Issuu

July 2025

From the Desk of Amanda

Summer is here and our RSVP stations have many volunteer opportunities for you! There are several upcoming events that need help leading up to their event or on the day of Also, our organization is hosting a Digital Literacy training for seniors If you are interested in learning more about navigating online resources and opportunities, please see the information below This is a free training and will take place during the month of July.

RSVP Speaker Series

This month, we welcome Betty Njaramba from The Triangle Nonprofit & Volunteer Leadership Center for our Speaker Series. It will be Wednesday, July 16 from 12:00 - 1:00pm at the Durham Center for Senior Life in the theater. Please join me to listen to Betty speak about our social service programs and how volunteers can support these important programs. Many thanks to Erin from SEEDS 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, July 23 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

Vets to Vets United

5K9 Dog Jog

Join Vets to Vets on Sunday, October 5, 2025, at the Cross-Country Track at the WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, NC, to run, jog, walk, or cheer with or without your furry friend. This 5K9 Dog Jog is for runners of all ages and abilities, and the course combines an open field and a natural trail experience There are also vendor and sponsorship opportunities!

Every dollar raised supports their mission to provide Veterans and rescue dogs with the life-changing opportunity to heal together It costs approximately $24,000 to support each Veteran/dog team through our program and thanks to generous supporters like you, they are able to offer it completely free to the Veterans

Volunteers are also needed to help with the race - both in advance and the day of! Visit their website to learn more about the 5K9 Dog Jog and how can volunteer or participate.

Questions? Email Amanda at amanda@thevolunteercenter.org

As part of Power Hour, the United Way is 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

The Triangle Nonprofit & Volunteer Leadership Center

Backpacks 4 Kids

The Backpacks 4 Kids (B4K) Program is coordinated by the Triangle Nonprofit & Volunteer Leadership Center on behalf of Durham County Department of Social Services. Volunteers are needed on Monday, August 4 and Tuesday, August 5 to help distribute backpacks filled with school supplies to local students in need Morning and afternoon shifts are available. Volunteers will help ensure each child receives the tools they need for a strong start to the school year. Your time and energy can make a big difference in just a few hours!

Tasks include: Unloading backpack donations from sponsors, sorting and organizing backpacks by grade level, confirming each backpack contains the correct school supplies, assisting social workers as they pick up backpacks for the students they serve

If you have any questions, please contact Betty Njaramba at betty@thevolunteercenter org or 919-321-6926

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 to bring history into the heart of the community. The Museum will be at the Farmers Markets the following dates:

July 12: Durham Farmers' Market

July 20: Black Farmers' Market

August 9: Durham Farmers' Market

August 17: Black Farmers' Market

Please contact Clay Harrison at manager@modh.org with questions or to sign up.

Questions? Email Amanda at amanda@thevolunteercenter.org

Meals on Wheels of Durham

Meals on Wheels of 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. Meals on Wheels of Durham has something for everybody!

Meals on Wheels of Durham is seeking volunteers to make phone calls to our home-bound senior clients. Call 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 MOWD's 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 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 prepare and deliver fresh produce on Saturday, July 26.

Meals on Wheels of Durham is launching a monthly pantry program to deliver fresh produce and shelf-stable groceries to seniors on their waitlist The next delivery date is Saturday, July 26 and will take place on the third Saturday of the each month. They need:

10 volunteer drivers (must have valid license and vehicle)

5 indoor volunteers to assist with food box assembly and loading

Steve Anstett embodies community service through his multi-faceted volunteer work with the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle and beyond. For several years, Steve has been making a tangible difference in the lives of local families and children

Steve plays a key role in the Backpack Buddies program, which delivers food every other week to Chatham County schools. This vital program provides students with discreet bags of food they can take home for weekends, ensuring no child goes hungry when school meals aren't available. Steve's leadership extends beyond his own participation he recruited three neighbors to join the effort, and now two volunteers handle each delivery. The program's impact resonates throughout the schools, with educators consistently sharing how much difference these food deliveries make in their students' lives. When Durham Public Schools needs additional support for their Backpack Buddies routes, Steve jumps in to help

Steve also volunteers with his church's mobile market on the third Saturday of each month, helping distribute food boxes including fresh produce to 70 families and 60 shut-ins. This program ensures that both mobile families and homebound community members have access to nutritious food.

Beyond food security, Steve coordinates a neighborhood reading buddy program at a local elementary school. This initiative involves 40 volunteers who rotate tutoring students twice weekly throughout the school year Steve hopes to expand this successful program to additional schools and recruit even more volunteer tutors.

What drives Steve's extensive volunteer work? He finds deep fulfillment in connecting with the people he serves teachers, guidance counselors, and community members who validate the importance of his work. Steve is passionate about recruiting others to join volunteer efforts, using his enthusiasm to inspire neighbors and friends to serve their community.

Steve's dedication demonstrates how one person's commitment can create ripple effects throughout the community, inspiring others to get involved and making a lasting impact on countless lives.