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With the promise of a hopeful 2009, Americans have been moved by inspirational speeches given by our new president. His words have provided a sense of being to those who believe there's no where else to turn and for those who feel like there is no end to the social and economic woes we've been facing. Now we have a new sense of being. So you're now thinking, "What can I do to make a difference?" Well, there's always volunteering. Did you know that many of those " everyday people" that President Obama refers to in his speeches are homeless or are in need of some type of assistance? These are people that we interact with on a daily basis. These are people who look just like you and me!

This week I read an article in The Baltimore Sun about a woman who lost her job ( as most Americans have) and she is now forced to live in a women's shelter in downtown Baltimore. Looking at the woman's photo you would never know her story if you walked past her in the streets. Her story inspired me to research what local shelters had open volunteer positions. My search led me to Associated Catholic Charities' website (http://www.cc-md.org/index.ht m) . They are linked to several shelters in the state of Maryland, but mainly in Baltimore City. You have places such as OUR DAILY BREAD- which is Maryland's hot meal program serving a quarter of a million hot meals to the hungry in Baltimore City; My Sister's Place- which provides shelter for homeless women and children; Villa Maria Continuum-which focuses on behavioral health and special education services; Jenkins Senior Living Community & Cherry Hill Senior Life Center; and Sarah's House-which provides emergency housing for homeless families.

Each shelter has opportunities for available for positions such as Beauty Assistant, Childcare Assistant, Meal Preparer, Meal Server (which is what I signed up for), Fundraising/Special Event Committee,English Tutor, Comuter Coach, and Tutor/Mentor. You can also suggest volunteer positions if a position that best fits your skills isn't listed. If you are just interested in volunteering on a seasonal basis, Special Holiday Volunteering is an option as well. They even have a section for Corporate Volunteering for those who would their place of business to get involved.

My company has a Community Outreach program where employees can sign up to help with projects such as Habitat for Humanity and athlete foundations. So I get to meet new people and take home new experiences every time that I volunteer. I now know how to put down sub floors and baseboards, which is a pretty cool skill to have. So you should definitely speak with your Human Resources representative to find out if such opportunities are available at your place of employment.

Make a difference in 2009!

Learn more about this author, T'Shurah Dove.
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