MetroParks community gardening program wins state-wide award
According to the 2019 Feeding America Map the Meal Gap, nearly 16% of Montgomery County residents live below the
poverty line and suffer food insecurity - nearly 4% higher than the national average. While Five Rivers MetroParks has donated produce from its gardens for many years, this year, the agency bolstered its efforts to address community hunger through the Growing for Good program.
Staff and volunteers helped MetroParks use existing gardens in five parks for donation purposes, expand Garden to Go Kit offerings, and create partnerships to collect produce and get it to those who needed it most. The success of MetroParks' Growing for Good program is due to the support of gardeners and givers, along with community partnerships.
In early November, this program earned a first-place Award of Excellence from the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association (OPRA). These state-wide awards are given to parks and recreation organizations that transcend everyday standards to make a difference and improve the quality of life in Ohio communities. Thank you to all the volunteers who supported this program by serving in our gardens.
Read more about this program and other OPRA Award of Excellence winners.
Volunteer at the 2nd Street Market
Looking for a volunteer opportunity on the weekend? Become a 2nd Street Market Ambassador!
The 2nd Street Market provides access to fresh produce, prepared foods, artisan goods, and more. Offering programs such as EBT/SNAP and Produce Perks, the Market is also one of the only locations in downtown Dayton where people can access nutritious produce.
If you want to help visitors access fresh, healthy food and enjoy talking to people, consider becoming a Market Ambassador. The goal of this opportunity is to enhance the visitor experience at the Market by welcoming visitors, providing directional assistance, and promoting Five Rivers MetroParks by passing out literature. Learn more or sign up.
Volunteers are still needed to support opportunities throughout your MetroParks. Check out the available opportunities with parks and conservation and sign up.
Reminder: Beginning January 1st, all of these opportunities and more will be posted for sign-up in our new Get Connected system. Have you logged in to your account yet? An account has been set up for all of our current long-term volunteers. Contact Volunteer Services, volunteer.services@metroparks.org or 937-275-7275, for assistance in accessing your account.
Patrick Kennedy has supported the parks and conservation team with a variety of projects, including cover mapping, invasive plant removal, seed collecting, tree planting, and team lead. Additionally, Patrick supports a variety of programs in outdoor connections.
"He's a steadfast guy that's up for whatever (possibly strenuous) work we have cut out for him. His dedication is such an asset, and he can be trusted with so much. He actively gives input as well and is just all-around fun to work with. I'm always happy to see him."
-Shelby Ashcraft, Conservation Manager
"Patrick is a volunteer wildcard; Whether it is a Girl Scout group requesting a night hike or Conservation Kids learning how to conduct a bird survey, I can count on Patrick to dive in, conduct his research and execute his program with rocket-science precision."
-Joshua York, Education Coordinator
"He knows exactly what is needed when it is needed. He interacts with the participants in such a friendly and personable way. The kids really seem to respond to how he shows them the different skills they are learning. He has a quiet manner that is so welcoming and warm, you can't help but relax and enjoy just being around him. He is quick to learn and then to share what he has learned with others. I just love having Patrick at my programs!"
-Kelly Kingery, Program Specialist
Thank you, Patrick, for all the time and talents you share with Five Rivers MetroParks!
Make a Difference Day was BACK in 2021
A big shout out to everyone who joined us for this year's Make a Difference Day on Saturday, Oct. 23! Through the combined efforts of 225 community volunteers, 17 projects were completed. Volunteers removed 60 pounds of litter and 2.75 acres of invasive plants, cleaned and helped with maintenance at six play/recreation areas, and helped plant 780 trees and 5480 flowers and bulbs.
Get Connected Updates
This past November, we offered weekly raffle prize drawings for great MetroParks prizes in addition to a new volunteer T-shirt for those long-term volunteers who completed the Get Connected site training and site qualifications before Dec. 1.
To date, 130 volunteers have completed their site training and qualifications, earning new volunteer T-shirts and raffle prizes, including:
- $10 Market Bucks
- A Five Rivers MetroParks Foundation Membership
- A shelter/campsite rental
- A MetroParks Ice Rink Family Fun Pack
- A Bed, Bath, and Beyond gift card
- Airpod Pro headphones (generously donated by a MetroParks partner)
Congratulations to all our winners and amazing volunteers who have supported the transition to our new Get Connected site. We appreciate your support!
Get Connected background checks
The Get Connected site was closed for practice on Dec. 1 to begin the process of entering volunteer service hours for 2021, in addition to preparing new volunteer opportunities for 2022.
Before your full volunteer onboarding, we would like all volunteers to log in to your Get Connected account and respond to the Volunteer Background Check opportunity. This will walk you through the steps of completing a new background check in the system via Sterling Volunteers, which is offering free background checks for our current long-term volunteers through the month of December. Please submit your new background check before Dec. 31.
Moving forward, we will be updating background checks in the system every three years. If you have questions or need support completing your background check, please reach out to volunteer.services@metroparks.org or call a volunteer coordinator at 937-275-7275. We are here to help you.
Bee on time with your timesheets!
Volunteer service hours for 2021 were recorded in our online sign-up; however, if you served in a capacity that did not utilize Signup.com, have autonomous hours to report, or would like to submit your 2021 timesheet to cover all your bases, please do so by Dec. 31.
Moving forward, service hours will be tracked on the Get Connected site. Please email your timesheets to volunteer.services@metroparks.org or mail to:
Five Rivers MetroParks
c/o Volunteer Services
409 E. Monument Ave., Third Floor
Dayton, OH 45402
Thank you for your service and dedication to Five Rivers MetroParks.
Important reminders - starting Jan. 1, 2022
- The Get Connected site will be live at metroparks.org/volunteer with opportunities you can sign up for.
- All volunteer opportunities will be on and/or tracked on the Get Connected site. MetroParks staff are looking forward to seeing you register for volunteer support as opportunities become available.
- All volunteer hours will be recorded on the Get Connected site. No more paper timesheets are needed.
- The volunteer blog will replace our monthly email newsletter. Look for the latest volunteer news, MetroParks updates, volunteer spotlights, training highlights, tech tips, and more - all on the Get Connected site.
Volunteer Resources
Volunteer Services is available if you have questions or need assistance in signing up. Contact us at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or (937) 275-7275.
Volunteer Services Contact Information
Allie Zimmerman - Parks & Conservation (937) 274-3176
Candy Holloway - Horticulture & Sustainability (937) 275-5006
Janelle Leonard - Business Operations & Visitor Services (937) 277-5445
Yvonne Dunphe - Outdoor Connections Programming (937) 277-4147
Jenny Hymans - Human Resources Manager of Volunteer Services (937) 567-1413
Mobile app makes it easier to explore the outdoors
MetroParks' mobile app, powered by OuterSpatial, is free and available for both iPhone and Android devices. It includes offline mapping and navigation - and access continues even without a cell phone signal.
Use the app to plan your park visit, navigate the trails, take self-guided tours, find amenities and points of interest, and much more.
Stay active outdoors with resources on Nature is Open blog, social media
Five Rivers MetroParks' Nature Is Open blog includes articles about kid-friendly trails, Backyard Bingo cards, nature-based activities, and much more! Follow MetroParks on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for even more resources aimed at helping families connect with nature and stay active outdoors.
