Rockville is always on the hunt for volunteers — and if you have a few extra hours to spare each month, you can make a huge difference in your community, whether by mentoring a kid, shoveling snow for a senior, cleaning a stream or serving on the city’s boards and commissions.
What kind of difference do volunteers make in the city? From July to December 2019, 1,264 volunteers donated more than 13,000 hours to activities in Rockville — an investment of time worth an estimated $260,020.
And what could volunteering do for you? You could learn a new skill, gain work experience that looks good on your résumé, meet new people and network — or just feel good that you made a difference!
If a longer-term volunteer commitment is not manageable, check out one-time opportunities to volunteer. Consider supporting a single special event like the Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration, wrapping gifts for families in need at the annual Holiday Drive toy shop, or helping at a community center celebration, like the Family Valentine’s Dance.
For volunteers who can commit to a longer-term role, service on one of the city’s boards and commissions allows members of the community to partner with city staff to shape Rockville’s future by sharing expertise and advising the Mayor and Council.
Boards and commissions address a wide range of relevant topics, from the environment to human services to city elections. Visit www.rockvillemd.gov/98/Boards-Commissions to see vacancies and learn more about the application process.
The city’s volunteer program also allows participants to adopt a stream, teach children to swim, assist in numerous ways with the Recreation and Parks Department, remove invasive weeds, mentor youth and (for elementary or middle school students) better the environment by marking storm drains.
To find opportunities to volunteer and an application form, visit www.rockvillemd.gov/volunteer.