Learn about Volunteering with Bethesda Metro Area Village | Bethesda, Maryland

HomeWays to Help

Volunteer With Us

Volunteering is a great way to participate and assist your neighbors. You can help with small tasks or social connections. Members can also plan and lead activities and help with other village administrative needs. Help is always welcome! Just let us know what interests you.

Volunteer with us

Volunteering is a wonderful way to contribute to your community.
Interested? Let Us Know

"Volunteering is fun! It is easy, it introduces you to folks you don't know, and it makes you feel like you actually live in a neighborhood."

Volunteering With Us

What is it like to be a “neighbor helping neighbors” volunteer? It’s totally up to you!

You don’t need to be a BMAV member or over 50 years old to volunteer. Many of our members provide services for other members, but so do many others who are younger or live outside our service boundaries.

We know you’re busy! BMAV does not require volunteers to take a minimum number of service requests, and a volunteer may choose to stop participating at any time. Volunteering even once a month is very helpful.

Volunteer opportunities are distributed by email, and you can choose only those requests that are of interest or fit your schedule. Volunteers are also encouraged — but not required — to become BMAV members. As a volunteer, you may attend any member-only BMAV event during your first year of service, as well as the many events that are open to the public.

What You Can Do

Volunteer services are available to our Full Service members, who all live within our service area. They need occasional help with rides or household tasks.

What kind of services do they need?

Our most common request is for transportation from members who no longer drive and who need a safe and friendly ride to a doctor’s appointment, to church, or to a BMAV event.

There are many other ways to help too. You can also plan and lead activities and events, aid with communications, assist with village logistics, or speak on your field of expertise.

WAYS TO HELP

Volunteer task icon

Rides to appointments
Friendly phone calls or visits
Light home maintenance tasks
Technical assistance for phones or computers
Assistance for absent homeowners, like watering plants
Medical notetaking on doctor visits

“It felt really special to give a hand to someone else.”

3 Easy Steps

1.
Apply

2.
Background Check

3.
Orientation

Interested? Let Us Know

The Details: How to Sign On

Becoming a volunteer service provider is not difficult. However, to ensure our members’ safety and prepare our volunteers to help, you must fill out an application, undergo a background check, and participate in a short online training program. The background check is performed by an outside company. The personal information submitted will not be seen by BMAV.

After the background check is clear, you will need to attend a volunteer training. Trainings are currently offered via Zoom and last about 45 minutes, providing guidance about volunteering with us. Refresher training is also offered periodically.

Then, you'll be added to our network of volunteer service providers. And you can begin to connect with our members and become part of this warm community!

Ready? Have Questions? Get in Touch!

It’s Good for Your Health, Too!

Here's another reason to volunteer with BMAV: A study found that helping others through formal volunteering or informal assistance to friends has a positive impact on cognitive functioning later in life. Helping others also increases dopamine levels in the brain, providing a sense of well-being and reducing stress and anxiety.

Other benefits include improving physical and mental health, providing a sense of purpose, and nurturing new and existing relationships. Volunteers for BMAV can gain these benefits as they make a difference in our community. And we so appreciate your support too!

“Volunteer for BMAV and feel better fast!”
(not approved by the FDA 🙂)