Stokes Volunteer Center exists to connect the agencies in our county with volunteer needs to persons seeking to serve through volunteering.
Some examples from 2006-2007:
Healthy Carolinians –volunteer assistance with suicide prevention program, fundraisers, publicity
Stokes Arts Council with volunteers to help at fundraising events & Stokes Stomp as well as ongoing volunteer service at Dan River Art Market.
Hospice of Stokes with fundraising at golf tournaments and Poker Paddle Run.
Stokes Partnership for Children volunteers to support “Little Folks Festival”, clerical work, “Breakfast with Santa”, Americorp Program.
Stokes Senior Services – volunteers to assist with sewing and alterations at Walnut Cove Sr. Center, fundraising events, tax preparation, bingo, etc. Volunteers to help with registration and vital statistics at stroke screenings each quarter all over our county. Volunteers to help with meals on wheels and service at congregate meal sites. Helped with “Community Dialogue” event to form “A plan for Seniors in Stokes”. Respite & Transportation for the elderly is provided.
Interagency Group – SVC takes the lead in this group which is composed of all the agencies in our county. SVC takes the lead in the yearly Volunteer Recognition Event and monthly council meetings..
Buffalo Creek Literacy Project – SVC partners with BCLP to train Juvenile Justice Staff in our county and establish an on going program for literacy support with these youth and for adults.
SCAN – childcare provision for special training sessions for parents.
Juvenile Justice – on going programs for at risk youth – Ladybugs for girls and All About Respect for boys ages 12-18. 4 sessions in October dealing with first aid and safety, violence, self-esteem, trip to Charlotte in December to Discovery Place, 2 weeks of summer camps at Stokes Family YMCA Program Center & Hanging Rock Park for 28 youth dealing with the struggles of life today. Thanksgiving Meal and program at Recreation Acres for group of 50, Easter session, and much more….. Work closely with Meadowbrook School, Stokes Friends of Youth, Elink & Joblink programs, Triumph and Drug Free NC. Helped sponsor Stokes Skate Board Task Force and skate park events for youth in summer months.
Chamber of Commerce – SVC hosts the annual Cake Bake Off event of Kingfest and the Volunteer Dinner. SVC strives to supply volunteer support for all of their events.
THE WORK OF THE ORGANIZATION
Since 2000, both Stokes Partnership for Children (SPC) and Northwest Piedmont Council of Governments Area Agency on Aging (NWPCOG/AAA) have collaborated to start a Volunteer Center in Stokes County. Each agency has helped develop an Advisory Council made up of community agency representatives and volunteers from the community. This Council has become the Board of Directors for the Stokes Volunteer Center.
A start-up grant was awarded to Stokes Volunteer Center in 2000 in the amount of $7,500 from the Governor’s Office. Northwest Piedmont Area Agency on Aging matched this grant dollar for dollar. Since that time Stokes Volunteer Center has progressed rapidly. Strategic and Planning Sessions have been held. A bank account has been opened for Stokes Volunteer Center transactions. A logo utilizing Bill Johnson’s snowflake design has been approved. Interest surveys have been conducted among organizations utilizing volunteers and by volunteers wishing to serve.
In December 2002, The Stokes Volunteer Center Advisory Council voted to collaborate with Northwest Piedmont Council of Governments to hire a part time position through their Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). With this particular collaboration, Northwest Piedmont Council of Governments/SVC created a full-time 30 hours a week position, with benefits, to further the vision to have a fully operational Volunteer Center. Karen Bell Holland was officially hired as the Volunteer Center Coordinator on June 1, 2003. Upon the resignation of Ms. Holland, Susan Maxey became the second coordinator of the SVC. She began work on October 1, 2004. Since her employment, office space has been secured at 151 Jefferson Church Road, Suite 5, King, NC 27021. Her position has grown to 40 hours full-time a week contingent upon available funding.
Stokes Volunteer Center is contacted weekly by organizations seeking volunteer assistance as well as folks looking for volunteer service. Connections are being made and lives enhanced. New folks moving to Stokes County come here and find places to serve.
STOKES VOLUNTEER CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2007
Cindy Tuttle, Chair; Stokes Partnership for Children, Exec. Director
Sue Gentry, Secretary; Community Leader
Jan Spencer, Treasurer; Director DSS
Joan Sheriff, Vice Chair; Northwest Regional Libraries
Jerry Rothrock, Community Leader
Mayor Jack Warren, King Mayor
Lynn Martins, Dept. Sr. Services
Vicky East, Walnut Cove Sr. Center
Margaret Arey, Hospice of Stokes
Reba Elliott, Community Leader
Sara Jo Durham, Soil & Water Conservation
Joyce Troyer, Northwest Piedmont Council of Governments
Dean Burgess, Northewest Piedmont Council of Governments
Yvonne Rutledge, Community Leader
Stokes Volunteer Center--A United Fund Agency