With Hurricane Katrina now three years behind us we have learned many lessons through our work with the many evacuees that came through Southeastern North Carolina. Through this experience we have come to the conclusion that it is not in the best interest of the evacuees or our area for any individual or group to attempt to go down to an area affected by a hurricane and bring back to the Wilmington those individuals affected by a storm.

We are a vulnerable area ourselves. A storm could arrive here at any time, which would put those just affected by a recent storm in harms way for a second time. This is not in their best interest or yours. After consulting the local Red Cross officials, and through previous conversations with Emergency Management officials, it is best if individuals allow the officials involved to make the sheltering decisions.

There will be many ways that those interested in doing work related to a disaster can contribute their time and energies in the days, weeks and months following any disaster. Please check 1800volunteer.org, should there be a need for volunteers it will be noted there, in the time of a disaster this turns into Disaster.org for your convenience in registering to help an affected area. Until you see the request for help, it is our professional advice for you to not go to the affected area. Many times those that go early on without proper training and advance locations for their lodging, cause an additional burden on an already stressed infrastructure. Please do not hesitate to contact the Cape Fear Volunteer Center for ideas on how you can help, or the names of agencies you can partner with to assist whenever a disaster strikes. 910-392-8180.

Welcome to the new website. We have been working to update the site and add new information and features.

We have added a photo gallery and redesigned most of the pages.

Please email the webmaster if you have any questions or problems.

You can still visit the old webpage.

CFVC is a Presidential Service Award site, depending on your age, you can easily qualify to win this wonderful award. If you are 14 years old and volunteered a mere 40 hours in the past 12 months, you have already made yourself eligible for the Presidential Bronze Award. By reporting your hours to the volunteer center on a regular basis, you will be able to include winning this award on your resume or college applications. Won't it make a great conversation piece on that college essay. Register today!!

After several years of a sucessful partnership the board of directors voted to officially bring Kids Voting inside the Volunteer Center on a permanent basis. In preparation for the 2008 Elections we are in search of 250 Volunteers are needed to man the booths at 46 precincts across New Hanover County. We would like a lead captain for each precinct. Kathryn Johnston will still be playing a lead role in the project and we will be forming an advisory board for Kids Voting if you are interesting in being involved in this project please email cfvc@bellsouth.net or check out 1800volunteer.org for more information.

Thanks to 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!! The next food drive will be Mothers Day weekend 2009!

The kids arrived in town on July 6th and unpacked their buses and vans and moved into Ashley High School and split into crews and traveled all over Wilmington to meet their residents on Monday July 7th as they began 64 different projects to renovate and revitalize homes from Castle Hayne, to Rocky Point. In downtown Wilmington on Nun Street to Allen Street near Wrightsville Beach paint brushes were flying and hammers were banging as the youth from across the country dedicated themselves to "Loving Out Loud", the theme of the week. As the partnership with the Volunteer Center, Group Work Camps, Wrightsville Beach United Methodist church, and WARM (Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry) and many other partner churches from around the area came to life after 18 months of planning. This gigantic project that impacted the lives of thousands of volunteers from those that baked and delivered cookies, to the volunteer photographers, to the Mayor, from Port City Community Church Overflow volunteers that made goodie bags and delivered popcicles, to Wrightsboro Methodist Church volunteers that donated 200 dozen cookies, to the Rescue Mission that came to pick up the leftover paint, the partners on this project included more than 100 people who loaned ladders, and the 400+ teens and adults who did the actual work on the sites. This year's project was financed by Wrightsville Beach United Methodist Church, without their participation this program would not have happened, they assisted in so many other ways with goodie bags, ladders, cookies, pre and post site support, they are a true community partner and good neigher.

Reach the Beach came in 2006. and now in 2008, the phone has been ringing with those in need of help all throughout the week seeking help. We would like to bring the program back in 2010, but we need community partners to step forward to offer their financial commitment for the program. If you would like to be that partner please let us know. Wilmington has so many waiting for us to help them we know how to do it, let us know if you would like to be part of the solution.

 

Thank you to all of those that participated in Reach the Beach 2008, we hope you will be with us the next time this incredible Blessing comes our way again.

Annie

Be sure to log onto 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.