Growing the Volunteer Program

By Lori Meads, Educator

The Museum of the Albemarle was awarded a grant through the North Carolina Human ities American Rescue Plan Humanities Grant. The funding for the grant was provided to North Carolina Humanities by the National Endowment for the Humanities through the Amer ican Rescue Plan Act, which was passed by Congress and signed by President Biden in March 2021. The grant is in response to the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on cultural institutions in North Carolina.

Funds were used to support the volunteer program at the Museum of the Albemarle by contracting with Tara Chapman to recruit volunteers and assist in managing the program. The volunteer program is thriving once again at the museum through the funding and Tara’s efforts. She has worked to bring volunteer manuals up-to- date based on the North Carolina Museum of History manuals, recruited new volunteers, updated all volunteer applications, established meeting agendas, sought volunteer assistance, and responded to all inquiries.

GROUP OF OUR VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF AT THE ANNUAL VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION LUNCHEON

Courtesy Museum of the Albemarle

As far as our current volunteers, WOW! We had our returning volunteers that have always been dedicated and ready to help when called at a moment’s notice. New volunteers are following the same path. The month of December proved the dedication of our current volunteers. Everyone worked to make sure the needs of the school groups were met and filled in where needed daily. We currently have volunteers that are working the second-floor reception desk regularly and assisting with behindthe-scenes preparation for upcoming programs. We are grateful for all our volunteers; we could not be successful without every one of the museum’s volunteers.

LORI MEADS AND DON PENDERGRAFT RECOGNIZE LINDA FUSCO AND MARY BUNCH FOR THEIR YEARS AND TIME OF SERVICE AS VOLUNTEERS

Courtesy Museum of the Albemarle

If you are interested in becoming a part of the volunteer program at the Museum of the Albemarle, please contact the Education Department by telephone or email lori.meads@ncdcr.gov. We would like to grow even more. The program is open to both adults and school-aged children between 13 and 18.