09-25-2024 Primetime - Flipbook - Page 12
12 A Special Advertising Section of Baltimore Sun Media Group | Wednesday, September 25, 2024
VOLUNTEERING
I’m available!
Volunteer opportunities for all
By Margit B. Weisgal, Contributing Writer
W
ith the election around the corner, the below quote seemed particularly
apropos. Another quote, attributed to Tip” O’Neill, Jr. (1912-1994), is “All
politics is local.”
Volunteering is the ultimate exercise in democracy. You vote in elections
once a year, but when
you volunteer, you vote
every day about the kind
of community you want
to live in.
— Anonymous
Whatever way you look at it, the one
place where we can make a difference
is local. Many nonprofit organizations are
started because one person noticed a need
and wanted to provide it. Then another person joined and another … until a new group
formed, and it was a nonprofit.
What follows are a few organizations
that could use your help. They are all timely.
The only advice here is to choose something that speaks to you. And there’s a link
at the bottom for more places to volunteer.
United Way of Central Maryland
(www.uwcm.org)
This organization does so much good
for so many people, but what stood out
is ALICE, an acronym for Asset Limited,
Income Constrained, Employed. These are
people who live paycheck to paycheck
and still can’t make ends meet. National in
scope, but very focused on local families,
local problems, local needs. Franklyn Baker,
president and CEO, has quadrupled its size
since he joined, which allows the organization to serve more people. Visit the website
to learn about its programs and to volunteer. You’ll join people from a wide variety of
backgrounds, all of whom care about those
the United Way serves.
Camp Sunrise (www.campsunrisemd.org)
This is actually three camps for children
with cancer: Camp Sunrise, Camp SunSibs
and Camp at Hopkins.
“Camp Sunrise’s mission is to provide
joyful and nurturing camping experiences
that foster confidence, friendship and fun
for children and families on their cancer
journey, a cost free, week-long, overnight
summer camp. Our unique environment
allows campers to lean on each other, share
their thoughts and fears, and come together
to share similar experiences,” according to
the organization. It’s a place kids can go
and feel completely at ease. The “Funny
Farm” (the infirmary) is staffed by pediatric
oncology doctors and nurses from Johns
Hopkins, so the kids are in good hands
while they are at camp.
Camp SunSibs is exactly what it sounds
like: for siblings of kids with cancer. On
Memorial Day weekend, they come together to have fun as they better understand the
emotions and impact a cancer diagnosis
brings to an entire family. They, too, need a
place where they can feel normal.
Camp at Hopkins “brings summer camp
excitement to patients, their families, and
staff members at the Pediatric Oncology
and Hematology department of the Johns
Hopkins Children’s Center. Held the same
week as Camp Sunrise, children who are
hospitalized or attending appointments in
the clinic can enjoy similar summer camp
experiences right at the hospital with their
loved ones!”
There are additional activities, like camp
reunions and fund-raisers that take place in
the fall and winter. They also host an open
house at the camp site in Annapolis area so
prospective families can come and check it
out. All three camps need volunteers, and
they appreciate anything you can do to
help. More information and forms are available on the website.
Volunteer,
continued on page 18
