Volunteer Awards Dinner Held October 22, 2007
The judges selected the winners and the dinner was held October 22nd at City Hall Chambers at 6:00 pm. Nominees were honored in front of dignitaries and special guests. Arlene Lawson, previous Women of Achievement (YWCA) Award winner was the keynote speaker. County Award winners and Governor Award winners included Leon West, Doug Darrell, Denny Smith, Eileen Skane Ryder, SCORE (See Press release with description of winners accomplishments under Volunteer Opportunities) Leon West, was the county nominee for the State Medallion of Honor, we look forward to hearing if he wins. We look forward to next years nominations and awards. Questions can be directed to the office 910-392-8180
Volunteer Center Saves Big Buddy
Visit My Website (be sure to submit your email if you would like to be a Big Buddy)
Cape Fear Volunteer Center is the new home of Big Buddy. Family Services of the Lower Cape Fear, a 65 year old agency has closed its doors and asked us to take over the program. Everyone involved is passionate that these children not loose these special adults in their lives. It is too important of a mentoring program. Funding is being sought by our agency to continue the program. Anyone interested in helping by being a Big Buddy should contact the Cape Fear Volunteer Center as soon as possible as there is a waiting list of Little Buddies anxious to be matched. 910-392-8180!
Big Buddy to Benefit from Fishing Tournament
Thank you to the Gary, Fisherman's Post and Eddie Hargrove for all their hard work in this year's Fishing Tournament and National Make A Difference Day. 258 fisherman came out and fished over the weekend of 10/26-10/28. The little buddies, matched and un-matched came out and fished as well. Thanks to the Junior League, Target, LifePoint Church and all the sponsors we were able to have a Beach Sweep, A Toy Drive and crafts, lunch and a big time for all who came out. Thanks again for everything. Next year we know it will be even more awesome!!
http://www.fishermanspost.com/tourn-surf.html
1800Volunteer.org goes LIVE! Pay it Forward!
Training Day Coming -- February 21, 2008
International Speaker Martin Cowling, People First - Total Solutions will be our featured speaker for this once in a lifetime opportunity to enhance your life experience. Put the date on your calendar and set aside a few budget dollars for the day that you won't want to miss. More information to follow. General public welcome. 910-392-8180
The Volunteer Center Submits Grant to Help Eliminate Homelessness to Partner with 10 Year Plan
http://www.LowerCapeFear10-YearPlantoEndChronicHomelessnessDRAFT-August312007.doc
The CFVC is excited to have submitted a Grant to the Annie Casey Foundation in the hopes of meeting the expectations of the Cities 10 year plan where non-profit agencies partner with businesses and the city to partner in the elimination of homelessness. I am sorry to say we did not get this grant. But look forward to suggestions for other grant opportunities or funding suggestions we might try to support this city initiative. We encourage all of you to read the plan and think about how you can help. We proprose that we will offer a Mentor program to assist in mentoring the homeless off the street. If you are willing to assist in developing the program or volunteering with the program, please email us at with your thoughts.
Be sure to log onto http://www.1-800-volunteer.org/1800Vol/CFVC/ and check out the new section of Wilmington's volunteer connection. You can sign up to volunteer for local opportunities, or if you are an agency you can register your volunteer needs and events! We are pleased to offer this opportunity to the Wilmington area. If you have any questions be sure to give us a call and we are happy to meet with you to walk you through it. 910-392-8180.
Gifts in Kind finding a new home with CFVC
Agencies can register if they are interested. Any non-profit that is interested in free merchandise can inquire if they are eligible to participate in this program to receive free merchandise from local and national companies. Email for more information.
Volunteer Center Launches Pledge Bank
Have you always had the desire to start a library in India, or have 20 friends donate blood with you, but you don't have 20 willing friends, well now you can magnify your impact on the local area by putting it out there on PledgeBank.com as the Volunteer Center has agreed to bring PledgeBank to Wilmington. Just log on and check it out and put your idea out there so you can see what impact your great idea might have. Call me and we can talk about how we can make your idea a reality. 392-8180.
Letter Carriers Food Drive Bags 40,000 Pounds
Thanks to more than 25 GE volunteers and others, as well as letter carriers 40,000 pounds of canned goods were gathered to feed our local New Hanover County friends in need through the Food Bank. Each year the volunteer center assists in gathering volunteers to man the 5 post offices to help the letter carriers unload their vehicles. If you would like to help next year, please let us know. Thanks to this years volunteers!!
Target A Partners for National Volunteer Week
Target Volunteers partnered with the Volunteer Center to assist a local Hospice patient in brightening her bedroom with a new coat of paint during National Volunteer Week. Businesses and agencies partnering together - Get things done!! Thank you Target volunteers!!
*****Azalea Festival Children's Tea!*****
Next year we are hoping that the Groovy Girls may stop by for the Tea!! Make sure to make your reservations early so you get in on the fun. If you would like to volunteer to assist with the planning we welcome the help! Give the director a call at 910-392-8180. See you March 30, 2008!
Kids Voting Volunteers Were Awesome!!
New Hanover County Kids Speak
Kids Voting Announce Numbers
250 Volunteers manned the booths at 46 precincts across New Hanover County, Marines that fought in Iraq and were injured assisted the children in voting at Forest Hills Elementary, while the Mayor helped out at Alderman Elementary! It was an awesome day to be a kid voting in New Hanover County. The ballots have been counted and the results are in. We are asking the media to help the kids hear how they voted. Many are home schoolers, many are waiting to hear how their votes compared to that of the adult population, you are the means for them to hear their collective voice.
Thank You!!
The Cape Fear Volunteer Center wishes to thank Bruce Cavenaugh for his generosity in holding the 2nd annual Car Raffle. We are excited to announce that we raised $780.00 through the raffle this year. Be sure to tune in to see if you are the winner of one of the Four SUZUKI vehicles 2007 vehicles, a AERIO, FORENZA, GRAND VITARA, and a XL-7. The winning ticket will be drawn October 26th live on WECT and WWAY! Be sure to check with us next year if you would like to support us and try to win a car!
Volunteer of the Year Awards Dinner October 19
2006 Volunteer of the Year Award Nominations Are Now Closed, Reservations for the Awards dinner are being accepted.
Annually the Cape Fear Volunteer Center accepts nominations for the North Carolina Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service and New Hanover County Volunteer of the Year Award. The deadline for applications for 2007 has not been set yet. Applications will be available at the Cape Fear Volunteer Center at 925 South Kerr Avenue Suite K Room 2 or by email at cfvc@bellsouth.net. Any individual or agency can nominate an individual or group. Teens are eligible for the award as well. A special NC Outstanding Volunteer Medallion will be presented to the top twenty volunteers in the state; this is a new award highlighting outstanding volunteerism in our state. A statewide panel will select these top twenty winners out of our local award winners. Only individuals who have not been recognized in the past ten years are eligible. The volunteer center looks forward in highlighting those outstanding individuals in our area and their work in making our area shine!
Reach the Beach
We are excited to announce that we will be able to bring this wonderful project back to Wilmington for 2008! We will begin accepting applications from seniors in need after July 2007.We will be seeking additional sponsors, and people to loan us ladders to be used during the week the 450 volunteers will be here. We will also need volunteers to assist as project advisors from the local area. We will also need a team of volunteers to review the homes that apply to be assisted, if you are interested please call the office at 392-8180.
Food Lion Program
The Volunteer Center is pleased to announce the Volunteer Center's participation in LionShop & Share. We need for each of our supporters to contact us and register your MVP number with us so that we can activate our particpation. Or you can go directly to www.foodlion.com to the LionShop & Share section, find our name and enter your 12 digit MVP#. Please email us if you would like to participate with us in this program. Thank you for your support.
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Schedule a Time to Meet with Me-- the Director!!
Have a few hours a week and want to make a difference in the lives of children and families? The Parenting Place Exchange, a new infant, children and maternity thrift store benefiting The Parenting Place is looking for volunteers to work in the store several hours a week. Sorting, stocking, tagging and floor sales are just a few of the volunteer opportunities available now at The Parenting Place Exchange. Call 392-8180 and start making a difference today.
Are you empathetic, encouraging, nonjudgmental, committed, caring, and willing to be a mentor to parents and put hope in the life of a child? The Parenting Place of the Exchange Clubs is a non profit agency established to help prevent child abuse and neglect. We are recruiting volunteers who want to work 2 hours a week with families who need support and direct intervention to improve parenting skills. Training and supervision will be provided. Call Jan Wildemann now for more information to start the process and make a difference at 254-0798.
The Big Buddy Program is a one-on-one mentoring program for "At-Risk" children in New Hanover County. We provide a wonderful volunteer experience that children and volunteers can both benefit from. The commitment is for them to spend 2-4 ours together each week for a year. Currently we have 158 children between the ages of 6-17, waiting for Big Buddies. Right now there are 47 girls and 111 boys waiting. As you can see the need for volunteers is tramendous, expecially for male volunteers. We only match female volunteers with girls and male volunteers with boys, unless the boy is between the ages of 6-9 and then they can be match with a female volunteer. Call the volunteer center at 392-8180 if you would like to be matched with this opportunity!
How You Can Help The Evacuees!
The Cape Fear Volunteer Center has partnered with area churches, businesses, hotels and families to offer shelter to Hurricane Katrina evacuees. If community residents or businesses would like to offer their assistance with the program they can email , or call Annie Anthony at 910-392-8180. All donations of time and money are welcome, mail to 3201 Jared Court Wilmington NC 28409 make checks payable to the Cape Fear Volunteer Center funds will be used for the Katrina evacuee program only, unless otherwise specified. We are also looking for empty apartments and houses, as well as volunteers to escort individuals around to area agencies as they do not have vehicles. We are no longer accepting used clothing, thank you for all that you have donated to date! We are in need of volunteers to staff the donation sites as well. We are in need of cars that are in running order to be donated, bicycles that adults can ride to work and bus passes for WAVE transit. Please call if you are available to volunteer your time or can provide any of these items! Thank you for all you do.
Churches are the Cornerstone to Finding Evacuee Homes
The hotels can provide a roof over the evacuees heads, but it is the churches that are providing the homes! The evacuees arrive tired and disillusioned about what the government can and will do, we can help. All volunteers can do is listen in many cases, but at times we can do more. There are actions that can be done, through our churches in Wilmington groups have come together to find out who in your church has an empty apartment, or house, then they call the volunteer center to find out how to get an evacuee into it. Working with the Wilmington Housing Authority, many times, we are able to assist the homeowner in even getting a little assistance in making ends meet through the evacuees voucher assistance. I have heard there are 520 churches in Wilmington, if each helped 2 evacuee families we could help 1040 evacuee families, that is an impressive amount. It is going to take our entire town to assist these evacuees to rebuild their lives. If your church has not discussed how you can help, start talking today and then give us a call. |
