Volunteer Opportunities
VOLUNTEER
In order to fulfill our mission, POWER seeks projects and programs in Shelby County that need our volunteers. We are ready to consider your project or program.
If you are in need of volunteers or are interested in helping with one of our current projects, contact powerassociate@power4women.org. Below we have also listed many of the past Projects and Programs for which we have assisted.
If you would like to view other Shelby County United Way organizations that may need your help, please click here.
P.O.W.E.R. PROJECTS
KINDERGARTEN TUTORING PROGRAM
How do we continue to encourage literacy and education in children as they enter Kindergarten?
The ladies of POWER sponsor the Kindergarten students at Emerson and Longfellow Primary. By facilitating a weekly tutoring program, these children are getting a positive first experience with our community’s educational system and developing the skills needed to be engaged and excited about education. Along with our POWER members and community volunteers, we also have kindergarten tutoring volunteers from these local businesses & organizations: Amos Memorial Library, Cargill, Choice One Engineering, Edgewell, Emerson Climate Technologies, Kirk NationaLease, McCrate, Delaet & Co., New Choices, Realty 2000, and Sheriff office.
Interested in becoming a kindergarten tutor? Contact powerassociate@
THE IMAGINATION LIBRARY
Imagination Library is an early literacy program for children under the age of 5 started by Dolly Parton. At no cost to the family, an age appropriate book is mailed monthly to the family’s address. Studies show children enrolled in Imagination Library are better prepared for kindergarten, are read to more often, and have more books and visits to the local libraries than children not enrolled. POWER has been a sponsor to this program since its inception in 2015. Click Here to register your child!
THE BORN LEARNING PROJECT (BLT)
BORN Learning Trails (BLTs) are designed to help adults interact with children to boost language, literacy and physical activity. Since 2013 POWER has been instrumental in the construction of 3 Born Learning Trails in Shelby County. The original trail is in Sidney’s Tawawa Park, Baumgardner Basin, and is maintained every year by POWER volunteers. In early 2016, the Fort Loramie BLT opened next to their Library. Anna dedicated their BLT in October of 2016, it is located in the Anna Community Park on SR 119.
Interested in having a Born Learning Trail in your community? Contact powerassociate@power4women.org
SPREAD THE WARMTH PROGRAM
POWER donates new coats and provides warmth to Shelby County students. POWER partners with St. John’s Thrift Shop for a coat distribution day each year in October. Coats are also distributed as needed throughout the school year to schools through guidance counselors.
If you are a member of a local agency – 501(c)(3) or government entity – that needs funding for a program or initiative that benefits children and families in Shelby County, Ohio, please visit our POWER Grants page. Grants are awarded annually and applications are accepted from April 1 through June 30.
POWER Grant Recipient Testimonial
Emerson Primary
CONNECT + GIVEBACK
Our events allow you to connect with other women in Shelby County while also giving back to your community. Becoming a member is more than volunteering.
January 10 :: Advisory Board Meeting 4-5p
February 7 :: Have a Heart Dinner at Library 6-7:30p
February 14 :: Advisory Board Meeting 4-5p
March 14 ::Advisory Board Meeting 4-5p
April 11 ::Advisory Board Meeting 4-5p
April 22 :: POWER of the Purse @ The Historical Sidney Theatre 11:30a-2p
TBD :: Better POWER-ful You @ Creative Market Place 6-8PM
May 9 :: Advisory Board Meeting 4-5p
TBD :: United Way Day of Action – POWER Paint BLT 12-1p
TBD :: POWER Tour to Understand
June 13 ::Advisory Board Meeting 4-5p
July 11 ::Advisory Board Meeting 4-5p
TBD :: Memebrship Appreciation Event
August 8 ::Advisory Board Meeting 4-5p
September 12 :: Advisory Board Meeting 4-5p
TBD :: Wilson Health POWER-ful You @ Library 11:30a-1p
October 10 :: Advisory Board Meeting 4-5p
October 19 :: Business Luncheon @ Library 11:30a-1p
TBD :: Coat Distribution @ St. Johns Church
November 14 :: Advisory Board Meeting 4-5p
TBD :: Holiday Creative Event 6-9p
December 12 :: Advisory Board Meeting 4-5p
POWER ANNUAL PROGRAMS & PROJECTS
2022 Programs and Projects
- December 8th – Holiday Creative Event @ Kah Nursery
- October 18th – Business Luncheon
- Septemeber 15th – Wilson Health POWER-ful You Luncheon
- August 4th – POWER Membership Appreciation Event @ Crossway Farms
- July 21st POWER Grants awarded totaling over $34,000
- June 1st – UW Day of Action, Paint Born Learning Trail at Tawawa Pk
- May 7th – POWER of the Purse Signature Fundraiser, Sidney Theatre
- March 22nd – Better POWERful You @ Creative Mkt Place, Anna
- Feb. 8th – Have a Heart Dinner
2021 Programs and Projects
- Dec. 9th – Painting Memories with Mila at Gallery 2:TEN
- Oct. 14th – Business Luncheon
- Oct. 9th – Coat Distribution at St. John’s
- Sept. 21st – Wilson Health POWERful You Event
- August 26 POWER Grants Totallying $25,000 Awarded
- Aug. 12th – Membership Appreciation Event
- July POWER Grants Applications Accepted
- July 26th – UW Day of Action at New Choices
- June 29th – POWER Tour to Understand
- May 8th – Women’s Center Resource Fair
- Apr. 24th – POWER of the Purse Signature Event Fundraiser
- March 4th- Nat’l Women’s Day Proclamation Awarded POWER
- Feb. 9th-Have a Heart chocolates delivered
2020 Programs and Projects
- Dec. 3rd-Painting with Mila from Gallery 2:Ten
- Coat Distribution at St. Johns Luthern Church Oct. 24th
- August 18 POWER Grants Totallying $21,500 Awarded
- July POWER Grants Applications Accepted
- June Membership Renewal
- Mar. 12th POWER-ful You Event Meal Prep w/ Julie Casiano
- Feb. 11th Have a Heart Dinner @ the library
- Jan. 14th Get Happy at Happy Hour POWER-ful You Event
2019 Programs and Projects
- Dec. 13th Match Day Celebration
- Dec. 5th Painting with Mila from Gallery 2:Ten
- November “Quotes for Good” with Ashley Himes State Farm
- Oct. 26th Coat Distribution @ St. John’ Lutheran Church
- Oct. 15th POWER Business Luncheon @ Library
- Aug. 20th $25,000 in POWER-ful grants were allocated to 16 organizations
- Aug. 8th Membership Appreciation Event – Sidney Flower Shop
- July 25th POWERful Tour to Understand
- June 21st United Way Day of Action – Painted at Whittier
- May 16th POWERful You Luncheon @ Wilson Health
- Apr. 27th Special Olympics Volunteers
- Apr. 13th POWER of the Purse Fundraiser
- March 20th Fab Fit Fun POWERful You @ Senior Center
- Feb. 12th Have a Heart Dinner at Library
2018 Programs and Projects
- Dec. 14th – Match Day Celebration
- Dec. 6th – POWER Painting Memories
- Nov. – Over 90 coats donated to local children in need
- Nov. 9th – POWER coat drive at Vin & Joy
- Oct. 16th – POWER Business Meeting at Library
- Oct. 3rd – Feed the Family Night at Longfellow Elementary
- Sept. 20th – $6,000 in POWERful allocation grants were given to 9 different organizations
- Sept. 22nd – Junk in the Trunk Fundraiser
- Aug. 14th – Membership Appreciation Event at Believe Art from the Heart
- July 1st through Aug. 31st – POWER Grant Applications accepted
- June 28th – POWER members helped repaint the Born Learning Trail at Tawawa Park
- June 23rd – Kids Around the Square
- June 21st – POWER members participated in the United Way’s Day of Action and moved books and painted at Day of Action-2018-CASA the CASA office in the courthouse.
- June 4th through Aug. 10th – Every Wed. POWER members help pack food for the weekend backpack program through the City of Sidney
- May 8th – POWERful You Membership Event at Wilson Health with Dr. Stephanie Dunkle-Blatter
- May 8th – POWER received the Friend of Education award for our Empowered program from Northwood School.
- May 3rd – Kindergarten Tutoring Appreciation Event at the Moose Lodge
- April 28th – POWER volunteers help with the Special Olympics
- April 21st – POWER Shop Hop Shelby County Fundraiser
- April 17th – Better EmPOWERed You Event at Moonflower Aromatherapy
- March – $500 to purchase coats for Spread the Warmth and $120 for EmPOWERed program Kindergarten Tutoring Background Checks
- February 13th – Have a Heart Dinner at Amos Memorial Library
- January – $300 for EmPOWERed program Kindergarten Tutoring Background Checks
2017 Programs and Projects
- December – Spread the Warmth Coat Drive
- November – Salvation Army Angel Tree Donation
- October – EmPOWERed Program-Feed the Family Night and tutoring at Longfellow and Northwood Schools
- September 23rd – Second Annual Junk in the Trunk sale at Custenborder Field
- July 18th – POWER members went on the United Way’s Tour to Understand, visiting 7 United Way funded agencies
- June 19th – POWER members participated in the United Way’s Day of Action and painted the kitchen and hallway at the Salvation Army
- May – POWER received the Friend of Education award for our Longfellow Empowered program
- Summer – POWER members help pack food for the weekend backpack program through the City of Sidney
- April – POWER members helped repaint the Born Learning Trail at Tawawa and Anna Parks
- April 29th – POWER volunteers helped with the YMCA Shelby County Health Fair & Healthy Kids Day and the Shelby County Special Olympics
- March – Donated $1,000 to Imagination Library Program through Amos Memorial Library
- February 8th – Feed the Family Night at Longfellow Elementary, Kindergartners
2016 Programs and Projects
- December – Collected 85 coats for 7 Shelby County Schools; POWER donated $1,000 to supplement purchasing of new coats
- October 22 – 1st Annual Junk in the Trunk fundraiser at Custenborder
- November – POWER donated $1,000 towards the Salvation Army Angel Tree Program
- September – POWER donated $1,000 towards the Salvation Army School Tools kits
- August 6 – Repainting of the Born Learning Trail, Tawawa Park Sidney
- EmPOWERed at Longfellow, Tutoring every Tuesday 8:45 – 9:30 Kindergarten. Multiple Family Nights with dinner and activities, two Mobile Learning Labs
- June 25: Kids Around the Square, 10:15 a.m. – noon. Encourage kids to sign up for the imagination library, and recruit POWER members.
- July 5 – 8: Safety Town, 9:00 a.m. – 12 p.m. OR 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Officer Mike McRill could use our help – 1 volunteer per time slot, to help with Safety Town at the downtown police station. Children are 4-7 years old. POWER donated $600 for the purchase of new Big Wheels.
- July 19: Columbus Zoo Chaperone for Wilma Valentine Learning Center, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Volunteers would have a maximum of 2 children to chaperone for this trip.
- June 1 – August 3, every Wednesday,9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., Pack food for the City of Sidney Summer Backpack Program., at the Sidney Service Center 415 S. Vandemark Rd. POWER donated $1000 towards food purchases.
- This Summer – one Friday evening or Saturday morning – paint the Born Learning Trail at Tawawa Park. Details coming.
- Community Garden and the Alpha Center, POWER collected gift certificates and supplies for the garden that is a Juvenile Court project
- April – Sidney Middle School Wellness activities, POWER donated $165 to help purchase fitness games and snacks for the 5th grade event.
- April 30: Special Olympics, noon – 4:00 p.m. at the Sidney Middle School. Volunteers are needed to escort the athletes during the event.
- Born Learning Trails at Fort Loramie Library and Anna. POWER buys the signs that are needed to complete the project.
2015 Programs and Projects
- EmPOWERed at Longfellow, Tutoring every Tuesday 8:45 – 9:30 Kindergarten. Multiple Family Nights with dinner and activities.
- Community Garden donations from Members
- $1000 donated to the Imagination Library
- $1000 donated to the Salvation Army Angel Tree which filled the gap for every child to receive shoes, pants, tops, socks and underwear. An anonymous donor gave another $1000 after seeing our press release.
- Elizabeth New Life Center – POWER hosted a POWER Shower at the center in order to members to tour, donate needed items and learn about the Mother’s Mentoring Program. POWER also donated $500 towards the new mother’s gift bags.
- Special Olympics – POWER members helped escort the athletes on their special day
- Imagination Library begins in Shelby County.