Staff of the Medical Records Department of Halifax Medical Center

Making the wishes of foster children come true at Christmas is the challenge met each year by the Staff of Halifax Hospital’s Medical Records Department in Daytona Beach, FL.

The Medical Records Department has established an ongoing relationship with the children involved in Neighbor to Family’s foster care and protective services in the Volusia/Flagler Counties area. For the past four years, volunteers from the Medical Records Department staff have donated their time and money to supply practically everything on the Christmas wish list of these children, from clothes to bikes to Game Boys.

Each year a representative from Medical Records takes the initiative of contacting Neighbor to Family in October to ensure their continued commitment to this volunteerism. Christmas wish lists are obtained, gifts purchased and then delivered to these children who at their young ages have had a tough life. The presents and thoughtfulness behind the presents impact the children with the Neighbor to Family program greatly. The children get great joy our of getting their wish list fulfilled by “Santa Claus.”

Neighbor to Family nominated the Staff of Halifax Hospital’s Medical Records Department for the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year awards presented by the United Way’s Volunteer Center of Volusia-Flagler Counties and Bright House Networks, and they were chosen as the Winners in the Corporate Group Category.

Future Farmers of America Ord, Nebraska Chapter

Ord Nebraska’s Chapter of Future Farmers of America (FFA) is a group of students who are very active with many community and area projects. They come to the projects well prepared and very willing to do what it takes to make the project a success. Kayla Hinrichs, Central IV Extension Educator, said the Ord FFA students are very dependable and always are willing go beyond what is expected of them.

The group continuously looks for innovative ways to meet unique community needs. To date, they have been involved in numerous projects that range from safety to the environment.

Ord FFA has had a special fair for young children. They demonstrate bicycle safety and how to properly fit a helmet at the Farm Safety Day for kindergarten through 6th graders. The Chapter also picks up trash all four days at the Comstock Windmill Festival and the day following the Festival. This Festival draws more than 30,000 people, so this is a large under taking.

They also unload tires at the used tire collection. Over 40 tons of tires were collected at the last collection. The group assists at the local Household Hazardous Collection by emptying paint cans, unloading vehicles, directing traffic, assisting with surveys, etc.

Ord FFA annually volunteers to help at the Environmental Festival. The FFA students assist 400 elementary students go from one session to the other and assist session leaders present their programs. As a moneymaker for their FFA Chapter, the Ord group sells lunches at several large machinery auctions. Local implement dealers have them serve food at customer appreciation days to assist with their fundraising.

The Chapter has a farmstead cleanup each July. They pick up scrap metal at local farms and ranches. Eight ton of scrap metal was picked up during the last cleanup. In addition, the chapter developed and maintains five 4’ by 8’ flowerbeds at the east entrance into Ord. They have planted shrubs that spell Ord at this location. The flowers are grown in the FFA greenhouse.

Marti Leishman

Marti Leishman is an amazingly dedicated and outstanding third grade teacher. Leishman has so many wonderful qualities; it is difficult to put in words. However, she may be best described as a gifted and caring teacher who lives her life as a role model and works to inspire and mentor young people.

Along with being a third grade teacher, Leishman is a volunteer. She initiated a school-wide Walk and Talk program before school three days a week during the school year. The program was stared three years ago to provide all of the elementary students at Fort Calhoun Elementary School the opportunity to get exercise and work on social skills.

Leishman and a co-worker (Jean Herold) began the Walk and Talk program to address the growing problem of inactivity and physical exercise that affects so many youth today. The Walk and Talk program is all about focusing on fitness and fun. Leishman volunteers to come to work early three schooldays per week to devote to the students and her excitement for the program is contagious.

Leishman is the perfect example of what a positive impact volunteering can have on children. The children at Fort Calhoun Elementary School are thrilled to participate in the program and some of the Walk and Talk student participants have raised enough money to purchase odometers for next year. Though they have had fun, the children’s health has also benefited by this great time.

Marti Leishman is definitely a shining star in the world of dedicated volunteers. So many people appreciate all her hard work and dedication to her role as both a teacher and a volunteer. She is a hero in the eyes of many, making a huge difference in the everyday lives of our young children.

National Association of Charitable Photographers

The National Association of Charitable Photographers (NAOCP) was established in March 2006. Two photographers wanted to help other professionals provide their services to people in dire situations at a time when lasting photo memories would mean something. NAOCP was created and organized for this purpose. Recognizing a need to make these services available to people who may or may not think of having photographs taken in their situation and knowing of a desire from professional photographers to serve those needs, the NAOCP came to be.

“There is an old Beatles song that has a line that says, ‘The more you give, the more you get in return,’ and so it is with my relationship with the Hospice of Metro Denver.” ~Jennie Murphy, Co-Founder, NAOCP

Photographers in NAOCP help people in many situations—from Hospice Care clients, NICU patients, children who are “hard to place” in state/agency adoptions with current photographs, to Military Personnel who are being deployed to dangerous areas. This is the “short” list of whom we help. Photographers representing NAOCP offer a free photo session, the CD with images to print, A CD slideshow set to music and a free 8×10 framed image to the service or agency in need. At no time may the photographer ask for money for this—it’s a free service. Many people in delicate situations have been grateful and cherished the memories that were captured, when at the time that was the last thing on their minds.

“As an adoptive parent of two beautiful children, I remember going through our parenting class and having them say ‘make sure to put photos on the wall right away!’ I can’t tell you how right that was. The minute we put photos on the wall, the children felt more a part of our home.” ~Cheryl Ogle, Co-Founder NAOCP

NAOCP helps to get photographers into their communities and they help people who are just starting out in the field to get to a point where they can do this work as a Professional. To reward their members for their efforts, community service and desire to give, NAOCP has secured many discounts and gifts to help their members do their job better and to encourage their participation. This is a real grassroots organization, and they rely on their members to help build this charity. The funding has been out-of-pocket from the organizers and they take no salary for this work. They accept only material donations for the Photographers who are involved.

Photographers in NAOCP truly believe “you get what you give,” and they give do much of themselves in doing this work because each client takes a little piece of you with them—but they give a piece of themselves to you. All of the photographers in NAOCP are honored to do this work and do it without hesitation.

Nicholas Wan

Nicholas Wan is a sophomore at Seton Catholic Central High School who has invested much of his personal time to help improve the lives of others. During one week in late October, Nicholas missed school work and class time to help the rebuilding efforts in Gulf Port, MS. He exemplified his characteristics of leadership, dedication, and humbleness by paying his own way to spend 7 days sleeping in a tent working from 6am until the job was done, many times not until 8pm. He volunteered at the largest food distribution center in the Gulf Port area, assisting with the distribution of foods and personal products to a community devastated by Hurricane Katrina. He also helped at another local distribution center helping the communities in that area. Some of his most rewarding time was spent passing out free toys to school children and being able to make conversation with the countless people he encountered while working at the distribution centers.

One of the most physically and mentally demanding jobs he did was the clearing debris from the home that had been split in two and severely damaged by the massive storm surge. He helped strip down the house to the basic wood frame in 3 days, so that it could be built up once again. Afterwards the family was so thankful because the work he and his team provided saved them so much time, especially when time is so valuable because these people just want to try and return to their normal way of life that was taken from them. He toured local churches and witnessed the devastation first hand. It is one thing to see a house torn down, but what is more compelling is the affect it has on the family’s involved. These people saw everything they knew as life taken away, and he tried his best to improve it.

He believed that his Faith called him to that area, and the volunteering affected him in ways that cannot be described in words. He left Mississippi with such a great feeling knowing that he directly helped the people most in need. He explained that when he gave of himself for others, he actually benefited from the experience in ways he never expected. It was a feeling of gratitude and happiness knowing that the work he was doing was taking a weight off the people’s shoulders. He witnessed the destruction of Hurricane Katrina first hand and knew what it was going to take in order to help these people as well as organize the distribution center so it was in a position to meet the needs of the community. From the early morning till the late evening cars were lined up for their chance to get food and hygiene products for their families. No one was ever turned away and everyone’s needs were satisfied and at the same time this Christian message was personified through his volunteer work. His Faith was never forced on anyone, but the people saw that it was evident through the work he was doing.

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes has a concern for children and decided to put that care in action. Barnes came to Mrs. Ward’s first grade class each Monday from 8-11am to tutor children. She also made herself available to assist the teacher. Barnes loved to help the children and they loved to see her. She knew they looked forward to their meetings and often brought snacks for the children.

Barnes did not have an innovative approach or use very much creativity. However, she used simple methods. Barnes was consistent; she made herself available and listened to the children. She allowed them to talk and share ideas. They received the attention they needed, and this caused the children’s self-confidence to soar. Mrs. Ward’s class felt special because of their time with Barnes.

The time Barnes spent with the children was definitely not in vain. She showed them different methods that would help them learn and make learning fun. The children also benefited by her structure and positive reinforcement whenever they made small achievements. By tutoring the children, Barnes had a part in helping the child become a productive person in the community.

Annually, Barnes worked with an average of 15 to 20 students in the class. Many of the children were shy and had behavior problems. Some of the children in her group also had learning disabilities. These groups can be challenging, but Barnes worked with them and showed each of the children respect.

In addition to being a great listener, Barnes was also patient with the children. This means a lot as some volunteers or staff members may get frustrated because of the children’s attention span. Barnes was able to give additional help with reading and anything else Mrs. Ward needed.

Barnes is a retiree who stays busy traveling and doing other things wither friends. Her Mondays are full, though. She has a standing appointment for Mrs. Ward’s class at Eastwood Elementary School.

Donna Firpo

Donna Firpo’s volunteerism with the Committee on Church Cooperation (CCC) has been primarily in the Clothing Closet area where on Thursdays and Fridays, she sorts, hangs, and arranges the clothing for clients to pick up on Wednesdays. On Wednesdays, Firpo makes sure that racks are constantly replenished with clothing so that the clients have plenty to choose from. She also volunteers her time to help with the Thrift Sale.

Firpo came to the CCC after her husband passed away. She immediately found her niche working in the Clothing Closet. Her organizational expertise has been instrumental in making the Clothing Closet much more customer friendly. Prior to Firpo coming in, many items would remain on the racks for several months. Now, because she knows basically every item that goes in, she will cull items that are not moving. This has become an indispensable service and she is now training new volunteers.

After Firpo’s husband passed away, she says she spent many days not even wanting to get out of bed. Her daughter encouraged her to become active in a volunteer organization. Firpo had always volunteered wherever she had lived before, so this seemed to be a natural fit. Donna called the CCC on a Thursday, and began volunteering the very next day.

The clothing closet serves over 200 families a month and distributes in excess of 6,000 articles of clothing monthly. Organization is the key to keep an operation such as this functioning. Firpo’s skills have impacted every client that walks through the Clothing Closet doors. She also helps many of the clients on Wednesday find appropriate clothing.

In addition to volunteering at the CCC, Firpo is also active in her church, and is a very busy grandmother. Firpo is the kind of volunteer every agency wants to have. She came to the Committee on Church Cooperation because she was in need of an activity to occupy her time, but the outcome has been that CCC needed her much more than she needed them.

Old Bank Summer Youth Volunteer Team

The Old Bank Summer Youth Volunteer Team is composed of six creative and energetic youth ranging in age from 13-17. During the summer of 2004, each team member worked 5 hours per week at Decatur’s 1833 Old State Bank, a historic site museum offering tours and educational programming related to local and Alabama history.

This past summer, the group’s primary project was to assist in the planning, preparation, and implementation of our Past Times Summer History Camp for children ages 7-11. Each session of camp focused on a specific era in Decatur’s history and allowed the participants to discover the past through entertaining and educational crafts, games, stories, music, dance and special guests. Camp sessions developed by the youth volunteers included “Bright Beginnings: Life on the Frontier,” “Shadows of War,” “the Twin Cities: Progress and Growth” and “The Roaring 20’s.”

In addition to helping design the program for each session, student volunteers served as group leaders during the actual operation of the camp. Youth volunteers helped present each session’s historical story, led games and craft activities, taught the children music of the time period, played the guitar on folk songs and sing-a-longs, and even taught them how to dance the Charleston.

One of the positive benefits of the volunteer team’s work in planning and preparing for the camp was their development of materials that will be included as part of the Old Bank’s supplemental curriculum activities given to local schools who tour the building or are visited in the classroom by Old Bank staff. The Old Bank Summer Youth Volunteer Team forged a special bond that will likely instill a continued interest and love for history in the hearts and minds of the camp participants.

The Old Bank’s 2004 Past Times Summer History Camp was a revival of a program held years ago but implemented with several new twists. Though Old Bank staff put the idea for the program forth, the Summer Youth Volunteer Team helped to decide the specific focus of each session and the activities that would comprise the schedule for each day. Students researched each specific time period to gather information and ideas, and then tested proposed activities to see if they were “do-able” in the format of the planned event. Students created supplemental materials that could be used at time-fillers as children finished one activity and waited to rotate to another.

Volunteers organized supplies and created “kits” for craft activities, which made camp operations run more smoothly. Volunteers had the opportunity to work both as individuals and as team members. On individual projects, they showed creativity and initiative, following a project through to its completion. As team members, they worked well together and respected each other’s interests and abilities. This atmosphere of mutual respect allowed each student to contribute his or her talents to the overall project, which contributed greatly to the success of the camp.

Each camp session was designed to accommodate 20-25 students, and the project generated a tremendous positive response by camp participants and in the community. The camp received positive media coverage in the local newspaper, and helped to promote the development and use of the Old Bank as an educational facility for area residents. The Past Times Summer History Camp challenged the notion of history as being “boring,” and the younger children looked up to their teenage volunteers, as they made history seem cool and fun!

As only one person staffs the Old Bank, this event would not be possible without the support and creative energy of the Summer Youth Volunteer Team. Over the course of the summer, six individuals with diverse skills merged into a true team, and their collective efforts created a dynamic new program where history is experienced firsthand. It is hoped that the continuation of our Past Times Summer History Camp will help a new generation of students better understand who they are, and strengthen their connection to this community. Through the efforts of the Old Bank’s Summer Youth Volunteer Team, the Old Bank became a place where young children could discover and explore the special bonds that define our past, and the common hopes that link our future.

Students of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

The students of St. Paul’s Episcopal School annually, collectively provide over 7,000 hours in community service through a variety of activities and projects during the school day. These projects are linked directly to their classroom learning and feature reflection as an essential component.

St. Paul’s students not only perform community service, but they study why it is important and what bearing their activities have on their community, the environment, and themselves. In eighth grade, they even devise their own community projects as part of a leadership session of their humanities curriculum.

Located in downtown Oakland, St. Paul’s is an urban school. The students reflect the many cultural, socioeconomic, and racial communities in the greater Oakland area. The academic program utilizes the many learning experiences that a large metropolitan area can offer, such as museums, cultural neighborhoods, libraries, parks, performance venues, and even the YMCA. As young people who live in this urban environment, St. Paul’s students are also encouraged to express their citizenship by giving back to the greater community – to their neighbors and to the environs in which they live.

St. Paul’s Service Learning program is integrated into the overall education. All of the projects that the students undertake are connected to academic learning and other disciplines, such as social studies, language arts, art, music, science and math. An important component of this program is reflection, where in writing and in conversation, the students examine the world in which they live, their relationship to it, and the ways they can assist others.

For over a decade, St. Paul’s third graders have been taking the only census of migratory birds in the Lake Merritt estuary. For over five years, St. Paul’s students have provided services to an Alameda county shelter system and cleaned Lake Merritt. They visit seniors, speak Spanish as tutors to preschoolers, clean storm drains, tutor public elementary school students, collect and donate books for young people in the Philippines, and many other activities.

When an emergency need arises, the students immediately create support projects. In response to the hurricanes, for example, students conducted a bake sale, a jar collection project (with a matching gift from the Episcopal Diocese), and an all-school Empty-Your-Pockets day. For the second year, St. Paul’s students planted daffodil bulbs with the Keep Oakland Beautiful Campaign. St. Paul’s students also invited the parishioners of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church to join them in several projects. St. Paul’s students never cease to impress and amaze me with their generosity and their diligence to do good things in the world. They are tireless advocates of the community and the world.

First Day Project Student School Supply Drive

First Day Project Student School Supply Drive, formerly Supply Our Schools is a community initiative that began last year as a joint effort between the Bettendorf Community School District, the Bettendorf Post Office, the National Association of Letter Carriers Union, Girl Scouts, the Bettendorf Police Department, parents, students, local businesses and community volunteers. Its goal was to collect and distribute school supplies to children whose parents are in financial need.

Last year’s drive was a very successful collaboration. The dedication of the many volunteers resulted in more than 1,300 items collected for Bettendorf area public and parochial school students.

This year, the same partnership is working to make this a bi-state initiative, which would impact the Bettendorf, Pleasant Valley, and Davenport school districts in Iowa, and several additional school districts in Illinois. Local post offices are working to coordinate collection by letter carriers on August 5, 2006. The partnership hopes to make this an annual drive, which would serve students in need in the entire Quad Cities and surrounding area