(Posted April 12, 2016)
Madison County is full of opportunities to volunteer time or donate materials year-round. Many of those possibilities are listed below.
Adult Basic Literacy Education
179 S. Main St., London 43140
Phone: (740) 852-9843
Contact: Lynne Alexander
Volunteers needed: Assisting clients with computer skills, filling out forms, computing simple math problems, answering telephones, reading to and with clients, grading tests, upgrading general skills.
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.
American Red Cross
Phone: (614) 253-2740 or (740) 845-9939
Volunteers needed: Blood donor ambassadors to work local drives and the food canteen. Transportation specialists to transfer blood from donor sites to labs or from labs to hospitals. Warehouse specialists to assure proper packaging from local drives. Disaster response team.
Volunteer Notes: You can work as little or as much as you like; prefer once a month. All volunteers must pass a criminal background check. Some positions require a minimum age of 17, though many positions are available for youths with parental consent.
Arbors West
375 W. Main St., West Jefferson 43162
Phone: (614) 879-7661
Contact: Marsha Allen
Volunteers needed: Share a talent, occupation, recent vacation; help with crafts and games; decorate the facility for the holidays; do one-on-one visits with residents; help with religious services on Sundays.
Wish list: Bingo prizes, word search books, greeting cards, playing cards, games (new or gently used), pens, pencils, crayons, markers, stuffed animals, lotions, colognes, small or medium gift bags, general craft supplies, plastic storage totes, CDs or DVDs.
Food Thru Faith Cupboard
51 W. Center St., London 43140
Phone: (740) 852-4735
Hours: 9 a.m.-noon Tuesday and Thursday
Wish list: Monetary donations; food donations of canned fruits and vegetables, macaroni and cheese, jelly, noodles, pork and beans, tuna, corn muffin mix, teabags, hot chocolate; bar soap, toilet tissue.
A Friend’s House
Erica_AFH@yahoo.com
Phone: (740) 852-7761
Contact: Erica Burns
Volunteers needed: Help with fund-raisers, organize material donations, do handyman tasks, tutor children/adults for GED, teach computer skills, mentor for life skills, public relations, maintain shelter, on-site clerical support, child care. Those who work at the shelter or with clients must get a background check.
Wish list: Cleaners, outdoor furniture, tools, baby supplies, toiletries, storage totes, trash bags, toilet paper, paper towels, pillows, office supplies, grocery and gas cards, haircut certificates.
Friends of Madison County Parks and Trails
Phone: (614) 205-6754
Web site: www.fmcpt.com
Contact: Wayne Roberts
Volunteers needed: Trail sentinel program; nature preserve work; trail cleanup.
Wish list: Financial help to purchase First Aid kits, repair tools and vest/helmet liners for volunteer trail sentinels; membership donations to finance trail-related projects and activities throughout the year.
Good Samaritan Food Pantry
36 S. Center St., West Jefferson 43162
Phone: (614) 879-8130
Contact: Susan Maggard
Volunteers needed: Every Tuesday from 8 to 10 a.m. to carry in delivered orders and to help put away food supply. Strong bodies needed. We also need helpers to locate and pick up bread products and to help when the pantry is open. Help with repackaging. The pantry is open to Madison County residents in the 43162 and 43119 zip codes. 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 canned fruit, tuna, soup, pasta and peanut butter. Fresh produce from gardens. Toiletries, soap, toilet tissue and diapers. 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). Help with unloading food truck on Tuesdays 11:30 a.m., with the soup kitchen on Mondays from 1 to 4 p.m., and 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, etc.); baby care items (diapers, baby food); $10 gas cards; plastic bags.
Humane Society
2020 State Rte. 142 NE (Plain City-Georgesville Road), West Jefferson 43162
www.hsmcohio.com
Phone: (614) 879-8368
Contact: Cathy Leistikow or Betty Peyton
Hours: Sunday-Tuesday and Thursday-Friday, 1-5 p.m.; Wednesday, 1 to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 12-5 p.m. Closed major holidays.
Volunteers needed: To make follow-up calls to see how pets and their owners are doing. Feed pets, clean kennels, screen potential adoptive humans, groom, bathe or interact with pets, take in homeless pets as foster parents for a few days or weeks to relieve shelter overcrowding, fund-raising, data entry, records maintenance, clerical, walk dogs. Volunteer hours are flexible. Also, help with Cash 4 Kibble Dinner and Auction each spring. Help at adoption events.
Wish list (in order of need): Copy paper, stamps, paper towels, laundry detergent, kitchen trash bags, boxed cat litter, small latex gloves, newspapers, shredded paper, gallons of bleach, kitten food, rawhides for dogs, dog and cat toys, Ziploc bags, tall kitchen bags.
Hurt-Battelle Memorial Library
270 Lilly Chapel Rd., West Jefferson 43162
Phone: (614) 879-8448
Contact: Cathy Allen
Volunteers needed: To help as needed with summer reading, crafts and book sales; putting away materials.
Wish list: Office supplies; gently used books; board games; craft materials; new toys for giveaways and drawings.
Lifepointe Family Center
109 S. Main St., London 43140
Phone: (740) 852-9730
Contact: Debbie Warner
Hours: Monday, 1-4 p.m.; Wednesday, 1-4 p.m.; Thursday, 4:30-7 p.m.
Volunteers needed: To help with receptionist work and other duties. The center provides free pregnancy tests, peer counseling, Earn While You Learn program for moms and dads, emergency baby supplies, information about abortion alternatives, post-abortion support, adoption information and more.
Wish list: Maternity clothes, diapers, wipes, formula, monetary donations, baby supplies, pack-n-plays and new cribs.
London Health and Rehab
218 Elm St., London 43140
Phone: (740) 852-3100
Contact: Chiquita Edwards
Volunteers needed: Spending time with residents—playing cards, talking, taking a walk or sharing a meal.
Wish list: Word search books, pencils, nail polish, items to make wreaths, paints, sun catchers, drawing tables, crayons, notebooks, yarn.
London Public Library
20 E. First St., London 43140
Phone: (740) 852-9543
Contact: Helen Keigley
Volunteers needed: To deliver library items to homebound and care facilities; assist with programs and other events. Volunteer activities range from two hours a month to four hours once a year.
London Visual Arts Guild
5 E. High St., London 43140
Website: www.londonvisualartsguild.org
Contact: lvag.info@gmail.com
Wish list: The guild operates Gallery On High and Studio 7, which promote art in Madison County and the surrounding areas through exhibits and classes. Items needed include: digital cameras to loan out for photography classes, an awning, for the front of the building, plumbing and bathroom fixtures, 10×10 white tents/canopies for use at festivals, lightweight 4- to 6-foot folding tables for use at festivals, tabletop easels, canvas boards in all sizes, paint brushes, acrylic paints, palletes, table coverings, drop cloths, old vinyl tablecloths, drawing paper and pads, graphite pencils.
Loving Care Hospice
56 S. Oak St., London 43140
Phone: (614) 554-7665
E-mail: corneliah@lovingcare.us
Contact: Cornelia Hostetler
Volunteers needed: To offer compassion in prayers, listening and reading to patients; help with office work; creatively assist with needs such as baking goods, helping with landscaping and doing general cleaning. Support fund-raisers such as the spring and fall dinners and auctions and golf outings. Visit with patients. Offer respite care for caregivers. Volunteers are especially needed in Mount Sterling.
Wish list: Monetary donations, auction items.
Madison County Food Pantry
137 Maple St., London 43140
Phone: (740) 852-5822
Contact: Jim Witwer, director, (614) 404-4718
Volunteers needed: People to help on short notice. Open 9 a.m. to noon Wednesdays and Saturdays. Help with bagging food. Some ride-along delivery.
Wish list: Hygiene items; books for children and teens; canned fruits and vegetables; meals in a can (stew, meat, spaghetti); tuna; soup.
Madison County Historical Society
260 E. High St., London 43140
Phone: (740) 852-2977
Contact: Nancy Dever
Volunteers needed: To help with exhibits, odd jobs, yardwork, data entry, office work, spring cleaning of outdoor venues and the barn, and repair, washing and ironing of costumes. The museum is open from 1 to 4 p.m. every Wednesday and Sunday.
Wish list: Monetary donations, riding lawn mower, paper products.
Madison Health
210 N. Main St., London 43140
Contact: Darla Bires, (740) 845-7012
Volunteers needed: Deliver mail, cashier at gift shop (Monday, Tuesday, Friday, 5-8 p.m., some weekend hours), front desk, emergency department, physical therapy, afternoon courtesy cart drivers. Volunteers also may be needed at the hospital’s satellite locations in London, Mount Sterling and West Jefferson.
Auxiliary projects: Support Auxiliary projects that fund the purchase of equipment for patient care. Possibilities include working for a few hours to a few weeks on events such as book sales, jewelry sales, Bake-nic, Bob Powers Classic golf outing, Heartfelt Holidays and Lights of Love. Edie’s Place could use help, too, for special sales.
Madison County Senior Center
280 W. High St., London 43140
Phone: (740) 852-3001
Contact: Janisse Williams
Volunteers needed: Kitchen, dining room, help Adult Care Center clients Monday through Friday, telephone callers to shut-ins, bingo helpers, light cleaning.
Madison County Meals on Wheels
Lifecare Alliance
P.O. Box 187, London 43140
Phone: (740) 845-7325
Contact: Leah Baird
Volunteers needed: Urgent need for volunteer drivers and riders to deliver meals. Deliver lunches to shut-ins and senior citizens in Madison County. Various routes available. Any schedule can be accommodated, from once a month to five times a week. Volunteers receive reimbursement for mileage. Flexible, 60 to 90 minutes per route. Minimum age: driving age (though ride-along helpers may be younger).
Mt. Sterling Community Center
164 E. Main St., Mount Sterling 43143
Phone: (740) 869-2453
Contact: Annie Tomlinson
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tuesdays, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Volunteers needed: To help sort and arrange donated clothing, stock shelves; work the reception desk; help with toddler and youth activities, as well as day camps; monitor open gym; help with the community garden; help with Friday Night Youth; help with fundraising; assist with summer lunch program.
Wish list: Bibles, new and gently used books for children; dish towels, tissues, craft supplies and fabric, personal care supplies, toilet tissue, laundry detergent, non-perishable food donations, and financial donations.
Mt. Sterling Community Museum
60 W. Columbus St., Mount Sterling 43143
Phone: (740) 869-9305
Director: Steve Chambers
Volunteers needed: To help with special projects and events. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday and Wednesday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday.
Wish list: Donated or loaned artifacts. Subject display periods will be announced throughout the year. Monetary donations and old photos of Mount Sterling welcomed.
Mount Sterling Public Library
60 W. Columbus St., Mount Sterling 43143
Phone: (740) 869-2430
Contact: Chris Siscoe
Volunteers needed: Summer reading program. Other volunteers could provide classes for patrons or put away materials. Minimum age 15, but families are welcome.
Wish list: Monetary or material donations.
Plain City Library
305 W. Main St., Plain City 43064
Phone: (614) 873-4912, ext. 131
Contact: Amanda Warner
Volunteers needed: The library has various events throughout the year for which volunteers are needed. Events range from children’s programs to theatrical events.
Wish list: Monetary donations are always appreciated and may be applied to specific programs or services.
Relay For Life
American Cancer Society
P.O. Box 411, West Jefferson 43162
Phone: 1-888-227-6446
Contact: Gina Newsome, (740) 852-5532
Volunteers needed: The 2016 Relay For Life to benefit the American Cancer Society is June 17 at West Jefferson High School. We need people to help with concessions, team registration, entertainment, survivors’ reception, auction and luminaries.
Wish list: We keep an active database of Madison County cancer survivors, so we need names of survivors to invite to the Relay. Donations can be made to the ACS at the address listed above.
Rocking Horse Community Health Center
212 N. Main St., P.O. Box 651, London 43140
Contact: Holly Foster, (740) 845-7286, or email hfoster@rockinghorsecenter.org
Volunteers needed: Our office offers primary healthcare for everyone regardless of insurance status or ability to pay for services. We are open 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Volunteers are needed to assist with office tasks, including making reminder calls and light computer work. Afternoons one to two hours per day.
Wish list: Monetary donations appreciated.
Special Olympics
510 Elm St., London 43140
Phone: (740) 852-7052
Contact: Lincoln Comer
Volunteers needed: Coaches, chaperones, and unified partners to assist with Special Olympics events. Madison County competes year round in softball, bocce, soccer, volleyball, golf, bowling, basketball, alpine skiing, track, power lifting, and equestrian events.
Wish list: Monetary donations for uniforms, sports equipment and tournament expenses.
Welcome Table
Dine-in meals served at St. Paul AME Church, 11 W. Center St., London 43140
P.O. Box 162, London
Phone: (740) 845-0175
Contact: Laura Johnson
Volunteers needed: To set up, serve or clean up meals on Thursdays from 5 to 7 p.m.
Wish list: Paper supplies, styrofoam cups, plates, large and small bowls, utensils, Reynold’s Wrap, sugar, paper towels, cash donations, coffee, creamer, and drinks such as Kool-aid and soda.
4-H of Madison County
OSU Extension Madison County, Box 230, London 43140
Phone: (740) 852-0975
Contact: Kirsten Holt, holt.375@osu.edu
Volunteers needed: 4-H volunteers for year-round help.
Wish list: Monetary donations.
