Volunteer Services

Providence Center needs volunteers in art, transportation Providence Center needs volunteers at its sites in Anne Arundel County for data entry at the Transportation Department in Arnold and to teach reading classes from 9 a.m. to noon Mondays and Thursdays. Art enthusiasts can assist in an art or woodworking class. Help is also needed in the horticulture programs, and to teach seniors or visit with them to share stories. Providence Center will hold a benefit dance Feb. 23 with doors opening at 2 p.m. at Blob's Park in Jessup.

Fira Korenfeld Sirkis, a longtime Havre de Grace resident, died Wednesday of ovarian cancer at Harford Memorial Hospital, where she had volunteered for thousands of hours comforting the sick and their families. She was 76. The 50-year Havre de Grace resident was born Fira Korenfeld in Santiago, Chile, the daughter of immigrant parents from Kiev. As a child, she began studying piano at the conservatory in Santiago, earning a bachelor's degree in music in 1947 from the University of Santiago.

The clatter of a game wheel, clicks of cards being shuffled, and the dull roar of conversation and laughter greeted guests as they entered the Baltimore Museum of Industry for Casino Night. Only this was a night with no losers, as these high rollers gambled for a good cause -- the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service. Some 200 folks tried their hand at various casino style games, noshed from the dinner buffet and caught up with friends. The biggest winner of the night, of course -- MVLS, which netted some $38,000.

Nancy Redford Brown, a former director of volunteer services at the University of Maryland Medical System and founding member of Epiphany Episcopal Church in Timonium, died Thursday at Mercy Medical Center of complications from non-Hodgkins lymphoma. She was 72 and a resident of the Dulaney Gate community in Cockeysville. Born in Baltimore and raised in Windsor Hills on the city's west side, she was a graduate of Western High School and earned a bachelor's degree in education in 1951 from what is now Towson University.

ARLINGTON, Texas - The question of whether Jose Mercedes is staying or going took on another dimension last night: Jose Mercedes as starter or reliever. Trying to preserve a worn bullpen, manager Mike Hargrove inserted Mercedes into the eighth inning of a 2-2 game last night, then watched the Texas Rangers ambush him for three runs to account for a 5-2 win. Mercedes, who has long chafed at bullpen duty, volunteered his services on Tuesday because of yesterday's doubleheader. He's still waiting for his reward.

Hugh G. Hollenback, 71, Hickey volunteers director Hugh G. Hollenback, former director of volunteer services and a physical education teacher at the Charles H. Hickey Jr. School, died Wednesday of sepsis at Mariner Health of Bel Air Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. The Perry Hall resident, who was active for many years in youth athletics, was 71. From 1977 until retiring in 1992, Mr. Hollenback was director of volunteer services at the Hickey School, formerly the Maryland Training School, and also physical education instructor.

Anyone who thinks all teen-agers are lazy, uncommitted and self-absorbed should spend some time with members of the InterAct Club, a group of about 50 students at Hammond High School who keep busy helping others. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Columbia-Patuxent, InterAct is a community service organization for young people between ages 14 and 18. Under the supervision of Hammond guidance counselor Samina Chaudhry, the club meets once a week to decide who needs its help. Sometimes the club is asked to assist an organization, but mostly the volunteers initiate, plan and execute community service projects on their own. Rotary sponsor Jerry Richman says he occasionally "throws out ideas, not in a pushy way, but to germinate a seed when suggesting activities.

Anyone who thinks all teen-agers are lazy, uncommitted and self-absorbed should spend some time with members of the InterAct Club, a group of about 50 students at Hammond High School who keep busy helping others. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Columbia-Patuxent, InterAct is a community service organization for young people between ages 14 and 18. Under the supervision of Hammond guidance counselor Samina Chaudhry, the club meets once a week to decide who needs its help. Sometimes the club is asked to assist an organization, but mostly the volunteers initiate, plan and execute community service projects on their own. Rotary sponsor Jerry Richman says he occasionally "throws out ideas, not in a pushy way, but to germinate a seed when suggesting activities.

With dozens of buildings sprawling across its 500-acre campus, Springfield Hospital Center's small maintenance crew has little time to tend to the modest white chapel, the church home to many patients and staff. And although the 20-year- old modular building had lost its luster and needed many minor repairs, the Springfield administration had no immediate plans to refurbish the chapel. So when 13-year-old Dennis Kast Jr. offered last year to do the work for his Eagle Scout project, the Sykesville hospital agreed.