Montgomery County Celebrates 25th Annual Community Service Day

As Montgomery County celebrates this year's 25th annual Community Service Day with an entire week of service projects, Patch contacted Montgomery County Volunteer Center service coordinator Lucy Yost for the scoop. The volunteer center aims to mobilize people and resources to solve community needs. The center's Community Service Day event usually takes place on the fourth Saturday in October — this year that's Oct. 22.

Patch: What is the purpose of Community Service Week?

Lucy Yost: The purpose of Community Service Week is to get people involved in service throughout our community. The Montgomery County Volunteer Center is part of county government, and we help people find volunteer opportunities throughout the year. Also, Community Service Day was started by a county council member in 1987, Bruce Adams, who is now the director of the volunteer venter.

Patch: How is the county celebrating the 25th year of Community Service Day?

Yost: Traditionally, there is just Community Service Day on the fourth Saturday of October. In celebration of the 25th anniversary, there is now a whole week of service. Our goal is to engage 25,000 volunteers!

Patch: How many volunteers have registered to take part in the CSW activities?

Yost: Thousands! And there are still more spaces available for volunteers to register for projects! 

Patch: Who should register to take part in the activities?  

Yost: Anyone and everyone can register to volunteer for projects during Community Service Week. There are opportunities for people of all ages and ability levels, and groups of all sizes. People and organizations can also plan their own project and share what they will be doing via our online form.

Patch: Why should community members get involved and how can they? 

Yost: Community Service Week is a great way to get out and learn a new way to get involved in your community. Many organizations throughout the area are looking for volunteers, so you can learn about a new nonprofit and your neighborhood firsthand.

To get involved, go to montgomeryserves.org and click on the Community Service Week link. Once on our webpage, you can click on “Register to Volunteer” to see the complete list of projects looking for additional volunteers. 

Patch: What is the most successful aspect of Community Service Week? 

Yost: The most successful part is year-round engagement of volunteers. One of the goals of Community Service Week is to get volunteers involved in service throughout the year.  

Patch: What is your favorite part of Community Service Week?

Yost: The volunteers!

Today marks the start of Montgomery County’s Community Service Week, and Patch would love to share your story. How do you stay involved with your community? What service projects are important to you? We will run a series of stories profiling community service in and around the Potomac community all week, so send in your own photos and stories of community service! Email Potomac Patch editor katie.griffith@patch.com for more information.