Get more involved in 2014
Habitat for Humanity volunteers gather with a local family at a recent house dedication ceremony. Habitat has many opportunities in which to get involved in the community, whether it’s helping to build a home for someone in need or volunteering at ReStore. There are many other organizations in Coshocton County that could use a helping hand as well this year.
COSHOCTON – There is a variety of ways for you to get involved in the community in 2014. Many organizations in the county are willingly accepting volunteers who want to spend a few hours a week giving back. Here are just a few of the many worthwhile organizations that need your help in 2014.
For those who want to help out in the healthcare department, the Coshocton County Memorial Hospital is in constant need of volunteers. They offer four different volunteer groups: the Pink Ladies, teens, Heart of Gold, and team volunteers.
“We are always in need of volunteers,” said Becky Shroyer, volunteer coordinator at the hospital. “We have a great volunteer program, but we just need more volunteers.”
The Pink Ladies are an organization for women who help out the hospital by working the information desk and the gift shop. They also spread some cheer to patients by delivering newspapers to individual rooms, flowers, etc.
The hospital also offers a teen volunteer group in the summer months where local teens are asked to give a minimum of 60 hours during their summer break. They assist in the medical records department, dietary, wiping tables, taking trays up to patients, etc.
If you’re the type who loves to plan a party, consider joining the Hearts of Gold group, who sponsors the annual fall dance at the Lake Park Pavilion for the hospital.
The team volunteers are trained and then placed in various departments in the hospital and work in outpatient surgery, Autumn Healthcare, Emergency Room, and others.
“If you’re able to have fun, you’ll volunteer,” said Shroyer. “Most volunteers come here to give something back to their community.”
If you are more interested in volunteering with senior citizens in Coshocton County, consider helping out at the Coshocton County Senior Center.
There are three key areas at the Senior Center where volunteers can help: the food program, commodity program, and the mobile market.
“We simply could not have the mobile market if we didn’t have such dedicated volunteers,” said Jamie Thomas-Williams, director. “It’s very gratifying to come in and help people who could really use the food.”
There are also a lot of various special events at the center throughout the year where volunteers can help greet people or serve food, especially around the holiday season.
“We’ve been having great responses with our holiday parties,” said Williams. “People really like getting together and celebrating the holidays. We’re so appreciative of our volunteers. We really couldn’t do our special events without them.
For those who would like their volunteer work to help those who need shelter, Habitat for Humanity is the place to be. They are always looking for volunteers and there are many committees to choose from.
The Family Support Committee helps get everything organized for housing and is a mentor to the family who will be moving in when the house is complete. The Family Selection Committee helps the family through their financial decisions in getting a loan from the bank. If you are active in a church, consider joining the Church Relations Committee, which helps find volunteers through local churches. If none of those options sound appealing to you, try your hand volunteering at their ReStore location where unwanted furniture is given new life and a new home.
“It’s always a lot of fun,” said Helen Scholfield, president of the Habitat board. “It is really rewarding when you see you’ve helped a family who have a home who might never have had a home.”
Volunteers are also needed on the special events committee to help plan Habitat’s two main fundraisers: their golf outing and the Home and Lifestyle Show. They also need volunteers to help the day of the event.
If you would like to become a Habitat volunteer, visit their website at habitatcoshocton.org to get started.
“I have found it to be one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever done,” said Scholfield. “I’m now the president of the board, but I’m first and foremost a volunteer.”
Category: People & Places
