Volunteer Opportunities

Page 6

Youth Programs

Page 4

Volunteer Spotlight

Page 5

What’s Inside

Program Updates

Page 3

Let’s Connect

Calendar of Events

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INSPIRING VOLUNTEERS AND EFFECTIVELY CONNECTING THEM WITH THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY

VOLUNTEER BULLETIN

MARCH/APRIL 2020

@flinthillsvolunteercenter

@flinthillsvc

Greetings Volunteers,

Happy Spring! I think we are all ready for warmer weather and no snow!

The first two months of 2020 got off to a great start. We finalized our statistics and are amazed

at the results of our 2019 Impact Report. We saw a record-breaking 1,014 volunteers enrolled in

our program! With a return investment of $1,032,611 to our communities, you have made a big

impact and should be proud.

I always look forward to our annual Father Daughter Sweetheart Dance in February. We had

over 200 fathers and daughters attending. Many thanks to all the volunteers who helped with refreshments,

registration, set-up, photos, and more. It was a fun event and lots of memories were made with fathers and their

daughters.

I’m excited to announce that we will be hosting the Elder Justice: Frauds and Scams informative meeting on

March 12th at the Riley County Seniors’ Service Center. Please join our guest speaker, Niomi Burget, Consumer

Outreach and Public Affairs Coordinator, Attorney General’s Office, as she covers such topics as Insurance Fraud,

Social Security Scams, Sweepstakes Scams, Banking Frauds and Scams, Online Safety and so much more.

Sponsored by our Senior Corps RSVP program. There is no fee, but we would like everyone to pre-register at:

elderfraud.eventbrite.com

April is a special month for me. This year I am celebrating 35 years with the RSVP/Flint Hills Volunteer Center. It’s

hard to believe it’s been so many years and the memories are very much imbedded in my life. I’ve met some

great volunteers, shared the good times and the bad, laughed and cried with you, and I feel very blessed to be a

part of a great organization.

The month of April will be focused on our volunteers. April 7th, we will join all Senior Corps and AmeriCorps

members for National Service Recognition Day. We are busy planning a service day so watch for your emails

about this day! April 19-25 is National Volunteer Week and we’ll be recognizing volunteers during this week.

Many thanks to our VITA volunteers who are busy filing tax returns. From January 15 – February 15th, volunteers

have reported these amazing results: 309 Returns completed, Federal Refunds: $563, 805 and Average Adjusted

Gross Income on Return: $24,248. Pretty amazing for the first month!

As we recognize National Volunteer Week, I would like to extend my deep appreciation for everything you do. You

make a difference in our communities. You might not know the impact you make in the life of someone, but we

do!

Thank you volunteers!

Lori

NOTES FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Lori Bishop

Executive Director

VOLUNTEER BULLETIN PAGE 2

The Flint Hills Volunteer Center would like to extend a warm welcome to our new volunteers!

41 new volunteers enrolled between January 1 and February 20

27 new volunteers are students

5 new volunteers enrolled are Veterans or Active Duty Military

MARCH/APRIL 2020 PAGE 3

THANK YOU TO ALL VOLUNTEERS THAT HELPED WITH OUR ANNUAL FATHER DAUGHTER SWEETHEART DANCE!

NOTES FROM KAREN, JUNCTION CITY RSVP:

Greetings from Junction City- while the temperatures drop our

volunteers are heating up with lots of activity. We now have 30

volunteers within Junction City who have collectively volunteered

over 560 hours this past year. Most recently we have begun a

weekly community dinner at the Church of the Covenant which

serves an average of 30 people a week. We are also happy to

have started a partnership with Breaking Bread who serves a

weekly meal every Friday at the 12th Street Community Center.

Both groups have been supportive of each other to help serve

meals for families and individuals in the Junction City community. We also have an active group of

volunteers at Valley View Estates that meets monthly to

package cookies to be given to soldiers through the USO at

Fort Riley. This group is a lively bunch that looks forward to

their monthly gathering to chat and volunteer together. We

average 100 cookies a month and are always eager for more.

In early February our Valley View Estate and Bicentennial

Manor volunteers assisted with assembling items for the

Suicide Prevention Taskforce’s Yellow Ribbon presentations. In

just a few hours, these 12 volunteers assembled 100 folder

packets and over 200 yellow ribbon pins for the Taskforce.

YOUTH VOLUNTEER CORPS

The Youth Volunteer Corps is growing quickly this year! Our program year began September 1st and we have had 36 youth volunteers get involved in their communities through YVC. So far, volunteers have already earned more than 600 hours across 37 project days.

YVC Youth have already volunteered at two major community events this year. In January, YVC joined HandsOn Kansas State’s annual day of service in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Around 100 volunteers served at twelve sites across the Manhattan community; YVC spent the morning volunteering at the

VOLUNTEER BULLETIN

SCHOOLS OF HOPE

The Spring Semester is underway and volunteers are still being placed in the schools.

We have several students on a waitlist so if you are interested in helping a child over

the next couple months, please let me know! Schools of Hope is a great way to make a

big impact on a child with such a small way.

—Amanda

PAGE 4

Manhattan Public Library.

In February, YVC volunteered with Manhattan Parks and Recreation for the Night to Shine Prom, a dance for special communities in Manhattan. YVC Youth volunteered throughout the night, making sure the event ran smoothly and cleaning up after the guests had left. Five Youth volunteered as “Buddies” and paired with guests for the evening.

Coming up in March, YVC affiliates across the U.S. and Canada will all work together for our program’s annual day of service, YVC Day. The theme this year is “Dream Green” and all YVC programs will be completing projects that work to improve their communities and the environment. Manhattan youth will work to learn about local ecology and maintaining green spaces.

YOUTH SERVICES PROGRAMS

PAGE 5 MARCH/APRIL 2020

WELCOME TO OUR TEAM!!

Sue Simmons, Army Veteran, Retired Federal Civilian (Army)

Sue Simmons is serving as President the Flint Hills Volunteer Center Board

of Directors. Sue is retired from Army Federal Civilian Service with nearly

39 years; mostly in Human Resources and including five and a half years

on active duty with the Army. Her final position was the Chief of the

Processing Division of the Civilian Human Resources Agency (CHRA),

Fort Riley, Kansas. Since retiring, Sue joined the Flint Hills Veterans

Coalition, and is currently serving as Treasurer. Sue also works part-

time with the KSU Riley County Extension as the Site Coordinator for

the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program; and as adjunct

faculty with Barton County Community College with the Civilian Leadership

Development Program (CLDP).

Sue graduated from Kansas State University in 1989 with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science

major and minor in Business. She received an Associate of Science degree from Drury University in

1984.

When not in Manhattan working on something, Sue enjoys traveling with her husband. Since retirement they have traveled to Europe three times and continue to be tourists in the US as they travel to visit family. Sue and her husband have 5 grandkids and other family spread all over the country.

Carolyn Tolliver-Lee, Fort Riley Army Community Services

Carolyn Tolliver-Lee is a recent Board Member of the Flint Hills

Volunteer Center and is serving on the Yellow Ribbon Suicide

Prevention Committee. Her other community involvement includes

her membership with the Fairy Godmothers organization in

Manhattan. She is also a lifetime Hidden Hero with the Elizabeth

Dole Foundation. This participation consist of supporting Military and

Veteran caregivers of disabled Veterans who live in the state of

Kansas and on the national level.

Carolyn has been employed for 18 years at the Army Community Service,

Fort Riley where she is a certified family mediator and family life educator. She is also an adjunct

professor at Cloud Community College, Geary County Campus for 16 years.

Carolyn is a graduate from both Kansas State University and Northcentral University where she her

master’s degrees in human service.

Since Carolyn has raised her family, she now enjoys spending her leisure time travelling and

spending time with her nine grandchildren.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Dated Volunteer Opportunities for March—April Tuesday, March 3 – Area Agency on Aging Caregivers mailing. Volunteers needed to insert, fold, seal and address the

newsletters. 9 AM to 11:30 AM at 401 Houston Street.

Thursday, March 5-Cookie Brigade. You can drop off cookies anytime Wednesday through Thursday at 1 PM and we will

package them to take to the Fort Riley USO on Thursday at 2 PM. We would love for you to join us!

Thursday, March 19-Cookie Brigade. You can drop off cookies anytime Wednesday through Thursday at 1 PM and we will

package them to take to the Fort Riley USO on Thursday at 2 PM. We would love for you to join us!

Thursday, April 2 Cookie Brigade. You can drop off cookies anytime Wednesday through Thursday at 1 PM and we will

package them to take to the Fort Riley USO on Thursday at 2 PM. We would love for you to join us!

Tuesday, April 7 –Area Agency on Aging Caregivers mailing. Volunteers needed to insert, fold, seal and address the news-

letters. 9 AM to 11:30 AM at 401 Houston Street.

Thursday, April 16— Cookie Brigade. You can drop off cookies anytime Wednesday through Thursday at 1 PM and we will

package them to take to the Fort Riley USO on Thursday at 2 PM. We would love for you to join us!

On - Going Volunteer Opportunities

Transportation Driver Volunteers needed — We are in need of more transportation volunteers to take seniors to their medical

appointments. Volunteers are able to work around their own schedules.

Schools of Hope — Volunteers are needed to provide one-on-one mentoring to increase literacy. Volunteers work with a student

one-on-one, becoming a part of their improvement, and helping to celebrate their success. Requirements include: one school year

commitment to your student (Sept.-May), attend required orientation/training, tutor twice a week for 30 minute sessions, and the

completion of a successful background check.

Pawnee Mental Health — Multiple opportunities available to help Pawnee better serve our communities, including delivering

meals from Common Table to the Crisis Stabilization Center, assisting with outreach events, helping with development activities, and

more.

Midwest Dream Car Collection — Volunteers are needed to interact with museum guests. Saturday and Special Event volunteers

greatly needed!

Youth Volunteer Corps — Seeking more volunteers to be Team Leaders. Team Leaders are assigned a group of kids (ages 11-18) to

work on special projects. Please contact the office for more information.

Outreach Volunteer—The Flint Hills Volunteer Center is seeking volunteers to help implement our new community initiatives: Sui-

cide Prevention and Elder Justice. We are looking for volunteers to help at suicide prevention training classes and learn the curricu-

lum for Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention and Money Smart for Older Adults to teach trainings within the community.

Friendship Meal Delivery— Drivers are needed. Please contact us if you’re available to help.

Please remember to ALWAYS wear your nametag or volunteer shirt when you're out on a volunteer assignment! If you do not have a name tag,

please contact me and I can have one ready for you! Also, when volunteering for an organization especially ones that are on the weekly volun-

teer opportunities, please ALWAYS make a reference and say you are part of the Flint Hills Volunteer Center. We don't have much marketing

around the area and that would help us promote the Volunteer Center tremendously!

Contact Amanda @ 776-7787 or info@flinthillsvolunteercenter.com if you’re interested in any of

these opportunities! VOLUNTEER BULLETIN PAGE 6

MARCH/APRIL 2020

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

MARCH 2020 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 31

Cookie Brigade

APRIL 2020 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30

Caregivers

PAGE 7

Caregivers

Cookie Brigade

Cookie Brigade

Cookie Brigade

Elder justice

workshop

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK

Corporation for National and Community Service, Kansas Volunteer Commission, YES! Fund , Konza United Way, Kansas State Pi Beta Phi,

Riley County Council on Aging, Greater Manhattan Community Foundation, Kansas Health Foundation

FLINT HILLS VOLUNTEER CENTER 2601 Anderson Avenue Ste 200

Manhattan, KS 66502

Phone: 785-776-7787

Fax: 785-776-8653

Please help us raise $30,000 to support over 900 volunteers. Your support is appreciated!

**Gift in Honor/Memory of a loved-one (to support on-going projects)

General contribution (recruiting/placing individuals in positions that impact the community)

Schools of Hope (recruiting/placing volunteer tutors)

Youth Volunteer Corps (recruiting youth 11-18 years old)

Contribution to new Initiatives: Suicide Prevention, Elder Justice, Opioid Abuse

My gift to the Flint Hills Volunteer Center is enclosed:

___$50 ___$100 ___$200 ___$500 Other amount $___________

Name _______________________________________________________________________________________

Address _____________________________________________________________________________________

City, State, & Zip _____________________________________________________________________________

Phone ______________________ Email (if applicable) ______________________________________________

**In Honor/Memory of: ______________________________________________________________________