Agency listings

The Ark

Service Coordinator
Ashley Williams, x2989

Contact Person
Mary Buchanan
Volunteer Coordinator
Episcopal Community Services of Maryland
1014 W. 36th Street
Baltimore, MD 21211
(410) 467-1264
(410) 467-1064 (Fax)
http://www.ecsm.org/ark.html

The Ark, a program of Episcopal Community Services of Maryland, is a pre-school for children who are homeless ages 3 to 5. Volunteers are needed to help children develop their language and social skills by talking, playing and reading with them.  All of these activities are done in a loving,caring and structured environment.

Volunteers are needed 8:30 am - 11:30 am, Monday through Friday.

Beans & Bread Center

Service Coordinator
Caitlin McCarthy (Meal Program)x2989
cpmccarthy@loyola.edu

Five days a week, 300-350 people walk through the doors of Beans & Bread. People of every age, race, and religion come with stories as different and compelling as they are. They come both for the food and the companionship of the staff, volunteers and other guests.

Volunteers are needed to help with preparing and serving the meal, welcoming guests, and doing a number of other much needed tasks such as dishwashing and clean up.

Volunteers are also needed during the afternoons to engage in recreational activities with the guests of Beans & Bread. 

Open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Volunteer hours: 9 am – 1:30 pm
Afternoon Recreational Activities: Monday - Friday 2:00 - 4:30 pm

Loyola Sunday at Beans & Bread

Last Sunday of every month
Volunteer hours:  8:30 am - 2:00 pm

Service Coordinator
Ashley Biggs, x2989
cpmccarthy@loyola.edu

On the last Sunday of every month, Loyola students, faculty, staff, administration, and their families can be found together in the kitchen of Beans & Bread preparing the meal for the day. It is a time of unity for the Loyola community and a chance to get to know other people on campus with the same interests, as well as people from the Baltimore community. 

Each last Sunday, the Loyola community takes full responsibility for funding, staffing and operating Beans & Bread Meal Program. If not for the Loyola community, Beans & Bread could not afford to be open on that Sunday.

Volunteers are needed every last Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to prepare and serve the meal, and assist with dishwashing and clean up.

Best Buddies

Loyola College Buddy Director
Nicole Giannini at 516-903-4964
nmgiannini@loyola.edu

Contact Person
Rann Chhim
Colleges Program Manager
3500 Boston St., MS-47, Suite 210
Baltimore, MD 21224
Office: (410) 327-9812 ext. 25
Fax: (410) 327-9816
RannChhim@bestbuddies.org

Best Buddies International is a program designed to promote friendships between college students and persons with intellectual disabilities. Through frequent one-to-one activities and occasional group events, Best Buddies enhances the social and recreational lives of all people involved. The one-to-one outings are simple and fun. Being a Buddy can be as easy as tossing a football a few Saturdays a month, picking up the phone, or going for walks and local cultural events – anything both people enjoy doing together.

Best Buddies requires commitment and dedication, but at the same time is fun and rewarding.  Best Buddies is about having and being a friend.

Responsibilities include:

• participating in group outings,
• participating in group sessions and reflections for college buddies to discuss and share their experiences,
• one-to-one communication once per week and activities twice per month,
• and a commitment for one year.

Please click here to read an article on OPEN DOOR - Gallagher Service Newsletter to learn more about this program

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Maryland

Contact Person
Carley Thimmesch
Director of Outreach
3600 Clipper Mill Road
Suite #250
410-243-4000
cthimmesch@biglittle.org

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Maryland has created a School Based Mentoring Program that matches volunteers one-on-one with students at area elementary and middle schools. The idea is simple: Spend one hour each week with the same student, who is in need of guidance, support, and assistance with academics or social skills.

During these weekly visits you can play games, help with school work, read together, have a snack, or just talk and get to know your “Little.” It can all help to improve a child’s self esteem, boost school performance and enhance social skills.

Care A Van

Service Coordinator
Erin Timmeny, x2989
ektimmeny@loyola.edu

Care-A-Van is a program whereby a small group of students go into the heart of Baltimore City to offer food, drink and conversation to women and men who are living on the streets. Students serve and interact with an average of 75 women and men who are homeless and/or materially poor. Volunteers are needed to make sandwiches, fundraise and help distribute the sandwiches and beverages. Volunteer commitments may be weekly, biweekly or monthly. Anyone wishing to volunteer with the distribution of sandwiches must have at least one prior serving experience in a meal program in Baltimore City (either Beans & Bread or Our Daily Bread). Care-A-Van is a unique opportunity for students to hear and learn first hand about homelessness from the women and men who have had to make the streets “their home.”

Volunteer Hours:
Monday and Tuesday evenings
5:30 – 7:30 p.m. (serving)
Sandwich making:
Monday 3-4 p.m. (tentative)

CARES (Civic And Religious Emergency Services)

Service Coordinator

Jillian Delos Reyes, x2989
jldelosreyes@loyola.edu

Contact Person
Rachel Neil
5502 York Road
Baltimore, MD  21212
410-532-2273 ext. 15
rneill@gedco.org

CARES operates a food pantry and emergency assistance center that offers food packages, eviction and utility cut-off prevention funds, and pharmacy assistance to people facing financial hardships. The CARES service center is located in St. Mary’s Catholic Church located at 5502 York Road, just a few blocks from the Loyola campus.

Volunteers are needed on Mondays or Thursdays from 8:45-11:00 am or Saturdays from 9:45 am-12:15 pm at the CARES center. Tasks include packing food bags, meeting with clients to assess their needs and acting as receptionist. Volunteers can also work on Wednesday mornings from 10 am - 12 noon to pack grocery donations.  A Thanksgiving Food Drive is also done to provide a Thanksgiving Meal for CARES clients.  Volunteers are needed to collect food on campus, assemble baskets, and distribute the packages just before Thanksgiving.

Caroline Center

Service Coordinator
Kate McGrain, x2989
cmmcgrain@loyola.edu

Contact Person
Sr. Pat McLaughlin or Sr. Marta Adams
900 Somerset Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
410-563-1303
pmclaughlin@caroline-center.org

Caroline Center, sponsored by the School Sisters of Notre Dame, is a job training/education program for women in East Baltimore. Established in 1996, Caroline Center’s goal is to assist women who are living in poverty to gain the tools, the self- esteem, and the knowledge necessary to obtain a job that pays a living wage. 

For many women who come to the center, that first step is a GED, so volunteer tutors are needed to supplement classroom learning.GED classes are held on Monday-Wednesday and Thursday between 9 am and noon.

Caroline Center would also like volunteers for data entry and database management

CASA of Maryland

Service Coordinator
Holly Frederickson, x2989
hlfrederickson@loyola.edu

Contact Person
Liz Alex
Lead Organizer/Manager
CASA of Maryland, Inc
2224 E Fayette Street
Baltimore, MD 21231
(410) 732-7777
ealex@casamd.org

CASA of Maryland is a nonprofit community organization that strives to improve the quality of life for recent immigrants to the United States through a combination of direct services, education, advocacy, and organizing. CASA facilitates the self-development, organization, and mobilization of the Latino community to gain full participation in the larger society.

Since 1985, CASA has evolved from focusing primarily on direct service provision to Central American refugees arriving in the metropolitan D.C. area to providing a wide range of educational, organizing, and advocacy activities throughout the State of Maryland designed to address the multiple conditions of poverty and disenfranchisement that control the lives of many Latino immigrants and refugees.

CASA achieves its goals through programs in areas such as leadership, organizing, women's empowerment, tenant support, employment, legal services, health, education, social services, and immigration assistance.

Volunteer opportunities include participation in voter registration events and recruitment, neighborhood outreach, assisting in the CASA Office, outreach to CASA members and organizations, and the design and production of outreach and publicity materials. Opportunities to volunteer are available during the week or weekend and day or evening. Spanish requirements could be minimal or more advanced depending on the type of work, however, it is not necessary for some activities.

The Choice Program

Service Coordinator
Samantha Harvey, x2989
sjharvey@loyola.edu

Contact Person

Derek Lindsey
Assistant Director
917 Seagull Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21224
410-354-5511
dlind@umbc.edu
www.choiceprograms.org

The Choice Program is a community based intervention program for juvenile offenders and other troubled youth. The program assists approximately 500 youth each year and is located throughout Baltimore and its surrounding counties. Loyola students spend 3 hours each week with the youth on campus.  The evening consists of a dinner, tutoring, and a social/recreational program.  

By becoming a Choice tutor, you will be matched individually with a youth for a semester having the opportunity to establish a relationship of encouragement and support.

Service Coordinator
Justin White, x2989
jtwhite@loyola.edu

Contact Person
David Haddad
420 S. Chester Street
Baltimore, MD 21231
dhaddad@cristoreybalt.org
phone: 410 727 3255, x 1014
fax: 443 573 9898

Cristo Rey Jesuit High School is a new, college preparatory, coeducational, work-study high school in downtown Baltimore. Cristo Rey seeks to serve students from low-income families from across Baltimore City. Prospective Cristo Rey Jesuit students will be required to meet each specific criteria of the program, including, but not limited to employability in the internship program, family financial need, and a serious commitment to their own academic success, leading ultimately to college attendance. Their goal is that 100% of their students graduate from college.

Volunteers are needed for tutoring individual 6th, 7th or 8th graders in basic math and/or language arts. Tutors must commit to one morning per week for a semester or a year. Time slots will vary with student needs but will occur between 8:00 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. daily.

Homework tutors who offer one-on-one assistance with homework are also needed. Homework tutors must commit to one afternoon per week (3:15-4:15 pm) for a semester or entire year.

Additionally, interested students can volunteer as athletic assistant coaches one afternoon per week from 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. Various sports are offered each season including soccer, basketball, lacrosse, and baseball.

Cristo Rey seeks dedicated, mature individuals who connect personally with the mission of the school and who will be consistent in the program.

Don Miller House,
an AIDS Interfaith
Residential Services
(AIRS) Program

Service Coordinator
Janine Musheno x2989
jnmusheno@loyola.edu

Contact Person
Jenn Greger
1800 North Charles Street
Suite 910
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-576-5070  x54
jenn@airshome.org

The principal goal of AIDS Interfaith Residential Services (AIRS) is the development and provision of services for persons with AIDS and advocacy for a comprehensive community system of care. With a core community of volunteers from among various faith groups, AIRS gives witness to a caring religious response in support of people with AIDS. AIRS is committed to providing support, respect, reconciliation and hope to persons with AIDS. A broad spectrum of residential and case management services such as housing, personal care, advocacy, money management, planning, and counseling are offered to meet the needs of the individual. AIRS seeks volunteers with:

• non-judgmental attitude towards people with AIDS
• commitment to a caring response to AIDS
• openness to personal growth and challenge
• agreement to confidentiality of residential site

Volunteer responsibilities are assigned by the Program Managers. Opportunities include: transportation, visitation, maintenance (in home/outdoor), food preparations, special events, and fundraising.

Education Based Latino Outreach (EBLO)

Service Coordinator
Holly Frederickson, x2989
hlfrederickson@loyola.edu

Contact Person
Daniela Amzel
606 South Ann Street
Baltimore, MD 21231
410-563-3160
Fax: 410-563-0097
damzel@eblo.org
www.eblo.org

Are you interested in tutoring children in grades 1-6  EBLO offers two tutorial programs for which it needs volunteers. La Escuela Sabatina (Saturday School) is held Saturday mornings from 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at EBLO during the academic school year, while Mi Segunda Casa (My Second Home) is an after school program held at John Ruhran Elementary from 2:30 - 5:30 p.m. and Cruzando El Puente, grades 6 - 8 from 2:45 - 5:30 p.m.

Both programs are designed to instill in the students a sense of pride in their Hispanic culture while enabling them to better their basic skills in English.  Both Spanish and Non-Spanish speakers are welcome. EBLO also offers Spanish classes, various summer programs, and sponsors the annual LatinoFest (June) at Patterson Park and La Plaza Hispana (October) at the Fells Point Fun Festival, and Latino Fest Baltimore County (September).

Franciscan Center

Service Coordinator
Caitlin McCarthy, x2989
cpmccarthy@loyola.edu

Contact Person
Linda Orem
101 West 23rd Street
Baltimore, MD 21218
410-467-9041
lorem@franciscancenterbaltimore.org

The Franciscan Center provides emergency services to the materially poor and homeless in meeting their basic life needs, i.e., Maryland identification cards, birth certificates, prescription drug program, bus tokens for job interviews and doctor appointments, eviction prevention, and gas and electric turn-off payments. The Center also operates a clothing and personal care item pantry for men, and a food pantry. In addition, Monday through Friday meals are served form 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. to homeless and hungry citizens in Baltimore City. The Center is located at 101 W. 23rd Street in Baltimore, and our hours of operation are from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Centers main phone number is (410) 467-5340.

Many committed volunteers work directly with clients serving in emergency services, on the food service line and the dining room and clothing pantry at least once aweek. Others assist twice a month or on an as needed basis. Volunteers serve Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. We are able to provide some flexibility for students to accommodate their class schedule.

Frederick Ozanam House and
Beans & Bread Center

Service Coordinator
Sean D'Alfonso, x2989
spdalfonso@loyola.edu

Contact Person
MaryAnne Cappelleri x5352,
macappelleri@loyola.edu

Frederick Ozanam House and Beans & Bread Outreach Center provide an array of services for persons who are homeless and/or in need. 

The Frederick Ozanam House provides housing for up to two years and on-going support to men who are struggling to regain stability in their lives on a variety of levels. Services include access to the outreach center, case management and advocacy, mental health assessment and referral, supportive individual and group counseling, employment readiness and skills training, life skills training and development, health assessment and referral and recreation. FOH activities occur twice a month and a commitment for all of the events each semester is required.

Gallagher Services

Contact Person
Jim Hillman
2520 Pot Spring Road
Timonium, MD  21093
410-252-4005  x115
jhillman@cc-md.org

Gallagher Services, a program of Catholic Charities, has been working for over 30 years creating services and supports for individuals with developmental disabilities. Service-learning, internship, and volunteer opportunities are available in over 45 locations in Baltimore City and Baltimore, Harford and Anne Arundel counties. They are able to work with student interns and volunteers to develop specific service opportunities that meet personal as well as professional objectives.

Individual and group activities can be designed to meet time and course requirements. Service opportunities are available weekdays, weekends and evenings. Service assignments include: speech therapy, occupational therapy, recreation, special events, special friends and spiritual companions, assisting in supervised work environments, marketing, and administration.

Garden Harvest

Contact Person
Clara Larsen
14045 Mantua Mill Road
Reistertown, MD 21136
410-526-0698
garharvest@aol.com
www.gardenharvest.org

Garden Harvest is a non-profit farm whose mission is to produce and distribute fruit and organically grown vegetables to the hungry through emergency food agencies, including the soup kitchens, pantries, and shelters in Baltimore. All foods produced are delivered within hours of harvesting to provide the freshest, most nutritious food to the people who need it most. 

Volunteers are what make the Garden Harvest possible. There are only one full time and three seasonal part time paid employees on staff who do the heavy work that requires the use of power equipment. Everything else is done by volunteers. Their work includes: egg collections, seed bed preparation, planting, mulching, weeding, and harvesting. Opportunities are also available, but not required, to do composting, beekeeping, cover cropping, pruning of fruit trees and bushes, organic pest management, and other organic practices. No previous experience is necessary; we always have skilled supervisors to teach and assist. Garden Harvest is located in Reistertown, MD, a 30 minute drive from downtown Baltimore. 

Garden Harvest welcomes volunteers six days a week, Monday through Friday, and alternate Saturdays and Sundays, 9 am-4pm. There are no requirements regarding minimum hours of participation. We ask only that volunteers give us as much notice as possible so we may organize their service as efficiently as possible.

To sign up, please contact by email.

Habitat for Humanity - Sandtown Affiliate

Service Coordinator
Tim Halligan, x2989
tshalligan@loyola.edu

Contact Person
Myranda L. (Janet) Barb
Resource Development Manager &
Volunteer Coordinator
Sandtown Habitat for Humanity
Phone: 410.669.3309
Fax: 410.523.3015
myrandab@sandtownhabitat.org

Habitat for Humanity is an ecumenical Christian housing ministry whose objective is to eliminate poverty around the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience. By having economically affluent and poor people working together in equal partnership, Habitat hopes to build new relationships and a sense of community as well as providing homes for families.

Located in West Baltimore, Sandtown Habitat for Humanity is one of more than 1,200 affiliates of Habitat for Humanity International. Its purpose is to eliminate poverty housing from Sandtown, increase home ownership and improve the health of the community.

Sandtown Habitat is committed to rehabbing all the vacant houses in its 15 block focus area.  It has already completed over 225 houses with less than 100 left to go.  Families who will own the homes are required to contribute at least 330 hours of sweat equity toward their own home and others. Volunteers are needed to assist in renovating houses and will work with the family who will eventually own the home. Skilled and unskilled volunteers are welcome. Loyola College has completed 2 sponsored houses and will begin a 3rd house in the Fall of 2008.

Opportunities are available to volunteer on Loyola's sponsored house as well as opportunities Wednesday - Saturday year round.

Harford House

Service Coordinator 
Jillian Delos Reyes, x2989
jldelosreyes@loyola.edu

Contact Person
Maria Aldana
1517 E. North Avenue
Baltimore, MD  21213
410-752-4415 ext. 12
maldana@gedco.org

Harford House is a “Single Room Occupancy” (SRO) residence for men who were formerly homeless. The building is located on North Avenue, near Harford Road in the Oliver Community. Harford House gives 26 men a permanent, safe place to live. Each man has his own room and shares the common kitchen, lounge and dining room located on each of the four floors, as well as a large multipurpose room. Residents either participate on-site or are provided with referrals to outside agencies for job training, mental health counseling, educational tutoring, and health care. Case management, life skills workshops, goal planning, advocacy, and substance abuse counseling are also offered. Housing and supportive services at Harford House are a project of GEDCO.

Volunteers are needed once a week to spend time with residents sharing dinner, conversation, playing games, as well as tutoring computer skills.  Volunteers will be partnered with a resident to build one-on-one relationships, sometimes during interactive cultural workshops or special presentations from citywide organizations.

Hispanic Apostolate

Service Coordinator
Kate McGrain, x2989
cmmcgrain@loyola.edu

Contact Person
Rosa Azcarate
430 South Broadway
Baltimore, MD 21231
410-522-2668
Fax: 410-675-1451
razcarat@cc-md.org

The Hispanic Apostolate/ Immigration Legal Services offers many services to immigrants in the Baltimore metropolitan area including English as a Second Language instruction, remedial services, workforce development, immigration legal services and social service referrals.  Volunteers have the opportunity to tutor students in Basic English, working one on one or in small groups with individuals who are interested in improving their language skills.  Spanish is not required to teach English but can be helpful.

Tutors are needed Monday through Friday during the day as well as Tuesday and Thursday evenings 7:00 to 9:00pm, and Saturdays 10:00 to 12:00am.

Irvine Nature Center

Contact Person
Carin Smith
8400 Greenspring Avenue
Stevenson, MD  21153
410-484-2413 X32
smithc@explorenature.org

The Irvine Nature Center is a non-profit, environmental education organization whose mission is to inspire appreciation and respect for the natural world, to increase awareness of environmental issues, and to encourage individuals to sustain Earth’s ecosystem.

Schoolyard Discovery, Irvine Nature Center's Urban Education Program, engages high school students in hands-on nature activities that they, in turn, lead for elementary school students.  The mission of Schoolyard Discovery is to inspire environmental stewardship and to develop leadership skills in Baltimore City students, while improving wildlife habitat on school grounds.  Volunteers are needed to help train the high school students.  A three-hour training takes place at Loyola at the beginning of each semester (September and March)

Additionally, our interactive walks for students who visit Irvine’s campus provide children of all ages with essential knowledge of their environment.  Volunteers are needed to lead these school walks after the completion of a nine-session training course at the nature center.

An interest in the environment, children and education is required.

Keswick Multi-Care Center

Contact Person
Willene Smith
Director of Public Relations
& Volunteer Services
700 West 40th Street
Baltimore, MD 21211
410-662-4380
smithw@keswick-multicare.org

Since 1883, Keswick Multi-Care Center has provided the finest care to help those in need, along with a true personal touch - skilled nursing care, long term care, rehabilitation services, dementia care services, hospice care,  and adult day services.

Keswick is a warm, loving home to over 240 seniors. Volunteer opportunities are available 7 days a week from 10 am to 6 pm. Activities consist of one-on-one visits, creative arts, BINGO, cards & games, clerical work, residential computer classes, assitance in the internet cafe, music & dance programs, escorting residents to worship services or to other special events and helping with fun filled seasonal events.

Volunteers are also needed to serve lunch from 11:30-12:30pm. or 12-1pm. Please call to see how you can be part of our extended family. Keswick is just a mile and a half from Loyola's campus, just across the street from the Rotunda. Volunteers contribute to the well-being of the residents and participants just by being a friend, helping residents get to activities and worship services, helping them write letters or play cards and games, and uplifting the spirit of one who is lonely.

Learning Bank of C.O.I.L., Inc.

Service Coordinator
Kate McGrain, x2989
cmmcgrain@loyola.edu

Contact Person
Yvonne Butler
Volunteer Coordinator
1200 West Baltimore Street
Baltimore, MD 21223
410-659-5452
yvonnebtler@yahoo.com

The Learning Bank is an adult literacy center providing individual tutoring, classroom instruction, computer assisted instruction, as well as testing and referrals.

The Learning Bank uses the services of a large number of volunteers to assist with tutoring, counseling, and computer education. Other volunteers assist with secretarial and receptionist skills, serve on the Advisory Council and assist with fundraising. A tutor training workshop is offered periodically for those wanting to tutor.

The Learning Bank is open weekdays 8:30 am-4:30 pm and Saturdays 9 am-12:30 pm (Fall and Spring). Evening classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:30-8:30 pm.

Mother Seton Academy

Service Coordinator
Ayla Badell, x2989
aabadell@loyola.edu

Contact Person
Sr. Karen Pourby, OSF
724 South Ann Street in Fells Point
Baltimore, MD 21231
410-563-2833
Fax: 410-563-7353
kpandkgosf@comcast.net
www.mothersetonacademy.org

Mother Seton Academy is an innovative, tuition free, Catholic middle school for culturally diverse and economically poor boys and girls of Baltimore. Extended day, small classes, personal attention, variety of teaching strategies, and field trips are the backbone of the curriculum. Class size is limited to 12 students per class with no more than 24 students in a grade.

To strengthen the program, volunteers are needed as homework companions, who offer one-on-one assistance with homework. Homework companions must commit to one afternoon per week (3:45 -4:45 pm) for a semester or entire year. 

Mentors who act as big brothers/sisters are needed for a non-academic mentoring program.  Mentors must commit to six Fridays per semester (3:30 - 5:00 pm) for the entire academic year.

Janine Musheno, x2989
jnmusheno@loyola.edu

Contact Person
Pamela Klima
Volunteer Services Manager
1708 West Rogers Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21209
410-578-2651
pklima@mwph.org

Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital provides inpatient and outpatient services for children with chronic lung diseases, congenital or acquired physical disabilities, chronic medical conditions, birth defects, and chronic neurological disorders. We are dedicated to providing every resource available to enable patients to attain the highest quality of life within their families and communities. Volunteers play an important role at our hospital, working in both patient and non patient areas. Under the direction of the Child Life Department, volunteers assist in the therapeutic play area, at the bedside, work in arts and crafts, and go on field trips. Volunteers are also needed for clerical support and other non patient related activities. Volunteers are a big part of the success of our organization and our children. Please join our families in their success stories.

All volunteers must participate in an interview and orientation process. Volunteer commitment: 6 months, minimum 2 hours per week of volunteering OR two consecutive semesters of school, minimum 2 hours per week of volunteering OR 10 hours per week over 10 consecutive weeks.

My Sister’s Place

Contact Person
Rhonda English
123 West Mulberry Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-727-3523
renglish@catholiccharities-md.org

My Sister’s Place is administered by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. It is a place where women and their children are welcomed and feel at home. It is a place where people care about one another.

Our guests are homeless because of eviction, abuse or abandonment by their husband or family, recent release from jail or mental hospitals, substance abuse, or a particular crisis or other emergency. We offer women a safe place to stay during the day, hospitality, shower and laundry facilities, access to telephones, and emergency shelter referrals. We also offer life skill workshops twice a day (10-11 am and 1-2 pm) and long term case management services. We are open 7 am-7 pm, seven days a week.  However, volunteers are most appreciated Monday through Friday between the hours of 8am and 5pm.

A commitment of 3-4 hours per week is desirable. There is an interview/ orientation process for all volunteers.  Responsibilities include:

• greeting new guests
• organizing donations, closets and cabinets, stocking shower supplies
• preparing meals on or off site
• working with children while mothers are busy using phones and talking with counselors
• establishing a “special friendship” with a guest
• clerical duties: filing, computer work, etc.

Our Daily Bread Employment Center

Service Coordinator
Erin Timmeny, x2989
ektimmeny@loyola.edu

Contact Person

Established by Associated Catholic Charities in 1981, Our Daily Bread has served over 4 million meals, averaging 680 meals each day. Each year, over 6,000 volunteers assist in preparing food and serving meals to the materially poor.

Clients of Our Daily Bread can obtain a nutritious meal and tap in to other resources which are offered: literacy/general education diploma training, job readiness training, job placement support, substance abuse recovery assistance, mental and physical health services and outreach referral. Their mission is to improve the lives of people in need by connecting them to resources, service daily meals, and supporting efforts towards stable employment and housing.

Our Daily Bread operates primarily through volunteer support. Their hands and hearts touch the lives of the materially poor in the simple tasks of serving a meal, cleaning the dining room, but especially through their kind hospitality and warm smile for each of the guests. Many volunteers give of their time on a weekly or monthly basis. Our Daily Bread volunteer shift is 7 days a week from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Advance notice highly recommended.

Project HEALTH

Service Coordinator
Lauren Tozzi, x2989
lmtozzi@loyola.edu

Contact Person
Mark Marino
Project HEALTH Site Director
Baltimore HealthCare Access, Inc.
tel: 410-649-0524
fax: 410-649-0534
www.projecthealth.org
mmarino@bhca.org

Project HEALTH works to break the link between poverty and poor health by mobilizing college students to provide sustained public health interventions, in partnership with urban medical institutions, universities, and community organizations. 

Brought to Baltimore by City Health Commissioner Joshua Sharfstein, Project HEALTH students staff a program called the Family Help Desk, where volunteers are integrated into a variety of healthcare settings - including substance abuse treatment centers, pediatric clinics and public health clinics - and assist patients in accessing community resources critical to their health, safety, and economic survival.

Volunteers then follow-up with clients and service providers to ensure families received the necessary resources and to troubleshoot additional problems as necessary.  Volunteers actively collaborate with referring physicians, nurses, counselors, lawyers and social workers to ensure that the Family Help Desk is responsive to patients' needs.  A minimum commitment of 5 hours/ week is required.  This includes one 2-3 hour shift on site, 1-hour reflections sessions on campus, and follow-up with clients on your own time.

Project HEALTH is a rare opportunity to take what you've learned in the classroom and apply it to real-life situations in your community.  This program will give you valuable, hands-on experience in a number of different professional areas such as public health, law, advocacy, social work, counseling, medicine, social justice, and public policy.

St. Ambrose Center/
St. Ambrose Swim Program at Loyola

Service Coordinator
Michael Conti x2989,
maconti@loyola.edu

Contact Person
Laura Spada
Director
3445 Park Heights Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21215
410-225-0870Fax: 410-383-1490
lspada@vincentbaltimore.org

St. Ambrose Center, a program of St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore, is located in the Park Heights area of Baltimore City. Established in 1972, the Center provides low income families with education, resources, and strong support systems. Programs include an after-school program for elementary school aged children, a teen program, adult literacy and GED preparation, career development and skill training, meal program and food pantry.

Loyola also hosts a swim program at the Fitness and Aquatic Center that brings the kids of St. Ambrose to Loyola for recreational swimming. Loyola volunteers and lifeguards swim with the kids and enjoy a pizza dinner afterwards.

Volunteers are needed for the after-school program on weekdays, Monday-Thursday from 4-6 pm, for the swim program on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-8 pm (on campus), and for adult education Monday-Thursday from 9:30 a.m.-1:30.p.m. and 6:30 -9:00 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. There are two types of adult education classes. The regular GED class meets during the day and evening time.  This class is for fairly independent students who are in need of floating one-on-one tutors.  The pre-GED class meets only during the day, and it is comprised mainly of young adults (ages 16-21).  That class is to build basic skills, and is more structured.  The resource coordinator can help prospective volunteers discern which class might be best for them.

Since 2000, every summer the center has hosted Camp St. Ambrose. The camp participants spend most of their time working on crafts and learning activities, learning more about technology through the help of Technology Services volunteers, and swimming and dancing at the Fitness and Aquatic Center. To learn more about the camp and to view the photos of the activities please click here.

St. Ignatius Loyola Academy

Service Coordinator
Samantha Harvey x2989
sjharvey@loyola.edu

Contact Person
Julie Miller
740 North Calvert Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
410-539-8268
julie.miller@saintignatius.org

St. Ignatius Loyola Academy, located in Baltimore City adjacent to Center Stage, is a unique middle school for Baltimore boys from modest income families. The Academy, rooted in the 450 year-old educational tradition of St. Ignatius Loyola, seeks to foster spiritual, academic, social and cultural development in its students.

The Academy offers a challenging three year middle school program with a class size of 10-15 students. The Academy day begins with breakfast and morning prayer at 7:45 am and ends at 5 pm. Academy students participate in community service through the school’s social service program. Volunteers are needed to assist and tutor students in one-on-one settings in the Monday and Wednesday evening homework club (Wednesday 5:15-7:15 pm). 

Additionally, interested students can volunteer as athletic coaches one afternoon Monday through Thursday from 3:30 to 4:45. 
A one evening per week commitment for at least one semester is requested (preferably one academic year).

St. Jerome’s Head Start

Contact Person
Maureen O’Reilly
915 Sterrett Street
Baltimore, MD 21230
410-685-1700
Fax: 410-685-2546
mporjune@aol.com

The St. Jerome’s Head Start Program has provided comprehensive family development services in south and southwest Baltimore City since 1990. St. Jerome’s currently serves more than 200 children. They work in collaboration with several other educational and health service organizations in the community.

They are in need of volunteers to assist in Head Start classrooms with children between the ages of three and four.  Classrooms are open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

St. Peter’s Adult Learning Center

Contact Person
Mr. Chip Woods
Executive Director
13 South Poppleton Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-685-7340
cwoods@stpetersalc.org
www.stpetersalc.org

St. Peter’s provides services to developmentally disabled adults, including employment training, field trips and other activities. Volunteers are needed to work one-on-one with participants in the program, as well as to assist with the field trips and other activities.

St. Vincent’s Center and CHARA House

Contact Person
Cyndi Mitchell-Summers
Director of Volunteer Services
2600 Pot Spring Road
Timonium, MD 21093
410-252-4000 X1606
cmitchel@cc-md.org

St. Vincent’s Center is a therapeutic residential treatment facility for children, (ages 3 through 13), who have serious emotional behavioral issues.  Most of these children have suffered and survived severe physical and emotional abuse, severe neglect, and often sexual abuse as well. St. Vincent’s Center has the capacity to care for 72 children who are each placed in one of the six residential houses, which provides a therapeutic milieu and wide range of clinical services to help them heal and become ready for a less restrictive setting, hopefully a family.

Our need for volunteers includes tutors to help the children focus on and reinforce basic educational needs and also unit volunteers to spend quality time with the children.  This position is also ideal for volunteers who have a certain interest or hobby that they would love to share with the children.  We also need volunteers for our STAR program.  STAR stands for Structured Therapeutic Arts and Recreation.  We also offer volunteer experiences in a classroom setting during the day in our Diagnostic School.

All volunteers for St. Vincent’s Center and Chara House must successfully go through our training and screening process and make a commitment of volunteering for 2 hours per week for at least 3 months, or one semester.

CHARA House is a therapeutic transitional home for infants and toddlers (ranging in age from 1 day old to 4 years old), who are medically fragile.  Here the goal is to help each child become medically stable in a loving and homey environment, so that they can go on to live a happy life with a loving family.  Each infant and toddler is working on up to 12 goals each day to help them learn and grow.

Our need for volunteers includes holding, feeding, and playing with the babies and the toddlers.  Volunteers are also needed to help the children work on their goals, but the children will just assume that this work is also play.

Sheppard Pratt Health System

Contact Person 
Karen Blake
Volunteer Services Department
6501 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21285
410-938-4852

Sheppard Pratt is a prominent psychiatric center for treatment, education and research. The hospital is a 32 bed, private, not-for-profit psychiatric facility with inpatient, outpatient, and community based treatment services for children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly, fully accredited by the Joint Commission on the accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Volunteer assignments are available in patient care and support areas of the Health System. Volunteers should be over 18 years of age and will be interviewed by the Sheppard Pratt Volunteer Office to determine the most effective placement for them.

The time commitment varies with assignment, but is usually once or twice weekly. Day, evening and weekend hours are available. Volunteers attend a required orientation and receive additional ongoing training.

Sister’s Academy

Contact Person
Sr. Debra Liesen, SSND
139 1st Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21227
410-547-5615
Fax: 410-547-0145

Sister’s Academy, a tuition-free Catholic community-centered middle school, educates girls of different races, ethnic groups, and religions from families of limited economic means, particularly those in Southwest Baltimore. The Academy empowers its students to become agents of transformation in their families, communities, and society. Sister’s Academy opened in September 2004 with 5th grade students only.

Approximately four volunteers are needed from 3-5:30 pm each Monday through Friday.  Activities will take place during the first hour, and homework help will occur during the second hour.

Villa Maria: A Continuum of Care for Emotionally Disabled Children

Contact Person

Carol Shear
Director Development and Volunteer Services
2300 Dulaney Valley Road
Timonium, MD 21093
410-252-4700 x133
cshear@CC-MD.ORG

Villa Maria is one of the leading providers of behavioral health and Special education services in Maryland. Volunteers and student interns are sought to join our multi-disciplinary treatment team in providing a variety of therapeutic experiences designed to promote learning and growth for at-risk children and families. Programs available for volunteer placements include the residential treatment center, school Program, therapeutic mentoring program, after school program, extended school day program, and pre-vocational center.

Volunteer responsibilities include helping children with daily living routines, working with psycho-educators to help deliver highly structured and individualized academic instruction, providing homework help, facilitating recreational activities, and assisting children as they learn life enhancing skills through hands on activities.

Volunteers must be patient, caring and able to establish a meaningful relationship with children who have severe emotional and behavioral disabilities. The commitment must be for at least once a week for at least one school semester. In addition, students who are 21 years or older are eligible to volunteer as a therapeutic mentor and would be matched with an identified child.

Special volunteer/intern opportunities are also available in the development and volunteer department for communication or related majors.

VIVA House–Baltimore Catholic Worker

Service Coordinator
Erin Timmeny, x2989
ektimmeny@loyola.edu

Contact Person
Willa and Brendan Walsh
26 S. Mount Street
Baltimore, MD 21223
viva@bcpl.net
410-233-0488

The work of VIVA House includes a meal program and a food pantry.  They serve meals to approximately 200-400 people who live in the surrounding neighborhood.  The meals are served on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 2 pm – 4 pm.  Volunteers are asked to help prepare, serve and clean up the meals and are welcome on a weekly, biweekly or monthly basis.  Viva House also holds a weekly vigil Mondays from 5pm-6pm against the death penalty at the corner of Madison and Fallsway and ongoing resistance to the war and city policies that make life intolerable for the poor. Loyola College also coordinates a monthly food collection for VIVA House.  Faculty, college offices and student groups are invited to participate. Please click here to know the items to be collected.

To learn more about the history of VIVA House please click here.

< Service Site Chart | Choosing a Community Service Site | Transportation >