours. Miscellaneous sewing of lap blankets and neck pillows. Go to the website for a volunteer application (look under the “Ways to Give” tab). Training is required for patient visits.
DNA (Daily Needs Assistance)/Plain City Food Pantry
DNA Offices: Located at Sharon Mennonite Church, 7675 Amity Pike Rd., Plain City 43064
Food pantry and pancake breakfast site: Journey Community Church, 11100 Lafayette-Plain City Rd., Plain City 43064
Volunteer contact: Sarah Landis, sarah@dnaplaincity.org
Volunteers needed: On Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday mornings to unload trucks, stock shelves, and load clients’ cars for the food pantry. Volunteers also are needed to sort and stock the Kids’ Kloset and to help with summer camp. Camp dates are June 12-16 for grades 7-8 and June 26-July 14 for grades 1-6.
Wish list: Non-perishable food, including canned low-sugar fruit, canned low- or no-sodium vegetables, tuna fish, macaroni and cheese, spaghetti sauce, noodles, cake mixes, meals in a can with pull-top lids. Toiletries and other personal items, such as toilet paper, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, and laundry soap. For other needs at DNA, visit dnaplaincity.org.
Sufficient Grace
P.O. Box 92, West Jefferson 43162
Website: sg2012.org
Contacts: Tracy Kronk at tracykronk@sg2012.org or Kami Wilkin at kamiw@cypresschurch.tv
Volunteers needed: Sufficient Grace is on a mission to feed children in the local communities. The organization is looking for volunteers with a heart for kids, who love to serve God by serving others, who are willing to jump in to help where needed, and who are enthusiastic about fundraising and having fun. Volunteer opportunities include everything from sit-down jobs to heavy lifting. Sufficient Grace’s mission started 11 years ago with one child; now the organization feeds 700 children every week.
Wish list: If you want to help but can’t be part of Monday packing, you can donate food at sites in London and West Jefferson. Contact Tracy for details. Monetary donations may be made by mailing a check to Sufficient Grace at P.O. Box 92, West Jefferson, OH 43162.
Welcome Table
Meals served at St. Paul AME Church, 11 W. Center St., London 43140
P.O. Box 162, London
Contact: Michelle Budd, (614) 330-0252
Volunteers needed: Individuals or groups to prepare meals which are distributed on Thursdays from 5 to 6:30 p.m. A limited number of volunteers are packaging the food and handing it out. All meals are carryout only.
Wish list: Paper supplies, plates, large and small bowls, utensils, Reynold’s Wrap, sugar, paper towels, coffee, creamer, and cash donations.
4-H of Madison County
OSU Extension Madison County
217 Elm St., London 43140
Contact: Laura Dillion, 4-H educator, (740) 956-5052, dillion.26@osu.edu
Volunteers needed: There are volunteer positions for club/organizational, resource, and project volunteers. Contact Laura Dillion anytime. The 4-H office will begin taking applications again in October.
Wish list: Monetary donations for youth scholarships and county resources. Donations for 4-H Camp Clifton to ensure youth can attend camp this summer.
