CATTARAUGUS LOCAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

The Cattaraugus Local Development Corporation (CLDC) is a 501©3 nonprofit organization fully recognized by the Internal Revenue Service. The CLDC was formed in 1996 because of the needs of the residents in the Appalachian community. The economic boom of the 1990’s had passed them by, and the community needed to reevaluate its position. The mission of the CLDC is to be a vehicle to initiate, research, develop, incubate, fund, manage, and spin off projects, programs and businesses that allow the community to have empowerment, independence and control over its own destiny. This is implemented through a holistic approach, as members of the CLDC do not believe that there is one silver bullet for making a community viable for renewal/reinvention.

The CLDC identified and addressed five important areas. They looked at community development, economic development, education, preservation and resource conservation and the development and implementation of new technology. Using this approach allows integration and a sense of balance within the cultural, business and social environments that make up the Cattaraugus community.

Not only have the areas been identified, but also the CLDC has realized various opportunities and needs unique to its region. They raised $141,000 from two rural development grants for a revolving loan fund for local businesses and contracted a feasibility study on the need to develop a historical preservation institute. This would teach the forgotten skills of woodworking, restoration, and preservation. Alfred State College partnered with the CLDC in 1999 and developed the institute in the Village of Cattaraugus. Their motto was “preservation is our future.”

They mobilized 40 organizations and municipalities in a community effort to take ownership of and create a 12 mile “Rails-to-Trails”, created and funded and inter-community organization called Southern Tier Association for Rails-to-Trails (START), and developed three county mapping program for tourism promotion. CLDC was also responsible for raising $25,000 in three weeks to put 17 old fashion light poles in the historic business district, and three other communities are using that as a model.

The CLDC has also helped to promote a school annexation to voters, field a patent on community economic development and technology, and designed an e-commerce digital imaging company for economic development and high tech jobs. They took ownership of an 1100-acre subdivision in order to save a community’s tax base and rectified 27 years of homeowner concerns in three months.

Each of the programs and activities have resulted in the communities’ belief in itself and its hope for the future. The programs are staffed with volunteers who freely give of their time and resources. The communities have contributed about 10,000 hours of service and in the process raised over $2,000,000 for this rural region of Appalachia. The CLDC is continually working to get better and better and will always be a means of community service for the Appalachia area.

KIDS CARE CLUB OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY

Young people from various ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds who are committed to serving their Olean, New York community came together and formed the Kids Care Club of Cattaraugus County. Many of the children endure poverty and emotional difficulties, but they are still willing to give of their time and efforts to others.

The children range from age 6 to 17 years old and have participated in more than a dozen community service projects throughout the last two years. They are active in local projects like Christmas in April. This project facilitates the painting and repairing of homes of those who are disabled or otherwise in need. Kids Care also is active in fundraising for the local domestic violence shelter, preparing baked goods and donating them to the local homeless shelter from their bake sale. They have also collected hats for kids with cancer, planted vegetable gardens for a local retirement community, collected teddy bears for the Olean police and fire departments to give to traumatized children, and worked with the City of Olean Parks Department. The national programs that the children have participated in are Make A Difference Day, Toys for Tots, and Nickelodeon Big Help.

Many of the children in the club are from low-income families. They know what it is like to have a birthday party and receive no presents. Because of this, The Kids Care Club founded a program entitled Birthday Beacon. This program collects birthday gift boxes and distributes them to needy children. This is an ongoing project, which is supported by the fundraising and donations from other local organizations.

The members of the Kids Care Club of Cattaraugus County are also involved in the Character Counts Coalition. They focus on the Six Pillars of Character: respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, citizenship, fairness, and caring. The Club uses the six pillars of character to help them properly respond to the difficult situations that they may encounter. They have learned through experience that by handling problems this way, they maintain a sense of dignity and pride.

The children also feel the need to encourage adults to recognize the value of children in the community. They share the messages that youth are capable of making a positive difference in their community by facilitating Youth Empowerment seminars. During the seminars, the children share the projects that they have completed, good deeds they have done, or obstacles they have overcome. The facilitator of the club also writes a monthly column, which provides advice for empowering children in the local newspaper.

The Kids Care Club of Cattaraugus County has been recognized for its Make A Difference Day contribution and received the Super Heroes Award from the national Kids Care Club. Despite their honors, the volunteers in the club feel nothing compares to the recognition that they receive from the recipients of their service.

SPRUCE CREEK ELEMENTARY MAKING A DIFFERENCE GROUP

Spruce Creek Elementary Making a Difference Group of Port Orange, Florida is dedicated to uplifting those that are down trodden and taking an active part in making their home a better place. Their mission is not limited but encompasses the entire community. The Making a Difference Group is a newly formed organization at Spruce Creek Elementary. The Group is made up of 5th graders, and most of them have had prior volunteer experience from other organizations. The idea to start Making a Difference Group was inspired after participating in Make A Difference Day. The children wanted to continue their efforts as opposed to working one day to impact Port Orange.

This group is creative, uses unique ideas, and perseveres to be “finishers.” They refuse to let obstacles hinder their drive and use stumbling blocks as opportunities to reevaluate planned projects and make them even better. Spruce Creek Elementary students in this program inspire other young people and adults to take an active part in their community. It is estimated that they have impacted over 750 students to date.

The volunteer activities of the group have spanned to distinct areas in their community. The Making a Difference Group has established a place to assist needy families called the Bobcat Boutique. This store is a place of relief and allows those in need to be able to have additional clothing items. They have also collected personal items and were able to create more than 115 care packages for homeless families. In addition to this, the group amassed food items and was able to distribute Thanksgiving food baskets to needy families in the community. The I-Care center has also benefited from the work of this talented group of young people. They were the recipients of new and gently used books gathered by the students.

The volunteer activities of this group have had a positive impact on their community. The families that have been fed and clothed are just some of the evidences of the dedicated youth. People who are able to read at the I- Care Center are also recipients of their hard work. The Palmetto Place Advocates have also recognized the Making a Difference Group for their contribution to society.

The group meets weekly to brainstorm. They come together and share ideas while devising strategies for additional projects. Once they have agreed on a project, they plan, prepare and set goals. After the strategizing is done, there is no stopping these children until the project has been completed.

The Making a Difference Group of Spruce Creek Elementary is a shining example of teamwork. This group of 5th graders work hard to make their community a better place for all. They enjoy baseball, kickball and recess; but they get a greater sense of well being when they know they have been able to help someone. They are self motivated and excited about making Port Orange a community of excellence.

HOSPICE OF VOLUSIA/FLAGLER KITCHEN VOLUNTEERS

After developing policies and procedures and conducting additional volunteer training, the Kitchen Volunteer Program at the Hospice of Volusia/Flagler became a reality. The volunteers have been serving Hospice of Volusia/Flagler for two years and log in an average of 500 hours of service per month.

Service is their motto as well as their goal. During fiscal 1998, 44 kitchen volunteers logged in an access of 6055 hours. They surpassed those hours in 1999 and gave more than 6,200 hours of service to the Hospice.

In the fall of 1997, a small group of volunteers approached the volunteer coordinator. They felt that they could recruit additional volunteers and take complete responsibility for the patient related dietary service at the Hospice. These volunteers developed a budget, recruited a volunteer to do grocery shopping twice and week, and learned to puree, garnish and present an appealing meal tray. They set high standards for themselves and are still exceeding those standards today.

The kitchen volunteers received compliments from the family members of the patients and the family members. They prepared many special anniversary and birthday dinners. When one of the patients has a sudden craving for any special food, the volunteers do whatever is necessary to meet that request. The volunteers work together to bring the highest level of quality to one area that the patient and family can continue to control as long as they desire.

They made a commitment to improve the quality of the meals being served and to lighten the workload of the clinical staff. The volunteers exemplify a special kind of caring that Hospice of Volusia/Flagler represents. Daily, they prepare homemade soups and desserts to please the patients.

Most of the Kitchen Volunteers are involved in other service activities including Meal On Wheels, Habitat for Humanity, Council on Aging, Volusia County Library and Halifax Hospital. Through their service, the volunteers have a new respect for the power of people working together to achieve a common goal. They realized that volunteers can and will accept as much responsibility as paid staff is willing to give them. During its two years of existence, the group has saved the Hospice of Volusia/Flagler over $100,000 in payroll expenses.

It is common to have volunteer participation in dietary departments. However, it is unprecedented for volunteers to be entirely responsible for the operation of the dietary department. The Kitchen Volunteers at Hospice of Volusia/Flagler take great pride in their work and are very proud to be of service to their fellow man.

@NGELWISH

@ngelwish was founded by Shimmy Mehta in November of 1999. The mission of the organization was to address two important social needs: providing philanthropic opportunities for busy individuals and helping children living with AIDS/HIV, while simultaneous

ANGELWISH

Angelwish was founded by Shimmy Mehta in November of 1999. The mission of the organization was to address two important social needs: providing philanthropic opportunities for busy individuals and helping children living with AIDS/HIV, while simultaneous

NETTIE REYNOLDS

Nettie Reynolds has had a distinguished volunteer career that spans more than 30 years. Her first service opportunity was as a teen member of the Civil Defense League. Growing up in Colorado, rural town values and ethics provided the foundation for her giving spirit. As a mother, volunteering earned her the gratitude and respect of the community.

Reynolds earned the Silver Beaver Award from Boy Scouts of America after 14 years of dedicated service. She was also a 4-H Foods and Clothing leader for five years, a home demonstrator for eight years, a member of the Eagle Valley High School Accountability Committee for six years, and a member of the Eagle Flight Days Committee for nine years.

After her children became adults, Reynolds’ life as a volunteer assumed a faster pace. Her primary interest was to serve her community through emergency services, and in 1969, she organized the town of Gypsum’s Ladies’ Volunteer Fire Department. She arranged training for 32 women, who, for the next 15 years responded to all structural fires, vehicle accidents, medical and wild land fire emergencies. She held the position of Fire Chief for many years. While active in the Volunteer Fire Department, she was also Assistant Fire Chief and Safety Officer but retired in 1997. She continues to support them as Treasurer of the department’s Auxiliary and as president of the pension board.

In 1974, Reynolds became the third person in Eagle County to be certified as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). For many years, she was also a volunteer and managed and ran emergency medical calls with the Western Eagle County Ambulance District. Since the mid-1990s, she has been active in many health care organizations and emergency medical service agencies. She is a member of the High Country Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) team. They provide debriefing services to a five-county region in northern Colorado, and she debriefed emergency workers following the Columbine High School disaster. She also trained to serve on the national CISM team and is an advisor to the board of directors for Colorado West Counseling Service.

Reynolds’ volunteer resume is extensive and also includes service with the Western Eagle County Ambulance District board of directors, Mountain Hospice, Eagle County Coordinator for the American Red Cross for the Western Colorado Chapter, Senior Advisor for the Greater Eagle Fire Protection District, the Alpine Council on Aging, and the Colorado Division of Insurance Counselor for Medicare and Medicaid. In her “spare time,” Nettie Reynolds visits with 20 to 30 seniors and disabled community persons monthly. She provides them with attention, runs errands, and makes them feel loved.

CRAWFORD COUNTY VFW POST 4549 & LADIES’ AUXILIARY

Rural communities do not boast of busy streets, subways and a fast paced life. They do offer the tranquility and peacefulness of home. The Crawford County VFW Post 4549 and Ladies’ Auxiliary is located in rural Robinson, Illinois. They are a diamond in the eyes of their community and always strive to make their rural town a better home for all.

Both the men and women of the VFW Post 4549 are quite active in their community. Last year, this organization provided almost 5,000 hours and $50,000 towards volunteer services alone. The projects they undertake range from very simple to very large in scope. They get joy when they touch large numbers and that is done quite often through fundraising. One of the most outstanding projects has been to raise funds and labor to renovate the old depot adjacent to the Post and turn it into a Railroad Museum. This was an ongoing project for several years, and the doors to the facility opened for tourism this past spring.

The Post is one of the few in the state who are willing to provide military funeral detail for any veteran’s family who requests it, free of charge. Many times the details are scheduled several times a week all over the area, but the 4549 is up to that task. In addition to this, they were able to obtain grants and funds to purchase tow new vans to transport area veterans to and from VA hospitals at no cost to the veterans. The vans are out five days a week.

Crawford County VFW Post 4549 is also dedicated to teaching patriotism and civic responsibility to America’s youth. They have the Voice of Democracy Scholarship Awards, the Youth Essay Awards, and other individual scholarships provided by the Post. The men and women of the VFW invite the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts to participate in their “Make A Difference Day” and Americanism projects. The members take time to go into the classroom to speak to students about veterans. They also supply classroom and outdoor flags. Bicycle Safety and Drug Awareness programs are conducted annually for the children throughout the county.

The scope of the VFW’s service also touches the seniors of the community also. Annually, both Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners are prepared and provided for seniors and low-income families as well. They also sponsor an annual blood drive.

The volunteer activities of the Crawford County VFW Post 4549 and Ladies’ Auxiliary have touched numerous lives over the years. These selfless men and women make it a priority daily to serve those in their community. No need is too small in their eyes and each task is done with care and compassion.

ROBERT PICKRELL

Judge Robert Pickrell was born in Arizona and has spent most of his life serving the state in a professional manner and in the capacity of a volunteer. He was admitted to the State Bar of Arizona in 1949, and his busy professional career would fill the lives of most people; but not Judge Pickrell. He realizes the tremendous outcry for help and answers the call daily.

Judge Pickrell took and active role in setting up a free legal services program at The Salvation Army for clients involved in two drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs and individuals in a family homeless shelter. He takes a personal interest in each individual and follows each case through until he is satisfied that all issues have been addressed. Many of the clients in drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs have been caught up in the legal system and cannot afford the necessary legal assistance that would aid then in navigating the system. Limited resources prevent them from having the necessary assistance. In addition to that, lack of knowledge or fear of setting appointments stands in their way. The clients are working so hard to survive that seeking legal advice cannot be a priority – paying utility bills and keeping their families fed is more important.

Judge Pickrell has worked diligently on custody issues, DUI charges, and repeated offenses for driving on suspended license. Many clients who utilize the legal services and have substance abuse problems have their licenses revoked. Because they need to continue to work and get to the store, they continue to drive. The Judge answers questions and gives advise. He has even assisted an attorney that was disbarred with his legal issues and helped to have him reinstated into the bar.

The Judge began the program alone, but has recruited five other volunteers. He still continues to volunteer two days a week. During the eight years that he has been involved with the Salvation Army, Judge Pickrell has assisted more than 3,100 clients. He has given over 2,900 hours of service and as a volunteer; he has saved over $41,470. His value as an attorney is quite a bit more, estimated at $435,000.

Though the Judge is retired, he continues to share his knowledge and experience whenever he can. He is an outstanding volunteer that serves a part of the population many people choose to turn away from. It appears to be no end to his commitment and willingness to help those in need.

ROLINDA HILL

Rolinda Hill has been an advocate for her Harlem community. She has taken a major interest in her city since she was a teenager. As a youth, she tutored children so they would be better equipped for life. She wanted to foster in them a love of reading and writing as strong as her own. She has continued her volunteer service as an adult. She began work with tenants’ rights since new building owners were taking over several deteriorated apartment complexes in the community. She was concerned that the neglected buildings would stay in their same condition of disrepair or be renovated and become high priced and not available to the present tenants.

Hill’s concern led her to be an advocate of elderly members of the community as well as families with young children. Though the New York City Housing Department owns most of the buildings, they are a tough group to “take on” and communicate with as well. Even so, Hill created a Task Force that works with the department in ensuring the protection of those tenants. Her hard work paid off, and the result of the dedication was renovated building with the tenants remaining in their renovated homes. In addition to that, a new park will soon be erected on the block where another decrepit building once stood.

Hill was energized by her success and continued to keep the community together. She now holds an Annual Block Fair, which provides fun and also invites helpful community organizations that cater to the young and old. A mobile health vehicle is there to test for TB. There is also a youth van that offers family planning and education on sexually transmitted diseases. In addition to this, there is private HIV testing.

Hill has used her diplomacy to also promote literacy in her community which has always been her concern. She recognizes that knowledge empowers and literacy is at the base of learning. She is a learning leader and tutors children in PS 197 in District 5 in Harlem. She also has obtained training from Harlem Reads/ Harlem Writes so she can provide parents with literacy skills to help themselves as well as their children.

Rolinda Hill is an excellent reprsentation and product of New York City. Her love of her city has caused her to dedicate herself to give back. Her concerns and passionate work has ranged from the young to the old. Regardless of the scope, she has definitely made a positive impact for many in the Big Apple.