
OUR
MISSION
>>
BOARD,
STAFF & AFFILIATIONS
>>
WHY
THE VOLUNTEER
CENTER IS
IMPORTANT
>>
ABOUT
THE VOLUNTEER
CENTER
>>
OUR
HISTORY
>>
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OUR
MISSION
To enhance the quality of life in our
communities by partnering with others as we create a resource for
self-motivated, community-based volunteers for the purpose of
connecting local efforts and
organizations in need
with those wishing to share
their energy, time and special skills.
To bring a measure of compassion and respect
to our vulnerable populations as
we administer a volunteer ’safety net’
transportation program while addressing those unmet needs for which
no other programs are adequate or available.
To embrace and expand the sense of community that creates the
opportunity for everyone to live, work, visit, or retire with
dignity.
The Volunteer
Center of Calaveras County is a 501(c)3 non-profit
organization, formed for the purpose of improving the quality of
life for the citizens of Calaveras County. The Volunteer Center
serves Calaveras County citizens and their families by connecting
community based Volunteers with those in need of assistance.
We maintain a
countywide
VOLUNTEER
OPPORTUNITIES
database via this web site for the purpose of
connecting caring volunteers with opportunities to make a difference
in their community. Please consider sharing your talents, skills and
experiences.
Perhaps you or someone you know would like to give someone a ride to
their doctor appointment, take
someone to the
post office or grocery store . . . maybe read the labels for them!
Maybe you're up to changing a light bulb, or fixing a leaky faucet,
tighten the screws in the front door so it closes, cut wood, clear
weeds for fire defense, take someone to the Senior Center or to
senior meals for an outing, make regular phone calls to check on a
neighbor who is living alone, serve as a board member or as
secretary or financial accountant, or . . .
The idea is to
help our neighbors continue to reside safely in their own homes for
as long as possible, and each do our part to prevent isolation. You
will be forever grateful that you did! It's all about helping to
identify issues, define solutions and make good decisions. It's all
about quality of life. Its all about community.
Should you or anyone you know need assistance, or wish to become
part of the volunteer "safety net," please
SIGN UP TO
BE A VOLUNTEER
then read more on the
VOLUNTEER
OPPORTUNITIES
page. If you are in need of a volunteer,
CLICK HERE to add
your
information
to our database.
BOARD,
STAFF AND
AFFILIATIONS
The Board of
Directors is the group primarily responsible for the direction and
activities of the Volunteer Center.
The Executive Director carries
out the operations of the Center and directs the activities of other
staff.
Melinda Williams,
Personnel Liaison |
Past
President
Past Vice President
Mokelumne Hill, CA
April 1991
|
-
Volunteer Driver
- The Volunteer Center
-
Calaveras Public Utilities
District (32 years) - Retired
-
Reach for Recovery - Breast
Cancer - Licensed “Fitter” for Breast Cancer
Patients
-
Beard, Land & Investment
Company, Member Board of Directors
-
Modesto Empire Traction Company
(Railroad)
|
Fred Kuster,
Board Member |
Past
President
Past Vice President Valley
Springs, CA
April 1993 |
-
Volunteer Driver
- The Volunteer Center
-
“Santa’s Express” - The Resource Connection
-
Elementary
School Teacher (32 years) - Retired
-
Ombudsman (10
years)
-
California
Teachers Association (42 years)
-
American Legion
Post 102 (12 years), Chaplin (2 years)
-
U.S. Army, 90th
Division, WWII, Germany & England
-
In-home
Supportive Services Advisory Coummittee Member
|
Martha Mae
"Marti" Crane, Board Member, Executive Director |
Valley
Springs, CA
February 2002 |
-
Volunteer Driver
- The Volunteer Center
-
Escrow Officer - (20 years) -
Retired
-
Senior Network of Calaveras
County - Member
-
Valley Springs Youth
and Family Center -
Past Bd. President, Past Board Secretary, New Facility
Acquisition & Development
-
Valley Springs Optimist Club,
Event Coordinator, Club Secretary
-
Support of the Arts and
Community:
Friends of the Library - Annual Melodrama fundraiser Master Gardener Program - University of California
Extension Calaveras Youth Mentoring Program - Annual Follies
Fundraiser Community / Youth Theater “Santa’s Express” - The Resource Connection
-
Red Cross
Volunteer
-
Community
Emergency Response Team (CERT) Volunteer
-
In-Home Supportive Services
Advisory Committee
|
Joy C. Roberts,
Office Assistant, Board Member |
San Andreas, CA
December
2005 |
-
The Volunteer
Center - Volunteer Driver, Financial/Data Entry
Officer
-
Friends of the Calaveras County
Library
-
“Santa’s Express” - The Resource
Connection
-
Mark Twain Hospital Auxiliary
-
Calaveras Twirlers Square Dance
Club, Secretary
-
New Directions for Women, Orange
County (9 years)
-
Treasurer, Manzanita Writers
Press
|
Judy McMurty,
Office Assistant, Board Member |
Mountain Ranch, CA
October 2012 |
-
Prior Owner:
Calaveras County KCFA Radio Station
106.1 FM
-
Advocate &
Support: ARC and Goldstrike Residence
(2 years)
(Supporting adults with learning disabilities.)
-
Volunteer
Sheriff Department (2011 to present)
-
Public Access
TV: Show Host & Program Anchor (1998 to present)
-
Resource
Connection Food Bank (2010 to present)
-
Women's Jail
Ministry (2011 to present)
-
Volunteer Driver
- The Volunteer Center
|
Janice Bassett,
Board Member |
Valley Springs, CA
October 2017 |
-
Valley Springs
Youth and Family Center:
Board member and
secretary since 2011 Executive Director - 5 years
-
Superior Court,
Court Room Clerk, Santa Cruz, 19 years
-
SEIU, Field
Organizer - 2 years
-
Wallace/Burson
Association , member since 2012
-
Calaveras Youth
Mentoring Program, former mentor
-
Poet and Ukelele
player
|
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WHY
THE VOLUNTEER
CENTER IS
IMPORTANT
The success or
failure of all non-profit organizations, community events and
grass-roots efforts is directly tied to the availability of
volunteers. It's the connection between the volunteers and the
opportunities that has been missing. To that end, the Volunteer
Center connects motivated volunteers with those needing their time,
energy and expertise.
Consider this:
“I am only
one. But still, I am one. I cannot do everything, but
still, I can do something.
Because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something
that I can do.”
~
Meladee McCarty |
Everyone has
something to share and contribute, so please consider
sharing your skills and
enthusiasm. We are all unique and bring to the educational table,
our own knowledge base, skills, lessons from life, and a
desire to be useful and productive.
Our
youth bring excitement, energy and bright new ideas to the
‘solution pool’. Our retired population is home to a wealth of
education, skills and life experiences and is sorely needed if we
are to guide our upcoming generations gently and safely into the
future.
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ABOUT
THE VOLUNTEER
CENTER
The Volunteer
Center of Calaveras County is a 501(c)3) non-profit operating for
the specific purpose of improving the quality of life for the
citizens of Calaveras County, without regard to race, creed,
religion, or other areas of discrimination and was initially formed
for the purpose of creating a pool of volunteers to act as a 'safety
net' for our senior, low income, and residents with disabilities.
Because Calaveras
County is a rural countryside with many isolated areas, connecting volunteers with
volunteer opportunities requires a collaborative effort involving
all our residents, organizations, service groups and religious
communities.
Your Volunteer
Center is here to assist in bringing those opportunities to your
attention and to coordinate the ‘safety net’ program for our
vulnerable, and many times invisible neighbors.
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OUR
HISTORY
The community came
together in the early 1980s to address needs for which no other
programs were adequate or available. In June of 1991, the Volunteer
Center became a 501(c)3 to better address those needs. The challenges still exist
today, and due to our population increases or economic
circumstances, those needs continue to escalate.
Because of the ever growing requests for help, a new, larger
facility is being built in San Andreas behind San Andreas Elementary
School. The new campus has meeting rooms, a kitchen, and other
features to better serve the community. Plans to expand include a
community garden, amphitheater, and other possibilities that are yet
to be imagined.
The majority of the
calls are for assistance getting to doctor appointments, the post
office and the grocery store (perhaps reading the labels if the
client has a vision challenge). The balance of calls are for a
variety of concerns such as:
-
"Where do I go for legal advice?"
-
"I'm
90 years old. The weeds are high and I'm afraid of the fire
season. Where can I get help"
-
"I
received a letter in the mail that frightens or concerns me.
What should I do?"
-
"I'm
lonely"
-
"The
hinges on my front door are loose and keep it from closing"
-
"I
am a caregiver and would like to help someone"
-
"The
light bulb has burned out in the kitchen and it's too dark to go
in there at night to get a drink"
-
"I
want to volunteer somewhere."
-
"Please, I need someone to help me vacuum about once a month"
-
"How
can I involve my children and teach them the value of community
service?"
-
"I'm
a retired business man/woman and would like to be useful.
Perhaps there's a board that needs my skills?"
-
"I
love my community and I know that someone, somewhere needs my
help."
-
"I
think I could be useful as the Secretary on a Board of
Directors."
ABOUT
US
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HOW YOU
CAN HELP
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NEED
VOLUNTEERS?
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