Volunteer Wayne
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on December 5, 2004 2:05 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, 735-5010, ext. 116.
These are just a sampling of some special holiday opportunities for volunteers in Wayne County. There is plenty of variety with something for everyone. Just an hour or two will fill you with holiday cheer and bring joy to others. Bring a friend and double the fun!
HOLIDAY OR SHORT-TERM OPPORTUNITIES
URGENT! BLOOD SUPPLIES ARE LOW -- By calling to schedule appointments for blood drives, you can help give the gift of life. With holiday schedules, blood donations are low. Unfortunately holiday accidents resulting from increased travel create a higher demand. You never know when you or a family member may be on the receiving end. Blood drives are scheduled Dec. 10, 11, 14,18, 20. 21, 23, 27.
RING THAT BELL -- Individuals, groups, organizations, churches, community agencies, and companies can join in this agencies' biggest fund raising effort for this year. Volunteers greet store patrons around Goldsboro and Wayne County and man the familiar red kettles, collecting donations. Enable this agency to support their Christmas effort and sustain their ongoing year around efforts of assisting less fortunate individuals and families.
REMEMBER THE CHILDREN -- Collect new toys, sort toys, and fill stockings for children. The community has responded beautifully to fill 500 stockings! Larger toys are especially needed babies and children through age 12. Businesses, church groups or other organizations are welcome to sponsor a toy drive. You can even "adopt" a child or family.
BRING JOY TO THE ELDERLY -- Rest homes invite choral groups during the day or evening to bring the yuletide spirit to their elderly residents. Volunteers over 20 years of age can help with crafts or call bingo. One on one visitors can provide companionship.
FEED THE HUNGRY -- Collect canned goods, help stock the food pantry, or pack food boxes for those in need.
PLAY SANTA -- Your chance to play Santa for persons in at our local rest or nursing homes. Help with the purchase of gifts, wrapping and or delivering the gifts to those who do not receive support from family or friends.
BRING A SMILE TO A CHILD -- You can brighten the life of a child. Just come play with the children at the Boys and Girls Club (during the Christmas holidays when schools are closed) Dec. 17, 20-22, 27-30 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
HOMEWORK HELP -- The holidays give some children a chance to catch up on their schoolwork. Elementary students can use your assistance from 4-5 p.m. during the holidays.
DELIVER MEALS TO THE HOMEBOUND -- Additional assistance will be needed during the holidays to deliver a hot meal as well as to check on homebound individuals. Only an hour of your time will bring smiles to the appreciative people served.
ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES
URGENT! BE AN ADVOCATE FOR ABUSED OR NEGLECTED CHILDREN -- Wayne County has been designated by the state as a county of "Critical Need" as a result of the increase of child abuse and neglect. Do you have a minimum of five hours a month to investigate the needs of a child and advocate for the best interests of that child? This program provides advocacy services for children who are involved in the court system as a result of abuse, neglect and dependency. Last year over 425 children were served in the Wayne, Lenoir, and Greene counties through this program.
RESPITE FOR CAREGIVERS -- A few individuals with sufficient strength to maneuver wheelchairs can be a tremendous help at this senior center. Also, at least two caring individuals with patience and understanding of dementia are needed to assist with the Alzheimer's respite program on Monday, Wednesday or Friday from 9-2.
EMBRACE THE MIRACLE -- Help prepare new mothers for their role as a parent with this ongoing project. Each newborn in Wayne County receives a basket of educational items and samples. Volunteers assist in assembling the baskets and/or delivering them to the maternity ward at Wayne Memorial hospital. Some light lifting -- under 30 pounds -- may be involved. Individuals or groups may participate. Weeks needing to be covered are: Nov. 29-Dec. 3. Volunteers are also needed to assemble 40 Spanish Baby Baskets (days and times optional). Other support activities can use volunteers in baby basket data entry (days and times optional) and to help assemble "Daily Parent" Newsletter (Jan.3-7). You may also assist with the early childhood education program by helping assemble Parents as Teachers activity kits in the months of November and December (dates and times optional) or help with "The Fabulous Chinese Acrobats" performance, a multicultural arts program for preschool aged children, on Monday, Dec. 20, from 8:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's School Auditorium (3-4 volunteers needed).
BUILDING FUTURE LEADERS -- Do you like working with youth from the ages of 7 to 18? Adults, 18 years and older, can shape the minds of young men through this leadership and citizenship training for young men through the use of outdoors training, physical fitness endeavors and challenging experiences. Role models are needed to help with training and "on the ground" camping. Groups meet on a weekly basis for about an hour and a half.
Visit Volunteer Wayne on line! You can now find your volunteer niche online 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.