Urban Discoveries Baltimore

All right slackers, thrift cuts both ways. Typically on Tuesdays this spot gives you tips for saving money while continuing to have a good time. This Tuesday, in honor of National Volunteer Week, you’ll be providing the gratis services. Hence:

Walk the dog: the Baltimore Humane Society in Reisterstown (1601 Nicodemus Road) invites you to come take homeless dogs on a mile and a half trail walk, or just to bring your own dog and donate some dog supplies–food, toys, other dog’s butts–to the cause. Wednesday evenings on the regular.

Make stuff grow: Parks & People needs volunteers to help organize and execute the Baltimore Flowermart in Mt. Vernon (699 North Charles Street) May 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. This year’s mart will feature presentations of (among lots of predictably pretty flowers) various possibilities for urban flora–greenhouses, yard trees (more on this later), rooftop gardens, and more. Volunteers need have no green digits; enthusiasm will suffice.

Plan things: Carroll Museums, Inc. is looking for an event coordinator to arrange for various uses of the majestic Carroll Mansion in Historic Jonestown (800 E. Lombard Street). It’s the truly gorgeous estate of Charles Carroll, sole Catholic signatory of the Declaration of Independence. After decades of neglect, the mansion has been thoroughly restored. Only, keeping it in fighting shape and open to the public requires a constant influx of funding. The solution these folks have come up with is to host local arts events and cultural goings on there. Volunteer to be the one who makes that happen. I did a reading there a year or so ago, and my ironic faculties were hamstrung. It’s glorious.

So, Baltimore, what do you do free of charge?

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