Opportunities From: Five Rivers MetroParks

Do you love spending your weekend in the vibrant, bubbling atmosphere of 2nd Street Market, where you always end up running into a familiar face? Volunteers will be stationed near the entrance and will enhance the visitor experience by greeting and welcoming visitors. Volunteers will also conduct sales of MetroParks merchandise, process EBT sales, provide wayfinding assistance, and promote the MetroParks by passing out literature.

Impact

Volunteers enhance the visitor experience and help curate the Market’s unique, vibrant culture for our customers who then support our vendors in providing sustainable local food to the community.

Tasks Welcome customers as they arrive and thank them as they leave Assist with wayfinding and answer basic questions about the parks Distribute brochures or other literature appropriate to the conversation Conduct credit card sales of MetroParks merchandise Process SNAP/EBT sales through a token exchange program.Process Market merchandise sales, on occasion, through a Point of Sale program.Assist with facilitating the Senior Nutrition Program.Eligibility

This opportunity is open to the following volunteers: Long-Term and Short-Term.  Learn more about our types of service here.

Additional Notes Parking & Meeting Instructions: Volunteers may park in the visitor parking lots surrounding the Market. Cancelation:  If you need to cancel a shift last minute or are running late, please call the 2nd Street Market manager, Lynda Suda, at 937-228-2088Environment & Physical Demands: Light physical duties include standing, sitting, and possibly light lifting to refill marketing materialDress: Please wear your volunteer name badge and, if you have one, your green or blue volunteer T-shirt. Reusable volunteer vests will be provided for volunteers onsite. The spot by the door may be cool in the winter and warm in the summer. Please dress accordingly. Other New Volunteers will be given an on-site orientation and shadow staff at the beginning of their first shift. This orientation will include training on Market merchandise sales as well as SNAP/EBT sales. Volunteers may have downtime, so feel free to bring a book, knitting, crossword, sudoku, etc. Look for additional details about this opportunity at the bottom of this listing! See the Ambassador Volunteer Position Description for more detailed information.

​The 2nd Street Market supports small, local entrepreneurs with a strong emphasis on food, agriculture, gardening, and home decor in an atmosphere that provides a comfortable and inviting gathering place for the diverse population of the greater Dayton area. Our 2nd Street Market is looking for WEEKEND custodial support to help us keep the place sparkling clean. Not only will you get to flex your cleaning muscles, but you'll get to meet and interact with some amazing people from your community.

Impact

Five Rivers MetroParks provides clean, safe parks and conservation areas for the public to enjoy year-round. Our Park Maintenance volunteers help to manage and sustain 18 beautiful parks, 11 conservation areas, and 160 miles of hike, bike, mountain bike, and horseback-riding trails for park visitors to safely enjoy.

Tasks

Under the supervision of the Staff Lead, support and assist with the following:

keeping the Market tidy during operational hours, as well as light sweeping, table cleaning, and helping with trash removal after closing. Eligibility This opportunity is open to the following volunteers: Long-Term, Short-Term, and Youth.  Learn more about our types of service here.
Youth Volunteers: Youth volunteers ages 14-17 are not required to complete a background check. If you are a new youth volunteer, contact volunteer.services@metroparks.org to have your background check waived.  Additional Notes: Parking & Meeting Instructions: There is free parking available in the Market lot or street parking nearby: 600 East 2nd Street, Dayton, OH 45402. Please enter through the Market office entrance (the door nearest Webster Street), where you will meet with Market Manager, Lynda Suda, or Market Coordinator, Sally Leatherman.Environmental & Physical Demands: This project takes place primarily indoors; However, you will be outside occasionally. Volunteers should dress for the weather and plan for and be aware of possible indoor allergies (i.e., dust). You can expect to participate in walking, bending, standing, reaching, and/or lifting objects of 30lbs. or more during your volunteer shift.  Cancelation:  If you need to cancel a shift last minute or are running late, please call Lynda Suda at 937-228-2088. Dress: Volunteers should dress to be indoors; However, you may occasionally walk trash out to the dumpster or need to complete outdoor tasks, so please be prepared for the weather. Please wear comfortable shoes, too! Look for additional details about this opportunity at the bottom of this listing! See the Park Maintenance Volunteer Position Description for more detailed information

Program Assistant volunteers enhance the market experience by helping staff offer interactive activities for youth and families based on seasonal themes. See the schedule below for details:

Thursday, February 13th- Bean to Bar with Love CANCELLED

This program will feature chocolate growers and makers who create slave-free chocolate. The program is educational, with tasting samples and an activity to make your own chocolate granola grab bag to take home.  Volunteers will assist staff with set up, interacting with the guests, answering questions, and cleaning up.

Sunday, March 23rd- World Down Syndrome Day Craft Assistant

Volunteers will help guests make crafts to raise awareness about Down Syndrome. The crafts include a beaded bracelet and coloring socks to hang around the Market. Volunteers will help lead the activities, assist with tie the stretchy string for the bracelets, and keep the craft area tidy. 

Note: Socks symbolize the extra copy of chromosome 21 that causes Down syndrome. When viewed under a microscope, chromosomes appear as pairs that look like socks.

Saturday, April 19th- Annual Carolyn Kimes Tree Seedling Give-Away

Kristie Fisher and her mother Carolyn Kimes started giving away tree seedlings over 25 years ago. Since her mother’s passing, Kristie has kept this annual, community-loved tradition alive at the 2nd Street Market. In celebration of Earth Day, visitors will be able to select from a variety of free tree seedlings to take home and plant. Deciduous and coniferous trees will be available while supplies last. Volunteers are needed to assist staff with bagging tree seedlings, directing foot traffic, answering questions, and cleaning up.

Sunday, October 26th-  Halloween Pumpkin Decorating

Volunteers will assist participants with decorating pumpkins with paper, glue, sparkles, pipe cleaners, and more!  Help excited hands create pumpkin masterpieces while also encouraging children to visit the market vendors for trick-or-treat.

Sunday, December 14th and 21st- Breakfast with Santa

Volunteers will assist children and their guardians as they go through a buffet line to select their breakfast.  Volunteers will help with serving food and drinks, check off people when they arrive, and assist with clean up. There are two breakfast sessions held this morning. 

Impact

Programs at the Market inspire further exploration of our natural and cultural world and encourage community engagement and healthy lifestyles.

Tasks Welcome and interact with participants, typically youth and familiesAssist staff in the set-up and clean-up of program materials and equipmentHelp answer questions and provide good customer service to participantsSupport staff and help lead program activitiesEligibility
This opportunity is open to the following volunteers: Long-Term, Short-Term, and Youth (ages 14-17 - See specific age requirements below).  Learn more about our types of service here Youth Volunteers: Youth volunteers ages 14-17 are not required to complete a background check. If you are a new youth volunteer, contact volunteer.services@metroparks.org to have your background check waived.  Additional Notes Parking & Meeting Instructions: Volunteers may park in the public lot connected to the Market. Please plan to arrive 10 minutes before your shift to allow for parking, checking in, and connecting with the staff lead.  Cancellation:  If you need to cancel a shift last minute or are running late, please call the staff lead, Lynda Suda, at 937-228-2088. Environment & Physical Demands: ​​Physical duties may include standing, walking, food handling, and light lifting. Dress:  Please wear your volunteer name badge and, if you have one, your green or blue volunteer shirt. The market may be cool in the winter and warm in the summer. Please dress accordingly.Other
New volunteers will be given an orientation at the beginning of their first shift.

See the Programming Volunteer Position Description for more detailed information.