Volunteer Wayne
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on September 26, 2004 2:04 AM
Volunteer Wayne offers opportunities to serve Wayne County for all ages. This service is provided by Volunteer Wayne and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) at Wayne Community College. Contact Joy Pearce at 735-5151, extension 336, or at www.volunteersolutions.org/uwwc/volunteer for more information.
O llamar representatives de Latinos por Volunteer Wayne/RSVP: Gaspar Gonzalez, (910) 296-1851, o Willie Cartegena, (919) 735-5010, ext. 116.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY: THE NATIONAL DAY OF DOING GOOD!
United Way of Wayne County, the city of Goldsboro and Volunteer Wayne/RSVP are partnering once again for an annual day of service. This year we will join the national initiative, Make a Difference Day, created by USA Weekend Magazine and co-sponsored by the Points of Light Foundation and the Volunteer Center National Network. Our local volunteer week will begin on Oct. 17 and conclude on Saturday, Oct. 23, at Waynesborough Historical Village, when we will join in a national celebration of people working together improving lives of others.
All residents of Wayne County are encouraged to "perform a good deed" or volunteer at a local organization during Oct. 17-23. Businesses, schools, civic clubs and individuals interested in participating may contact Volunteer Wayne/RSVP by Oct. 4 at (919) 735-5151, extension 336, or on the Internet at www.volunteersolutions.org/uwwc/volunteer. Nonprofits that need volunteers for projects may also contact Volunteer Wayne/RSVP. Just some of the opportunities to Make a Difference are:
*Supply drives -- Collect items for the less fortunate: food, smoke detectors, winter coats and blankets, and/or school supplies. Drop off at the Salvation Army during the week of Oct. 17-23. Arrangements for pick up from your location may be possible.
*Projects Waynesborough Historical Village -- A diversity of opportunities are available including: clearing part of the Mountain to Sea Trail, restoring historical buildings and/or furniture, building handicap ramps, signage, benches, painting, landscaping, and air conditioning repair.
*Boys and Girls Clubs of Wayne County -- Power Hour homework assistance. Make a safety presentation to students. Paint or collect school supplies.
*Communities in Schools -- School supplies drive.
*Habitat for Humanity -- Home construction (all skill levels needed). Assist in the thrift store or provide administrative/clerical assistance.
*Kitty Askins Hospice Center -- Install birdhouses for viewing by terminally ill residents. (Assistance in obtaining a donation of birdhouses and shepherds hooks for hanging would be ideal. Funds are not available for this project.)
*MERCI Warehouse -- Collect and assemble items for flood buckets for hurricane survivors.
*Red cross -- Supply drives for disaster kits and smoke detectors. Replace smoke detectors for elderly. Vial of Life (update prescription information for elderly in emergencies). Plant flowers in flowerbed at Red Cross. Blood drive Oct. 21 (by appointment)
*Salvation Army -- Offload food, stock shelves, prepare food boxes in food pantry. Organize donated hygiene kits, thrift store donations. Help with October Coat Fest when the Salvation Army will provide 2,000 coats to eligible DSS clients on Oct. 22 and 23.
*Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Family Support Center -- Pillowcase supply drive. (Thousands are needed for families of deployed service members. A photograph of each deployed family member is imprinted on a pillowcase which remains behind with the family.)
*Soup kitchen -- Non-perishable food drive.
*Tuscarora Council of Boy Scouts -- Skilled crew for carpet installation. Carpet provided by Boy Scouts.
*Volunteer Wayne/RSVP -- Register and assign volunteers that show up for projects to be completed on Oct. 23. Contact short-term volunteer list and update with those interested in assisting in a disaster. Organize scrapbooks.
*WARM (Wayne Area Role Models Mentoring Program) -- Inform the community about the WARM program to increase mentor recruitment.
ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES
ASSIST IN OFFICE -- Medication management program for low-income elderly is looking for the right person to assist in their office. Patience and caring are essential to schedule appointments for elderly clients by phone. Filing and computer skills are also desired. A medical background would be helpful but is not essential. Flexible hours.
MARCH OF DIMES -- Your help with a benefit for the March of Dimes will earn you a free concert ticket! Volunteers are needed on Oct. 15th from 5 p.m. to approximately 1 a.m. to sell concessions, direct traffic, take tickets, and show people to their seats. The Wayne County Fall Jamboree will feature Nashville recording artist, Michael Peterson in addition to Second Helping, (a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band), The Malpass Family, and J.T. Jordan).
MAKE A WISH -- Be part of a dream come true for a child with a life threatening medical condition. Wish granters and special event volunteers will enable the Make a Wish Foundation to create quality wish experiences from initial family contact through completion for local families. Training is provided.
TEACHERS NEED YOU -- A variety of positions are available in several schools in various grade levels. Some require special skills while others do not. Just some of the opportunities are: working directly with students, monitoring halls, grading papers, making copies, and filing. Special needs are preparing 7th grade students for the End of Year Writing Test and one on one attention with bilingual and special needs students.
FUND-RAISER HELPS YOUTH PROGRAMS -- Charity Superball Golf Tournament can use some extra hands on Thursday, Oct. 14 (new date due to rain). Four hole monitors are needed from 12-4 p.m. You will be paired with a club member to offer golfers the opportunity to purchase "shootout tickets." This event raises funds for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Wayne County, scholarships at Wayne Community College, and other youth programs. No golf experience is necessary.
KEEP CHILDREN SAFE -- Home Alone Program is looking for volunteers to teach first aid, Internet safety, and child abduction prevention. Time commitment varies from as little as six hours (including training) to as much time as you wish with this worthwhile program. Retired teachers, law enforcement, emergency and medical personnel are ideally suited for this opportunity.
Visit Volunteer Wayne on line! You can now find your volunteer niche on line at www.volunteersolutions.org/uwwc/volunteer or www.unitedwaywaynecountync.org. United Way has generously provided this service to encourage more people to become involved in our community.
Seniors can also see us at www.joinseniorservice.-org provided by the Corporation for National Service. Volunteer Wayne is funded by United Way of Wayne County. RSVP is primarily funded by the Corporation for National Service through Senior Corps.