First Ridgeland Baptist Church volunteers spend spring break in Ridgeland community garden

Youth leaders and members of First Ridgeland Baptist Church worked in the Ridgeland Community Garden during spring break. Wes Tankersley, student minister, is a member of Ridgeland’s Healthy Hometown Committee. Jerry Williams, also a member of Ridgeland’s Healthy Hometown Committee, is the project director of the Ridgeland Community Garden. Williams secured a donation of $500 for the garden from Lowe’s Ridgeland. Produce from the garden is distributed to the needy through First Ridgeland Baptist Church. Pictured are volunteers from left (back) Justin Medders, Wes Tankersley, Camille Kelly, Bailey McClellan, Hope Ellison and AnnaKris Byrd. From left (front) Gabby Vinson, Carly Chennault, Robert McClellan, Bailey Williamson and Jerry Williams.

Second day service photo!

Submitted by the city of Ridgeland

Strengthen your community through volunteerism

I’m always on the lookout for volunteer opportunities and Volunteer Mississippi often sends information about how to serve your community. Starting next Tuesday, Volunteer Mississippi will hold information sessions to discuss the availability of federal funds to support local national service programs and opportunities to access national service resources. Programs include AmeriCorps State, VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America), National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) and Senior Service Corps programs.

All sessions will be an hour and a half long. Those interested in submitting an application for an AmeriCorps State program to operate in 2014 will meet for an additional hour after the presentation, for Nuts & Bolts of AmeriCorps State.

DATES/LOCATIONS:

STARKVILLE – Tuesday, August 20, 9 – 11:30 am

                      Greater Starkville Development Partnership, 101 S Lafayette St, Starkville         

 

HERNANDO – Wednesday, August 21, 9 – 11:30 am

                            Gale Center, 2601 Elm St., Hernando

 

CLARKSDALE – Thursday, August 22, 9 – 11:30 am

                              Coahoma Opportunities, Inc. – 115 Issaquena Avenue, Clarksdale

 

 JACKSON  – Thursday, August 29, 9 – 11:30 am

                         William F Winter Building, 200 North St., Jackson

                                               

 HATTIESBURG – Tuesday, September 3, 9 – 11:30 am

                                  Train Depot Community Room, 308 Newman St., Hattiesburg

 

GULFPORT – Wednesday, September 4, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm

                          Knight Nonprofit Center, 11975 Seaway Rd., Gulfport

AmeriCorps is a grant-funded national service network providing resources to Mississippi communities. Service program members pair with nonprofit and faith-based and community organizations and public agencies to build volunteer capacity and meet locally-identified needs. AmeriCorps members also recruit area volunteers to directly address core issues—education, disaster, health, veterans, and the environment—forging self-sustaining communities. To learn more or register for an information session, contact AmeriCorps Mississippi Program Officer Judy Stein at (601) 842-6700 or judy@volunteermississippi.org.

During the public information sessions, Volunteer Mississippi invites informal comment from the public concerning the use of service and volunteerism as strategies to meet critical community needs. This input will be considered in the development and implementation of a national service plan for the State of Mississippi. Comments will be accepted during each public information session or may be submitted in writing by email to info@volunteermississippi.org. Comments should be received no later than 5:00 p.m. Central Time, September 30.

Volunteer Mississippi engages and supports Mississippians of all ages and backgrounds in service to their communities. As your state office of volunteerism, Volunteer Mississippi administers AmeriCorps programs, supports a network of Volunteer Centers, and coordinates other initiatives fostering community engagement and building volunteer capacity throughout the state. Contact MCVS at (888) 353-1793, our website http://www.volunteermississippi.org, Facebook http://www.facebook.com/volunteeryall and Twitter @volunteeryall.

Find service opportunities on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

On Friday, I received an email from Volunteer Mississippi, the state’s volunteerism office. It was an invitation for all Mississippians to do acts of service and charity throughout the year starting with Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service on Monday, Jan. 21. Search or create volunteer opportunities on the Mississippi MLK Day website, http://mlk.msdaysofservice.org. There you can find tool kits and other resources to help you get started.

A press released stated Volunteer Mississippi was established by executive order in 1994 as the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service (MCVS). Volunteer Mississippi has worked to encourage a culture of citizenship, service and responsibility to America. “Volunteerism is an open secret in Mississippi: it’s everywhere, but few people talk about the small and large acts of kindness they offer to the world around them,” spokeswoman Deirdra Harris Glover said. “Our organization aims to help Mississippians find meaningful ways to connect to their neighbors and communities, and also to honor and recognize those who make significant contributions to our great state and her people.”

The agency’s website has a new look to reflect the new name, featuring messages from the First Family, volunteer profiles and information about national service programs in the state. Visit VolunteerMississippi.org and take the pledge to make 2013 “The Year of the Volunteer.”