Volunteer Appreciation a Success!

In the spirit of National Volunteer Appreciation Week (April 19-25), the Samaritan Center honored their 255 volunteers with a special luncheon this past Monday. With this year’s precarious economy, the Center has leaned more heavily than ever on the assistance of volunteers.

Volunteers help handle incoming donations, sort food, examine and price items for sale, and much, much more. Without them the Center would be unable to reach out to the community with emergency assistance with utilities, rent, food, clothing, furniture, and more.

Volunteers helped make these services a reality by sharing more than 13,000 hours of their time in 2008.  For the Center, this event was one small way of saying thank-you.

To view a slideshow of photos from the event, visit www.thesamaritancenter.net.

Volunteer Appreciation Door Prizes Needed!

This year’s Volunteer Appreciation will be here before we know it!

As we are preparing for the big day, we are seeking door prize donations from area venders who would like us to thank those in our community who give back through volunteering.

If you would like to get your business involved in this way, call Linda at 238-7777, ext. 22.

New Volunteer Needs!

Volunteer Nurses: Nurses are needed 2-4 hours per week (or more!) to take blood pressures and answer medical questions for shoppers and clients at the Samaritan Center.

Fundraising Assistants: Volunteers are needed to assist organizing various fundraising events. This would include helping with office duties such as copying/collating materials, preparing mailings and processing registrations, setting up on the day of event, and helping  wherever needed.

Office Assistants: Assist in general administrative duties (making copies, compiling reports, creating spread sheets, assisting with large mailings, and filing). Interpersonal/telephone skills are a plus.

Back-up/Substitute Receptionist: Must possess excellent interpersonal/telephone skills. Provide lunch time coverage and/or temporary coverage when Receptionist is away from the office.

Custodial Help: Help maintain cleanliness of Food Pantry, Gifts for Jesus Area, Small Sort Area, and any other areas needing cleaning.

To learn more or get involved, call Linda at 238-7777, ext. 22.

Southern Adventist University Students Donate Hours on MLK Day

Although many schools and businesses shut down for Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, a large number of caring community members see this holiday as a “day on, not a day off.” Accordingly on that day District 9 County Commissioner Bill Hullander and 43 students from Southern Adventist University took a break from their normal routines and came to the Samaritan Center to volunteer and serve.

The day opened with a short inspirational speech from Commissioner Hullander at 10 AM, and then the students and the Commissioner volunteered around the facility, sorting clothes, organizing food, and more. The Center was one of many community organizations graced by the presence of more than 800 SAU volunteers on this special day!