ON SITE VOLUNTEER SERVICES

On Site Volunteer Services (OSVS) was founded in 1994 by Neil Giacobbi, a Cornell University student, as a unique-student run nonprofit agency. OSVS is based in Ithaca, New York, and each year manages 2000 volunteers as they serve the needs of more than 40 local agencies. OSVS leads groups of volunteers on service projects such as painting, landscaping, pre-construction work and more. In addition, they manage volunteers for civic events, festivals and celebrations.

Beyond serving as an effective and efficient leverage for nonprofits to utilize volunteer labor to complete necessary physical projects or staff events and leading individuals in enjoyable and productive opportunities, OSVS builds communities. Ithaca, New York is a university town with Cornell University and Ithaca College as the two largest employers in the region. The “town-gown” relationships are at times confrontational. OSVS serves as a positive influence by leading Cornell and Ithaca College students, staff and faculty in hands-on projects in downtown Ithaca and rural Tompkins County. As a result, members of the Cornell and Ithaca College communities are introduced to the greater Tompkins County area.

While at other universities student organizations may lead volunteers in service, OSVS is unique in that it is an independent student-run 501(c) 3 agency not under the authority of the university. Students from both of the colleges work part-time as OSVS staff-members. These student-staff members coordinate projects, recruit and manage volunteers, perform all human resources, financial management, public relations and fundraising activities. OSVS is lead by an Executive Director who is a full-time student and advised by local advisory councils – a diverse collection of university, civic and business leaders – and is governed by a Board of Directors – comprised of alumni and friends of OSVS. Staff members at OSVS participate in their Leadership Development and Management Training Program and receive extraordinary opportunities to develop important professional skills. OSVS alumni work in many different sectors and remain committed to serving their communities.

OSVS is also unique from the one-day, large service programs such as “Into the Streets”, in that it performs multiple service projects each week of the academic year and special projects during the summer months.

Lastly, OSVS is also innovative in that it is a resourceful agency attracting a diverse funding base. The agency receives funding from the local government, residents, businesses and foundations, in addition to attracting funds from student groups and alumni of both Cornell University and Ithaca College who no longer reside in the area. Contributions from this latter group are another way that OSVS helps to engage the university and their alumni in supporting the roughly 70,000 dollars a year of federal funds through the federal work-study system. Rather than having students earn these funds in ways that benefit the university they attend, OSVS employees utilize this valuable financial aid component to make a difference in the community in which they live and study.

ANNE BANFIELD

Anne Banfield is a 34-year-old woman with Down’s syndrome. Banfield began volunteering at the W.H. Hundley Annex, the long-term care facility of Community Memorial Healthcenter, immediately upon her graduation from high school. She became a member of the Auxiliary of the Healthcenter in 1988, and has since logged over 10,000 hours of volunteer service. She runs errands, helps transport residents of the Annex to the beauty shop and to various recreational activities, helps out with Bingo, plays the piano, and distributes smiles, hugs and kisses on a frequent basis. Everyone who comes into contact with Banfield at the Hospital adores her.

A friendly, helpful person is always a welcomed sight for anyone, and the elderly confined to long-term care are no exception. Many of the hospital residents have only a minimal number of relatives and friends that visit on a regular basis. Banfield’s daily companionship offers them the sociable encounter that otherwise may be absent. Banfield builds connections one person at a time and each receives her undivided and individualized attention. She greets everyone she encounters with a smile, “good morning,” and a hug that is special, just for him or her.

Having topped the 10,000 hours of volunteer service at the W.S. Hundley Annex, Banfield continues to accumulate service hours by helping every weekday and she has no plans to slow her pace. Currently, she serves over 125 hours per month.

Banfield is a member of the Activity staff and carries out her duties faithfully. One of her jobs is to assist the residents coming and going to and from events. She does this by driving the elevator to bring the residents from the first and second floors to the basement Activity/Dining room, where most of the activities take place. Banfield knows all of the residents and where they live. She is courteous and concerned for their safety.

Banfield also takes an active role in the activities by passing out prizes for Bingo, serving food and assisting residents with eating during socials and parties, actively participating in games like bowling, shuffleboard, parachute fun and exercises, wheelchair square dancing and line dancing, sing-a-longs, special events like proms, talent and fashion shows, and many more events too numerous to mention.

Banfield, on any given day, provides interaction for each of the 140 residents, their family members and the 150 staff who are employed at the facility. And residents and staff alike know immediately upon meeting her that she is their friend for life. While many of us may lack the strength or power to overcome “boundaries,” she chose to “go beyond” hers and because of that, the world is a much more beautiful place for the residents and those connected with the Healthcenter, the Annex and the community.

MARGE ENGLEMAN

Marge Engleman has been involved with the American Red Cross for the past ten years, serving numerable hours to support their services. After the September 11th tragedy, she volunteered to assist with the distribution of t-shirts and magnets sold through the local chapter for more than 30 hours. Her support at such a crucial time was instrumental to the success of the fundraiser.

On numerous occasions, Marge has placed her personal life on hold so she could assist during disasters. One example of this was during the Madison County flooding on Easter weekend. Marge was in the middle of making Easter dinner for her family, including her daughter who was home from Virginia, when she was called to gather supplies and begin relief efforts.

In addition to Red Cross volunteer activities, Marge is very active in her community. She volunteers with the Missouri Veterans Home, Cape County Health Department, Meals on Wheels, Area Wide United Way, and works the poll at election time. Marge is also a guide for the Convention and Visitors Bureau, where she proudly shows off her community to visitors and prospective employees. Marge serves on the Board of Trustees at her church, where she oversees the church plan and monitors how money is spent. She is a member of the Kitchen committee, where she cooks at least twice a month, helps with food bereavement meals, and keeps the kitchen safe and clean. Aside from conducting meetings for groups and giving tours of the church, Marge has been a Circle Leader, Bible School Director, Sunday School Teacher, and leader for a Young Adult Class that she started with her husband Bill.

For 24 years, Marge spent her career as a teacher in the Cape Girardeau public school system, where she has impacted the lives of thousands of students. While in the school system, she implemented new programs for the students and volunteered in several capacities such as serving on two-bond issue committees and the Community Relations Committee, as well as delivering school papers. Outside of the school system, Marge has been involved in a disabled scout program, served as a Girl Scout leader, and chaired the Kiwanis Coat and Shoe program. At the Alternative School, she has repaired and distributed clothing to the students and was the liaison for the Procter & Gamble Adopt a School project, which funded computers and new programs for the school system. She also planned the first Black History month and put together a job fair for the students that introduced them to a variety of employment opportunities.

Marge depicts the true spirit of volunteerism. She has spent the majority of her life giving to others while keeping a smile on her face and kindness in her heart. She is dedicated to giving her time and talents to the community and is truly an inspiration.

NORTH AMERICAN RIDING FOR THE HANDICAPPED ASSOCIATION

The North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) is the umbrella organization for nearly 650 Riding Centers in the United States that provide Therapeutic Riding for 32,000 disabled, children, youth and adults.

Some of these riders were disabled at birth; others have suffered an injury or accident in later years that has resulted in their disability, while others were born autistic. Still others are at Risk Youth. For children and adults with CP and MS the motion of riding on a horse is identical to that of a person jogging or running so muscles can be developed that a physical therapist cannot reach.

Often parents of autistic children will tell us that the first word their child has spoken is “whoa” or “giddy up”, because they know that is what moves or stops the horse. NARHA was founded in 1969 at the Red Fox Inn in Middleburg, Virginia by a group of horse owners who knew from visits to England that a new therapy had been developed to treat persons with disabilities by providing them with therapy on horseback.

From that small beginning the Association has become the leading spokes organization for the disabled and horse therapy and is the organization that sets the standards for the industry.

NARHA is vitally concerned with the safety of its riders and its volunteers and conducts extensive certification courses, nationwide, for potential instructors; on going continuing education courses for its instructors and volunteers; and accreditation visits to its Member Centers to guarantee they are complying with proper safety standards. NARHA also offers numerous publications to its membership and the general public, from its Award winning quarterly magazine, to the four page pamphlets designed for instructors, or administrators, or riders and their parents.

Many persons who have been told they would never be able to walk are now walking as a result of the therapy they have received on the horse and many at risk youth have benefited and become productive citizens as a result of the responsibilities they were given in caring for a horse.

Former Presidential Press Secretary James Brady rehabilitated at the National Center for Therapeutic Riding, a NARHA facility that at that time was located in Rock Creek Park. NARHA holds an annual Convention, with presentations from leaders in the industry, and conducts Regional Seminars and Conferences on an annual basis in each of the 11 NARHA Regions in the United States. Nearly 2,000 persons attend these seminars, workshops and Conference annually.To conduct a riding lesson the young rider must have two sidewalks and a lead walker.

Throughout the Country there are 30,000 volunteers, 1,100 instructors and 5,700 Therapy Horses involved in NARHA Programs. For many of the volunteers it is their first interaction with a child with disabilities. Despite these numbers there remain waiting lists at nearly all NARHA Centers. For the child in wheel chair the horse allows them to go places that they could not otherwise go and helps them tremendously in developing their self confidence; NARHA ‘s mission.

THE DUNCKELMAN FAMILY

Geralyn Dunckelman was raised from childhood by her grandmother upon her mother’s passing. Geralyn’s grandmother provided her with much guidance and support throughout her lifetime, as well as eventually providing support for Geralyn’s two sons. She also taught the sons about faith and sat many hours sharing life’s experiences. She made a profound difference in all of their lives.

When she died at age 90, the Dunckelman family felt compelled to keep her memory alive through work with other elderly members of their community. Houma, like most communities in the United States, finds itself with an aging, lonely population. The grandmother’s life had taught them that they are all members of a family, bonded by the responsibility to meet the needs of others in unique ways. Thus, the Dunckelman family targeted local nursing homes and individuals confined to private houses to develop a service project, “Family Focus,” which would involve a combination of “mini” projects developed by each family member, but supported by the entire group.

The eldest son, 16 years old, started “SENSE-ible Service,” which attempts to stimulate the five senses of the elderly. For example, food is provided for taste, flowers are donated for smell, used eyeglasses are recycled for sight, visits with animals are made to stimulate the sense of touch, and visits with musical instruments promote audio stimulation. Countless youths and their families have supported this program.

In the words of the youngest son, age 11, “How can we have a future without a past?” After surveying nursing homes throughout our nation to determine the availability of fine arts programs in these homes, he began a program called Project FAME (Fine Arts Motivating the Elderly). His efforts have resulted in over one thousand youths and adults working together to collect over $100,000 in audiocassettes, videocassettes, and books. Sites in thirteen states were selected to receive these materials with local nursing homes being the primary recipients.

Mr. Dunckelman provides for the spiritual and holiday needs of local nursing home residents by uniting youths and their respective families for monthly prayer services. Further, holidays are characterized by costumed visits, bringing cheerful talk and gifts.

Mrs. Dunckelman’s project involves inter-generational reading, which pairs at-risk preschoolers for reading and friendship with nursing home residents. Over the years, she has witnessed the elimination of behavioral problems, the building of lasting friendships, people committing to a lifetime of altruistic activities, and the prideful looks of a hundred adopted grandparents. These visits, completed with the aid of the local school district, give them the needed reminder that in education, there lies an obligation to develop not only the minds, but also the character of our children.

Mrs. Dunckelman states that in the future, all activities will continue with love and appreciation for the elderly and others.

KIM BENFIELD

Kim Benfield is a member of Gamma Sigma Sigma, the national co-ed sorority that requires each member to perform 20 hours of community service per semester. Kim volunteers with the G.I.V.E. Center (Georgia College & State University Involved in Volunteer Efforts), which serves as the volunteer/community service clearinghouse empowering students to make a difference in the community.

This organization at GC & SU just recently won the National Service Merit Award for all their help with Relay for Life, the 24-hour Cancer Walk in Baldwin County. Kim was on the planning committee all year, as well as volunteered over 100 hours with the Relay. She is very active in Gamma Sigma Sigma and because of all her hard work, commitment and dedication she has become a wonderful member of this service sorority. Kim is not only a member this year, but is the Service Vice President and will be responsible for coordinating and planning many volunteer opportunities for all the members. There are over 50 members in the group, which will mean that Kim will be responsible for getting students to volunteer over 2000 hours this year. This is the third year she will have been a member of this group.

Kim has an extensive list of volunteer opportunities in which she has participated. She was past President of the collegiate 4-H chapter. She volunteered with Little Feet for one year, where she helped teach at-risk children how to dance. She has volunteered with blood drives for 3 years and helped at the refreshment table, as well as helped with other needed things.

She has gone through MAXX training with the American Red Cross to be able to register donors and work with the plastics of Blood Drives in Baldwin County. She was a Student Coordinator for Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and in this capacity, she worked to help recruit college students to become a mentor/tutor with the T5 (Taking Time To Talk and Teach) program in local elementary schools for a year. She has coordinated service projects for 25 students at the Emerging Leaders Retreat, where they build birdhouses for a local nursing home so that the residents could enjoy them last semester. She volunteers with the beautification of downtown Milledgeville. She volunteers with Habitat for Humanity on GC & SU College Days. She has tutored at-risk youth from a local elementary school for a semester. She taught life skills’ workshops for a middle school after-school program for 2 years. She volunteered as a clown for a back-to-school party for at-risk, low-income children for 3 years. She has been dancing with Toe Jam Time, a local clogging team for nursing homes and day care center, for 5 years. And finally, she volunteered with State Farm during their annual Bike Rodeo for 2 years.

Kim not only volunteers her time, but gets others to volunteer as well. She has already gotten 12 members involved with the new Colleges Against Cancer group and they have already started making crafts for cancer survivors, working on Anti-tobacco campaign, developing a speaker’s bureau about Prevention and Education about Cancer, developing a cancer buddy program, where volunteers in the community will be matched up with cancer survivors to develop a friendship; and they will also work directly with Relay For Life this year.

ARTHUR & PHYLLIS TANNENBAUM

Everybody Wins! was started by retired New York City textile industry executive Arthur Tannenbaum in 1995. After reading “The Read-Aloud Handbook” by Jim Trelease, Tannenbaum decided he wanted to do his part to make sure children received positive exposure to reading. The book points out how vital it is for youngsters to be read to by adults.

Tannenbaum and some of his colleagues decided to volunteer at a school near their office. Once he retired, his idea for Everybody Wins! took off. Together Arthur Tannenbaum and his wife, Phyllis founded Everybody Wins! in New York City, and the program began matching up professionals with at-risk, inner-city school children as reading partners. The program sends volunteers from the corporate world into schools close to their offices. They spend a class period reading with student partners and return to the office by the end of the lunch hour. During each power lunch session, the reading partners select a book and read aloud together, an activity that the Commission on Reading calls the single most important activity for building a child’s eventual success in reading.

The kids in the program not only benefit from the extra reading time, but also from having other adults to talk to, said Emily Clark of PS 67 in New York City, NY, who coordinates the power lunch program. “A lot of kids open up to the volunteers, communicating with someone who is not their parent,” Clark said. “It’s like they have pen pals who come in once a week.”

Today thousands of children are being mentored. For several years, the Tannenbaums received requests from individuals nationwide who wanted to replicate this successful program in other parts of the country. They responded and programs were developed in cities including Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Atlanta and Topeka, among others. As a result of a one million dollar congressional appropriation, Everybody Wins! will be come a truly national program with chapters throughout the U.S. A National Expansion Committee, composed of representatives from the New York and Washington, D.C. Boards of Directors has been formed to move replication of Power Lunch and other EW! initiatives forward.

Senator James Jeffords remarked, “It takes very little to see the problems we have in education in our country. It takes someone special to have the vision and creativity to address those problems in a new way. And it takes someone even more special to turn that vision into a viable program that can be replicated to serve children all across the nation. Arthur Tannenbaum, Founder of Everybody Wins! and Phyllis Tannenbaum, Co-founder, are very special people indeed. I want to thank them for their vision, their tenacity, and their life-long work to improve education for all children.”

Pamela Watts, Assistant Principal of PS 15 Manhattan commented, “Everybody Wins! has provided readers to the students, which in turn has helped to increase our reading scores, which in turn helped to improve our students’ self-esteem. This has made our school a happier place to go to learn.” The Tannenbaums’ ultimate goal is to have every child in the country read to either by a parent or relative or a volunteer.

JACK KAUCK

Jack Kauck is a modest hero that has helped thousands that do not even know his name. He has not thrown a record breaking touchdown, has not broken any homerun records, and he has never been on the evening news for a heroic act of bravery. He is a modest man, retired and recently widowed with two sons and a granddaughter that is the apple of his eye.

Ten years ago, Kauck read an article about a wheelchair repair/ loan program that had been started by Easter Seals Southwestern Ohio. Kauck’s mother had benefited from the use of a wheelchair to stay independent despite her Rheumatoid Arthritis, and this was a perfect opportunity for Kauck to help other people keep their independence. He joined the founding team of 5 gentlemen and never looked back. Over the years, Kauck has helped provide independence to thousands of people with disabilities that could not afford medical equipment due to low income and lack of insurance.

Today Kauck runs the program with a helper volunteer. The program has expanded to include wheelchairs, canes, walkers, infant and children equipment needs and much more. “I am in constant need of parts, I never have enough parts,” says Kauck as he gives a tour of the equipment repair shop located at the Easter Seals facility in Reading. ” I’m always looking for volunteers who can work with metal, it’s a great opportunity for a retired person with tool and die experience. It’s challenging and very rewarding.”

The Easter Seals Southwestern Ohio Medical Equipment Loan program accepts used medical equipment to be repaired or used for spare parts. All items are repaired and inspected at Easter Seals. The equipment is then loaned out for a minimal fee and Doctor’s prescription to people with lower incomes that do not have insurance.

The staff and board of Easter Seals Southwestern have been recipients of Kauck’s kindness and service for the past ten years. They may not know his name, but thousands of people with disabilities have regained their independence thanks to his unwavering efforts.

RUSSELL PORTER

Under the leadership of Russ Porter, the foot care clinics have grown from a seminal initiative begun in 1988 by a resident physician and a couple of nurses to a sustained effort by more than 100 people providing foot care to more than 1200 homeless men and women. Porter has personally recruited as volunteers, podiatrists, nurses, medically trained persons and others to keep the many clinics adequately staffed.

In addition to coordinating the efforts of volunteers, Porter secures funding support from organizations, businesses, churches and friends, and stretches dollars by finding good buys on shoes, socks, towels and medical supplies.

Porter retired from GE in 1993 with a vision of growing the capabilities of the foot care clinics. From his experience with the clinics as a volunteer helper, Porter saw that there was a great need for foot care, as well as just plain caring, among the homeless in Cincinnati. He wanted the clinics to extend care to more people, but he also wanted to do more. From that beginning, Porter set out to find resources and match care teams to sites, such as the Drop Inn Center, where care could be given. In 2001-2002 clinic sites include the Drop Inn Center, Bethany House, Our Daily Bread, Tender Mercies, 2nd Mile Hospitality, Mt. Airy Shelter, Pike Street Clinic (CVG) and Hosea House (Newport).

Nurses, podiatrists and specially trained volunteers provide foot care. As homeless persons are frequently over looked or ignored, Porter reminds volunteers to make a special effort to talk and listen as they care for each person. Many people coming to our clinics have never received foot care, many suffer from skin or nail conditions related to their lives on the streets and in shelters, and many have well-worn, poorly fitting shoes (some have no shoes!).

Each person receiving care is greeted and asked to soak their feet in warm, soapy water for 10-15 minutes. A caregiver will first introduce her/himself to the “patient” and then ask him/her about medical conditions (e.g. diabetes can affect peripheral circulation, causing sores or loss of sensation). Following an examination of the feet, nails will be trimmed, calluses reduced and skin treated (fungal infections are common). On occasion a volunteer podiatrist will work on unusually difficult or severe conditions. The caregiver will finish up by applying lotion and/or powder and providing a clean pair of socks. The person is then fitted for a pair of new shoes.

The obvious part of foot care is the feet. But a very important part of care is the conversation that occurs casually between the person receiving care and the person giving care. The one-to-one human contact with caring in touch and conversation is healing for both the giver and receiver. Porter, who has become expert in giving care, enjoys chatting with our homeless friends and reminds us of the importance of just taking time to listen. Porter wants us to care for people, not just do foot care. The appreciative comments, or simply the smiles of people leaving the clinic show that the message of caring has been heard and felt by each person served.

Another obvious part of foot care is shoes and socks. Each person receiving care is given socks and a sound pair of new shoes. Needless to say this is a major attraction, as the feet are the main transportation for homeless persons. As good shoes on hurting feet is not foot care, shoes are not given without care being given first.

Many volunteers are involved in the foot care clinics, but Porter is the lead conductor in this well orchestrated operation. He recruits volunteers, marshals supplies, finds clinic sites and publishes schedules. From October through April each year, volunteers invest more than 3000 hours under Porter’ leadership. Obviously, Porter spends a lot of his own time as coordinator overall, on-site leader, shoe procurer and promoter. Porter spends several evenings each week as on-site facilitator/leader. Additionally, he does whatever needs to be done including washing mountains of towels, cleaning instruments, and bringing coffee and cookies to serve to clients.

Porter gives freely of himself and has inspired and enabled many of the rest of us to care for the homeless in our community. Porter is truly an extraordinary person as is demonstrated by the loyalty and respect of his many volunteers and his clients who frequently refer to him as the “Foot Doc.”

CONCERNED PARENTS OF PUEBLO

Concerned Parents of Pueblo (CPP) is a community organization established ten years ago in a garage as two concerned parents pondered over the tragedies that faced Pueblo. Specifically, they focused on the gang violence and the overwhelming amount of graffiti apparent throughout the community. Since the establishment of CPP, the co-founders, Fred Tripp and Ben Ramos, created the “Youth Incentive Program.” This remarkable program has grown by addressing many key issues that face Pueblo’s families.

CPP encouraged families to join together on projects meeting the needs of Pueblo. For example, graffiti is on buildings, signs and home sites around Pueblo. The incentive program encouraged families, local businesses and community members to volunteer throughout the year to remove graffiti. These graffiti removal projects led CPP and the volunteers to network with the local art center to cover graffiti with inspirational murals. In 2001, over 1,500 graffiti sites were removed and 4 mural projects were completed. Second, the Youth Incentive Program established a strong connection between generations.

Many low-income seniors are unable to keep up lawn maintenance. Together, family and community volunteers helped senior citizens clean and rake their yards. In 2001, CPP volunteers cleaned 346 yards while recycling over 5,000 bags of rubble. Third, impoverished sections of town, with a high population of low-income families, were assisted to dispose of their trash, old appliances, tires and other materials. CPP and over 700 volunteers in worked on twelve neighborhood beautification clean-up projects. Fourth, serious issues face the family unit today. CPP assessed those current needs and addresses them through “Youth Issues Workshops.” Seven workshops were held throughout the year with over 900 youth participants and 150 parents. The issues addressed in 2001 were gangs, teen pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse and the importance of education.

Over the past ten years, CPP has assessed the needs of Pueblo’s youth through hardships and tragedies. CPP turned these needs into programs that develop into positive opportunities. As a result, this unique program brought families together to work on civic projects. Other remarkable outcomes of providing the incentive program were the development of leadership skills and families were encouraged to be positive role models. In addition, the program built self-esteem, developed trades and employment skills by providing a realistic work experience through volunteerism. In 2001, the youth participants and families completed over 19,000 hours of volunteer work in the Pueblo community.