Archive: Around Town

As a part of New York State’s Volunteer Generation initiative, the newly formed Regional Volunteer Center of the Southern Tier made $2,500 in grants to local organizations participating in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. The Tompkins County Volunteer Center (Volunteer…LIVE UNITED) is part of this new regional effort.

This diverse group of projects from across the region will allow volunteers of all ages to honor Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy by participating in a day of service to address the needs of our local communities.

“For a variety of reasons, there has been a measurable increase in volunteer service and civic engagement,” commented James Brown, President of United Way of Tompkins County.  “It is fitting that we recognize and join volunteers and organizations across our communities on the day that we celebrate Martin Luther King’s life and commitment to humanity.”

The projects funded are:

• St. Paul's Anglican Church (Pine City): To support their 1st Health Screening Day for the community.
• Southern Tier Independence Center (Binghamton): To support work by volunteers to prepare for STIC’s annual fundraiser. Volunteers will be prepping and painting walls for their annual Haunted House.
• The Arc of Schuyler (Watkins Glen): To sponsor a public showing of Lives Worth Living, a 60-minute historical documentary about the Disability Rights Movement in America at The Glen Theater.
• American Red Cross (Endicott): To allow AmeriCorps VISTA and AmeriCorps Members to spend the day reaching out to local businesses and organizations to distribute flyers and recruiting volunteers in Tioga and Tompkins County.
• Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) (Binghamton): To partner with the Endicott Visitors Center to hold an Open House to recruit new volunteers and provide seasoned volunteers with some new opportunities.
• 171 Cedar Arts Center (Corning): To support their call for volunteers for their 27th annual “Make the Dream” celebration which encourages volunteers to participate and assist their School's Out Classes.
• Economic Opportunity Program Inc. (Elmira): To support “Together We Dine” a two-part community dinner that delivers 400-500 meals for disabled and elderly and a sit-down dinner for 300 or more at the Ernie Davis Community Center.
• Foodnet Meals on Wheels (Ithaca): To support the Cornell Alumni Association of the Ithaca Area’s project to paint Foodnet’s Meals on Wheels offices.
• Davis College (Johnson City): To support a student-initiated project that will operate a soup kitchen at Carroll Street Ministries. Funding will allow volunteers to hand out warm accessories (hats, gloves, scarves) to attendees.
• Endicott Performing Arts Center (Endicott): To support a performance of “DREAM” a collaboration honoring Dr. King between local performing arts organizations.

Steve Griffin, Executive Director of Foodnet Meals on Wheels, added, “This is a wonderful opportunity to partner with the Cornell Alumni Association of the Ithaca Area to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy of empathy and compassion. Human services like Foodnet Meals on Wheels promote dignity, well-being and independence for our vulnerable neighbors; and help diverse community members connect with each other in service and fellowship.”

The Regional Volunteer Center of the Southern Tier is a new collaboration which promotes and enhances local volunteer efforts. Working with local nonprofits, the Center’s goal is to build the volunteer infrastructure in the region so that more people are able to make a difference. It is led by the Institute for Human Services, the United Way of Broome County, and United Way of Tompkins County.

Funding for the MLK Day Mini-grants has been made possible by a grant through the New York State Office of National and Community Service and the Community Foundation of South Central New York.

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