Volunteer Wayne
By Other
Published in News on January 2, 2005 2:02 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.
HOLIDAY OR SHORT-TERM OPPORTUNITIES
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!
URGENT! BLOOD SUPPLIES ARE LOW -- You can make a difference if you are able to schedule blood drive appointments on the phone. Flexible hours for one or two people willing to take a leadership role. Training is available. With holiday schedules, blood donations are low. Unfortunately holiday accidents resulting from increased travel create a higher demand. By calling to schedule appointments for blood drives, you can help give the gift of life. You never know when you or a family member may be on the receiving end.
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. 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 -- Register now for upcoming training in the month of January. 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.
RACE FOR LITERACY -- Adult literacy tutors are desperately needed. Volunteers are certified as Partnership Approach to Literacy (PAL) tutors after four training sessions. The free workshops are from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on January 10, January 12, January 24, and January 26. Be part of winning the Race for Literacy in North Carolina.
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.
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.
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.
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. 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).
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. B
E A PART OF HISTORY -- Volunteers are need to give guided tours of historic buildings and present living history demonstrations such as open hearth cooking, corn shelling and candle making to school groups and the general public. Volunteers may also be needed to help run the cash register and clean the historic buildings and the visitor center. Volunteers may occasionally be asked to wear a costume, which will be provided by the site. Training will be provided.
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.
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.