Welcome summer! There is so much good work being done in the Durham community Thank you for serving. I have heard so many stories about the supportive and inclusive environments that the RSVP stations create for their volunteers Thank you to both our RSVP volunteers and stations to cultivate a thriving volunteer culture.
I am excited to welcome a new RSVP station, HopeLine NC. Their mission is to support people’s mental health through active listening and caring, and confidential conversations. HopeLine offers a Reassurance Program which is designed to reduce isolation and loneliness for individuals with limited contact or support from others. The program is not a case management of crisis intervention program. They provide support and connections for individuals who are isolated and alone. RSVP will be sharing volunteer opportunities for their program and these will be placed on HandsOn Triangle.
I will be on vacation June 9-17 with virtually no internet, phone or tv service! If you need assistance while I am out, please contact Cindy Heffner at cindy@thevolunteercenter.org for support.
RSVP Speaker Series
This month, we welcome Erin from SEEDS for our Speaker Series It will be Wednesday, June 18 from 12:00 - 1:00pm at the Durham Center for Senior Life in the theater Please join me to listen to Erin speak about SEEDS Many thanks to Tammy Rodman from Reality Ministries who spoke last month!
RSVP Group Volunteer Opportunities
Join fellow RSVP volunteers as we work together at different organizations Meet other volunteers and check out an organization that may be new to you. Welcome Baby Wed, June 25 10-12 Sign up here!
If you have not connected with one of our 40+ stations and would like to learn more about volunteering with one of them, please reach out to me or visit HandsOn Triangle. There are many volunteer opportunities out there and I would be happy to help you find a good place to serve!
Reach me by email at amanda@thevolunteercenter.org or by phone at (919) 3216932. Amanda Stoen
Community Opportunities
United Way of the Greater Triangle
Power Hour is United Way & Duke Energy's monthly series that brings together local nonprofit leaders to discuss pertinent obstacles, ideas and solutions surrounding our nonprofit community.
As part of Power Hour, we're looking for dedicated volunteers (also known as: our ACTIVATORS) to help us bring this event to life!
Activators are folks with a passion for community care, who would be willing to assist with set-up, decor, registration, and clean-up.
Interested in being an Activator? Sign up below!
Looking for more information? Reach out to Hannah Parker at hparker@unitedwaytriangle.org
Questions? Email Amanda at amanda@thevolunteercenter.org
Museum of Durham History
The Museum of Durham History is a 21st century museum that uses stories about people, places and things to foster curiosity, encourage further inquiry, and promote an understanding of diverse perspectives about the Durham community and its history.
Volunteer with them at the Farmers Markets this spring and summer. The Museum will be at the Farmers Markets the following dates:
June 1: Black Farmers' Market
June 14: Durham Farmers' Market
July 12: Durham Farmers' Market
July 20: Black Farmers' Market
Please contact Clay Harrison at manager@modh.org with questions or to sign up.
Volunteer!
Questions? Email Amanda at amanda@thevolunteercenter org
Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels Durham offers a variety of volunteer opportunities to make lasting impacts on older adults in the community You can delivers meals and smiles to clients each weekday, help pack and load meals onto delivery vehicles, or even check in on seniors in the comfort of your own home. We have something for everybody!
Meals on Wheels of Durham is seeking volunteers to make phone calls to our home-bound senior clients.
Call our seniors in Durham You can call from anyplace you have access to the internet and a computer.
Calls are made on Wednesdays and/or Fridays from your remote location You will receive that day's wellness call spreadsheet via email at 8am. Calls can be made between 9am and noon Each route averages 60 minutes (10-14 clients) Sign up for up to 3 routes per day.
Wednesday Wellness Calls: On Wednesday, you will be collecting information from clients regarding their weekly delivery. It is so important for MOWD to know if clients can be home and to remind clients the importance of being home during their delivery! This directly supports our ability to order the correct amount of food while also ensuring as many of our current clients are being served the best way possible! This is also the last day our clients can cancel their meals.
Friday Wellness Calls: Think of this as ‘FUN Friday!’ On Friday you will be connecting with clients and checking in on them. This is a great way to encourage relationship building and is something that our clients look forward to!
Meals on Wheels of Durham is also seeking volunteers to deliver meals on Thursdays and Fridays.
Deliver hot meals to seniors in Durham. We have delivery routes throughout the county. You can deliver by yourself, with a friend, with your pet, or with a group.
Available Tuesday to Friday. Arrive to MOWD facilities (2522 Ross Rd Durham) to pick up meals between 9:30 am - 10:30 am and allow 1 5 - 2 hours for delivery Volunteers can get scheduled to come just once, once a week, once a month, or as often as they would like Must use or have access to a vehicle and gas to make deliveries Must also be able to download and use our Mobile Meals app to navigate your routes.
Featured RSVP Volunteers
Bob and Elaine Herrick
Bob and Elaine Herrick have been volunteering in the Durham community for more than 10 years. They began volunteering with Meals on Wheels delivering meals once a month and served there until last year. Bob would drive and Elaine would navigate the driving. They also met Kimberly from Families Moving Forward who asked if they would volunteer there as well. So Bob and Elaine began volunteering at Families Moving Forward serving dinner twice a week every three months
Bob and Elaine have also been volunteering at the Durham Community Food Pantry
and have filled many roles over the years. They have loaded bags with fresh produce and pantry items and Bob used to drive to the Food Bank to pick up fresh food to distribute to the Pantry clients. They noted that many of the volunteers there have been serving for many years and it is a very efficient system
Bob and Elaine heard about the RSVP program through the Food Pantry and received the mileage reimbursement benefit. They would then use that money to buy food and donate it to the Food Pantry Through volunteering, they saw the impact each of these organizations were making in the community. One of their favorite experiences was to see the kids faces when the family would receive a birthday cake with their food Bob and Elaine enjoyed interacting with the clients at all of the organizations they have served
Volunteering has been rewarding for both Bob and Elaine and they enjoy volunteering together. It keeps them busy while being useful and helping others in need. Their many volunteer experiences over the years show that no matter the time commitment, volunteers make a difference. Thank you Bob and Elaine for your dedication to serving the Durham community!
Community Events
JUNE EVENTS:
June 12-July 26 - American Dance Festival
June 13 & 19 - SEEDS Volunteer Workdays
June 14 - Summer Concert in the Park
June 15-19 - Juneteenth Celebrations
JULY EVENTS:
July 4 - July 4th Celebration
July 4-5 - Festival for the Eno
July 12 - Summer Concert in the Park
We want to hear from YOU! The next time you volunteer, take a photo and send it to Amanda Stoen amanda@thevolunteercenter.org.
