Central Oregonian

In support of Dr. King’s message

Volunteer Connect is encouraging volunteerism on Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 12, 2010

Monday, January 18, will be a "day on, not a day off" for many people around the nation.

Since 1994, a movement has been sweeping the nation toward making Martin Luther King Jr. Day a day of service. It was in that year, that congress designated Martin Luther King Jr. Day as King Day of Service. This year, King Day of Service will include several projects in Prineville that are suited for all ages.

Several local non-profit organizations will be participating in the one-day event that is being coordinated by Volunteer Connect. Jessica Knight is the coordinating the events on MLK Jr. Day for Volunteer Connect.

"Our goal is to support Dr. King's message that `everybody can be great because anybody can serve' by engaging a wide variety of volunteers. We will have youth and student groups, corporate staff, families and individuals coming together," said Knight.

To date there are three confirmed events that Volunteer Connect is helping organize in Prineville. They are taking place at The Oasis Soup Kitchen, Crook County ReStore, and Prineville Pregnancy Resource Center. According to Knight, the projects will take place in the morning and will be followed by a complementary light lunch held at The Oasis. Following the lunch will be an informal discussion that will be led by Americorps members Donna Hamlin and Jonathan Lent. The discussion will focus on the volunteers' experience and how citizens can become more involved in local volunteer work.

Knight encourages those interested in joining their effort to check on their Web site for more opportunities they hope will be added as it gets closer to the day of the event. The Web site is also a way a person can obtain more information on how to be a part of Volunteer Connects other activities.

"We are pretty new, our Web site will be a resource for people who want to get involved," said Knight, speaking of Volunteer Connect.

As many people already know, more volunteers are always welcome at any nonprofit organization. Local organizations hope that King Day of Service will lead more people becoming more involved in volunteering.

The Oasis, a soup kitchen that offers meals each day except Sunday, is one opportunity where young and old can serve. For each day lunch is offered, the kitchen needs four to five people to prepare a meal and do clean-up afterwards. Currently, they have five days a month where they have no volunteer staff and about 10 days a month where they are understaffed.

"Five of those days are lacking team leaders," said Rich Will, manager of The Oasis. Many churches and other organizations are already helping at the soup kitchen, which relies on volunteers to do the cooking and clean up each day. Will suggested that businesses or groups of employees could put together teams where they help out just one day a month.

Although much of the work scheduled for that day at the local Pregnancy Resource Center will be outside, there is a need for volunteers to help in various ways inside and out.

"Anybody who wants to volunteer will find that there are lots of opportunities on an ongoing basis helping Cindy (Jones, the center's director)," said Tony Bristow, who is the Communications Director for Pregnancy Resource Centers of Central Oregon.

Jones said one way that people can help without having to come into the center is to simply "keep other people informed that we are here." Volunteers to help with many activities are also an ongoing need, as is a need for new or very gently used baby furniture. New parenting classes have brought in many young parents and being able to offer the accessories that go along with babies is just one way the center likes to help.

Up the hill at the Humane Society of the Ochocos, there are also some needs. At this time they are not planning on being a part of the King Day of Service. However, according to Rebecca Lofton, an animal care technician, "we can always use all the volunteers we can get".

People are needed to help walk and play with the dogs at the shelter. Other cleanup or general care of the many animals is another way people can help. If you are interested in getting involved with this local animal shelter, simply stop by and fill out one of their volunteer applications.

Look for more volunteer activities to come throughout the next year as Volunteer Connect begins to solidify their partnerships with local agencies. Currently 70 Central Oregon agencies are beginning the process of partnering with Volunteer Connect, with 15 of those either active in or located in Prineville.

For more information about how to find more volunteer opportunities:

On the web:

http://www.volunteerconnectnow.org/

Call: 541-385-8977

Agencies that Volunteer Connect Partners with in Prineville:

CASA of Central Oregon

Central Oregon Council on Aging

CORIL (Central Oregon Resources for Independent Living)

Crook County CHIP

Crook County Commission on Children and Families

Crook County Habitat for Humanity (ReStore)

Crook County Kids Club

Crook County Library

Crook County Parks and Recreation

Girl Scouts of Oregon and SW Washington

Humane Society of the Ochocos

Mosaic Medical

Pregnancy Resources of Central Oregon

Saving Grace

The Oasis Soup Kitchen