COVID-19: How Volunteers Are Helping

COVID-19: How Volunteers Are Helping

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." - Fred Rogers In this newsletter we are sharing the stories of West Virginia's helpers. From Blessing Boxes to Neighborhood Food Drives - Volunteers are finding creative solutions to help others during COVID-19. Here are a few of the many ways West Virginia's volunteers, AmeriCorps members, and Volunteer Centers are helping. 😊❤️ We hope these stories brighten your day and inspire you to pay-it-forward in your community! Find more ways to help here .

✨ Feeling Good Volunteer Stories ✨

West Virginia's Promise Receives a $10,000 Donation from the Jennifer Garner Foundation Dreams come true! After writing a letter to the Jennifer Garner Foundation Morgan Weister, a West Virginia's Promise AmeriCorps VISTA , was surprised to receive a $10,000 donation in t he mail! The donation will be used to match AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers with local groups that serve children in the summer . Summer AmeriCorps VISTA positions are available statewide. In exchange for a summer of service, VISTAS will receive a living allowance and Education Award / Cash Bonus. Click here to learn more . You can also read more about Morgan's story here !

Volunteers - Helping Seniors Feel Loved in Fayette County It’s rough when the residents in assisted living facilities can’t have visitors! That's why volunteers in Fayette County are collecting donations for area senior centers. Volunteers are collecting playing cards, word search books, coloring books, crayons, colored pencils, signed thinking of you cards, and snacks for residents to win while playing games. The project is being sponsored by Fayette Connected, one of six Volunteer Centers in the state supported by Volunteer West Virginia and the Volunteer Generation Fund. To donate please contact Fayette Connected via their Facebook Page or call ( 304) 574-4338.   AmeriCorps - Helping to Feed the Hungry When Ksenia Bradner, a Preservation Alliance AmeriCorps member, returned home to Arlington, VA during the "stay at home" order she continued to find creative ways to help others. Inspired by her time at Mountaineer Foodbank, she connected with the Arlington Food Assistance Center to start a neighborhood food bank in the safety of her own home. Ksenia left boxes on her front porch for friends and neighbors to drop off nonperishable food. She was delighted to find new food each time she opened the front door! Through the project Ksenia collected nine boxes of food for the center and plans to start another food drive soon! Read Ksenia's full story here .

Volunteers Install Blessing Boxes throughout Mercer & Summers County Thanks to the help of Community Connections and volunteers - Blessing boxes have been appearing throughout Mercer and Summers County. The boxes motto is - "Take what you need, Give what you can". Each box is filled with nonperishable food donated by volunteers and local community businesses. Community Connections plans to install 14 boxes throughout the community. Community Connections is one of six Volunteer Centers in the state supported by Volunteer West Virginia and the Volunteer Generation Fund. Click here to learn more. If you would like to get involved please call Community Connections at (304) 913-4956.   AmeriCorps Service During a Pandemic COVID-19 may have disrupted daily life nationally, and globally, but it hasn't stopped our AmeriCorps members from getting things done. From ramp recipes to Meals on Wheels to Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area AmeriCorps members have found creative ways to serve. Click here to read their stories.

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