Volunteers Play Vital Role In Raising Quality Of Life
As 1996 draws to a close, take time to reflect on the past year’s many gifts.
Many community members gave generously of their time, and the gifts of those involved in volunteer recruitment were amazing.
“When there’s a call for help, the Spokane community responds,” said Jacqueline Ferrell-Fleury, director of United Way of Spokane County’s Volunteer Center. “The volunteer commitment we see every day does not exist in many cities of the same size.”
More than 20,000 volunteer hours are processed through the volunteer center each week. The center matches volunteers with 250 area agencies in need of help.
Volunteers spend time making hats and mittens, visiting nursing homes residents, delivering meals to elderly shut-ins and doing chores for elderly people so they can remain in their homes.
Basically, volunteers help improve the quality of life for many in the community. While more than 2,000 volunteers are guided through the volunteer center each year, Ferrell-Fleury says the need for volunteers will never be filled.
Anyone can contribute.
“People need to be aware that special skills are not necessary in volunteering,” she said. “Most programs provide the necessary training.
“And these programs would not exist if it weren’t for the critical role of volunteers.”
Read on for more stories of the generosity found in the Spokane community:
From Union Gospel Mission Ministries:
“Every day, those served by the Union Gospel Mission Ministries - Union Gospel Mission, Juvenile Ministry and Anna Ogden Hall - receive help from the people of Spokane,” said Phil Altmeyer, executive director.
“November’s record-breaking ice storm gave a few of these grateful individuals the opportunity to return a small portion of what they have been given.”
What they gave: Workers in the mission’s kitchen brewed more than 1,000 gallons of coffee each day during the first four days of November’s ice storm for Red Cross and Salvation Army shelters. Kitchen staff sent prepackaged sandwiches to various emergency workers, thanks to donations from area businesses.
Neighbors of Anna Ogden Hall found a warm place to stay while they waited for their power to return. Ogden Hall stood like a beacon of hope, lighted and warm throughout the emergency.
One group delivered 27 thawed turkeys just after the mission kitchen had cooked its own turkeys for the Thanksgiving Eve meal. The extra turkeys were sent to United Methodist Church for those who arrived from the Convention Center shelter.
The mission’s clothing room handed out 50 pairs of winter boots and several dozen blankets to men, couples and families during the power outage.
Three Regeneration Program members responded to a call for trained Red Cross volunteers, working up to 14 hours a day. One worker said, “It felt really good to give back to the community that has supported me for the last year.”
An anonymous donor provided ingredients for one mission cook’s famous rice cereal and peanut-butter treats, which were delivered to Washington Water Power offices for employees working long hours during the ice storm.
And what they received:
Chef Steve Hughes spent eight hours preparing a meal for more than 200 people attending the mission’s Thanksgiving Eve feast. A local musician, Joel Weldon, provided a hand-clapping, heartwarming concert before the holiday meal began, bringing smiles to often sad faces.
Eighteen men and women from Spokane’s Fire Station No. 1 decorated the mission’s dining room for the dinner. They also served each guest, brought second helpings as requested, cleared tables and stayed to do the dishes.
Brent Lasser, 10, together with brother Jason, 8, and their sister, Rochelle, delivered 10 home-baked pumpkin pies for the mission’s Thanksgiving dinner. Although the kids’ mother and grandmother supervised, the children formed crusts, prepared the filling and baked the pies.
Salk Middle School students designed and sold calendars of student art. Proceeds bought nearly 100 bed pillows, purchased at a considerable discount from Burlington Coat Factory, for the women and children residing at Anna Ogden Hall. A poem, written by a student, suggests residents should “squeeze the pillow to your chest when you are feeling alone.”
And from Crosswalk: Evergreen Junior High School students organized a clothing drive to provide homeless Crosswalk teens with new and used clothing for Christmas.
A $379 check and 3,108 articles of clothing were presented to Crosswalk on Dec. 20, from money raised though candy cane sales.
As we move forward into the new year, take time to consider how you might help those in need.
Fund-raiser will benefit consortium
Raffle tickets for a three-day weekend at Skier’s Edge, Breckenridge, Colo., to benefit the Spokane County Domestic Violence Consortium’s educational programs are on sale through Jan. 9.
The trip includes air fare and lodging for two, Jan. 24-27. The winning ticket will be drawn at 10 a.m. Jan. 9 at the consortium’s membership meeting.
“Recent domestic violence-related deaths in Spokane have heightened community awareness of the seriousness of domestic violence,” said Jennifer Pearson, executive director. “We are hoping the community will support our comprehensive response to domestic violence by purchasing a ticket.”
Tickets are available at the consortium office, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; Lou Lou’s Sports Shop, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. today; and Crescent Court, second floor near the food court, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. next Saturday and Sunday.
Children’s Museum extends run
The Children’s Museum of Spokane, 222 N. Post, will remain open through January to meet the high demand for school field trips. When the temporary site closes, fund-raising efforts to create a permanent home for the museum in 1997 will begin.
“Community support for a permanent museum has been great beyond our expectations,” said Mary Brandt, museum president.
Hundreds of families have become members since the museum opened in October, and supporters have set their sights on raising a half-million dollars to fund a permanent museum.
Beginning Thursday, revised museum hours will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free to museum founding members and $2.50 for non-members.
Children under 1 year old are admitted for free.
xxxx MADRIGAL DINNER PLANNED Reservations are still being taken for the 17th annual Madrigal Dinner to celebrate Epiphany, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and next Sunday at 5 p.m. at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 57th and Perry. The dinner will include three choirs conducted by Janet Gorman; a court jester; and solo instrumentalists. The prime rib dinner is served family style. Tickets are $25. Reservations may be made by calling Gorman at 276-2605.