February was a full month! I visited several of our RSVP stations and met more of our incredible volunteers. Thank you for your hard work in the Durham community. I continue to learn so much about the difference you make each time I visit one of our stations - from reading with children, to packing fresh produce and hot meals to working in community gardens There is so much good happening in our community!
RSVP Speaker Series
This month, we welcome Mary Peacock from the Durham Crisis Response Center for our Speaker Series. It will be Wednesday, March 19 from 12:00 - 1:00pm at the Durham Center for Senior Life in the theater. Please join me to listen to Mary speak about the Durham Crisis Response Center. Many thanks to Joy Newman from Emanuel Food Pantry who spoke last month!
RSVP Recognition Event
Thank you for your dedication to so many organizations. We value you and want to say thank you Please join us on Thursday, March 27 between 10 and 12 at the Durham Main Library for our Volunteer Recognition Event. We will have a sweet treat and gift to share with you Please RSVP here
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 Read more about the DPS Foundation below.
Welcome Baby Wed, March 26 10-12 Sign up here!
DPS Day of Service Mon, April 21 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 or or by phone at (919) 3216932. Amanda Stoen
I have an updated email address! This should reduce messages going to your spam folders.
Featured RSVP Station
DPS Foundation
The Durham Public Schools Foundation (DPS Foundation) unites the DPS school communities, public- and private-sector resources and community leaders around strategies to strengthen Durham Public Schools for all students They provide grants and scholarships, foster innovation through school pilot programs, build leaders to support all students and connect the community to Durham Public Schools They do more than provide funds - they’re innovators, working with partners across the community to develop, pilot and scale strategies that will accelerate the transformation of public education.
Are you a DPS alum?
The DPS Foundation is proud to spotlight the achievements of its alumni through the "Alumni of the Month" program This program not only honors individual achievements but also highlights the collective success of DPS graduates, showing how the foundation laid in Durham has propelled them to excel in various fields. Want to share your story or nominate an outstanding DPS alum? Visit bullcityschools.org/alumni.
Be a LEAP Literacy Tutor!
In-person opportunities every Monday and Tuesday from 5:00-7:00 pm at the downtown Durham County Library (300 N Roxboro St) Training, all materials and ongoing support are provided. Visit Durham Leap to learn more!
Volunteer!
Days of Service Volunteers Needed
The DPS Foundation is looking for volunteers to serve at CC Spaulding Elementary on Monday, March 10 from 1-3 pm. Additionally, there is a volunteer need on Monday, April 21 from 10-12 and 1-3 (school site TBD). Visit their website for more information and to sign up
Questions? Email Amanda at amanda@thevolunteercenter.org
AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve at more than 700 locations across North Carolina, including schools, food banks, homeless shelters, health clinics, youth centers, veterans' facilities and other nonprofit organizations!
Through a unique public-private partnership, AmeriCorps and its partners generated more than $6.3 million in outside resources from businesses, foundations and public agencies in North Carolina in 2023
The Durham RSVP program engages 140 volunteers and 45 nonprofit stations!
Community Opportunities
Duke Regional Hospital
Duke Regional Hospital is looking for volunteers to support the following areas: Information Desk Monday - Friday 8am - 5 pm (4 hour shifts)
Be able to direct and/or escort patients and families to appropriate destinations. Respond to patient, family, and visitors' requests and/or concerns and refer them
Gift Store Tuesdays from 10am - 2 pm
Assisting with sales
Cash register operations
Stocking and restocking of merchandise
Pharmacy Wednesdays 8am-12pm
Running chemotherapy in a sealed biohazard bag which Pharmacists place in a locked cooler bag is then run by the volunteer up to the Infusion Services unit. Infusion Services handle the cooler and take out the meds and the volunteer will bring the cooler bag back to pharmacy to be filled for the next patient
Questions? Email Amanda at amanda@thevolunteercenter org
Monday, March 17 6:30 - 8:30 pm Central Pines Regional Council
The Triangle Nonprofit & Volunteer Leadership is excited to present “Bid For Better: A Nonprofit Auction.”
This event is unique in that it supports a broad range of Triangle nonprofits with a diversity of missions. Agencies keep 100% of the revenue from the sale of their auction items. The event is designed to raise awareness about the important work of nonprofits in our communities and to help nonprofits raise needed funds for their programs.
Bring your family and friends to our charity auction on March 17 Discover unique gifts from Triangle-connected nonprofits while supporting their diverse missions. Tickets are $35 per person and include one drink ticket, entertainment and entry to the event. 100% of ticket sales will support Triangle nonprofits. Visit our website to learn more
Questions? Email Amanda
Betty Elliott
Betty Elliott has been a longtime volunteer for Meals on Wheels and The Triangle Nonprofit & Volunteer Leadership Center (TNVLC) For the past 10 years, she has been volunteering twice a week at Meals on Wheels as an inside helper. As an inside helper, Betty helps get the meals ready for the drivers to pick up She helps package bread, fruit and milk and get hot meals into the warmers and ready for the drivers.
Betty began volunteering with Meals on Wheels after her late husband saw a volunteer opportunity in the newspaper It was something that appealed to her and decided to give it a try. Betty has continued to volunteer at Meals on Wheels because she makes a difference She feels valued as a volunteer by the staff and it's a very easy place to volunteer. Betty says the work that volunteers do frees up the staff to do other work.
TNVLC supports several social programs in Durham and Betty has volunteered with many of them, including the Thanksgiving meals and Share Your Holiday programs. Both programs require lots of volunteers and Betty has filled many roles from volunteering at the distribution center to data entry
There is flexibility with volunteering at both organizations Volunteers don't have to stay until a set time. Once the work is complete, volunteers are free to leave. Staff work well with the volunteers and try to make it easy for volunteers to complete tasks. Betty feels appreciated by the staff and knows her competency allows the staff to focus their work
Betty says Meals on Wheels can always use more volunteers, especially drivers If you are interested in volunteering, click here to learn more. See above for volunteer opportunities at TNVLC Thank you Betty for supporting two nonprofit organizations in Durham!
AARP Classes
Mike Sweeney, an RSVP volunteer, offers several FREE Smart Drive TEK related workshops. Smart Drive Tek gives you the facts about new vehicle technology. There are three format options - virtual (live and on Zoom), online (self-paced anytime) and in-person (available in limited areas). This class runs about 90 minutes.
Two additional workshops to consider include a Driving at Night workshop and an EV and Hybrid workshop Explore AARP's free workshops and register at aarp.org/CarTech.
MARCH EVENTS:
Community Events
Now through May 11 - By Dawn's Early Light Art Exhibit
Saturday mornings - Durham Craft Market
March 21 - Durham Art Walk
March 23 - Durham Crop Walk
March 29 - The African American Legacy in Gardening & Horticulture
APRIL EVENTS:
April 3-6 - Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
April 12 - Butterfly Art @ Museum of Life & Science
