Volunteers are the heart of a community
I hear joyful noise from the Charleston Miracle League from my house on a weekend morning. When I pop out of a trail at Charles Towne Landing hot and sweaty, a volunteer pulls up in a golf cart to offer me a ride. A reassuring volunteer guides me to the change room when I drag myself in for my annual mammogram. Volunteers staff our fitness runs, and I see them on their knees planting and weeding for the Magnolia Community Garden and Mulberry Food Forest.
We watch on social media as good people rally around neighbors after house fires or health crises. They collect winter coats, socks and school supplies, report on Blessing Boxes needing stocking, and track down owners of lost pets.
Life is improved by volunteers in our West Ashley neighborhoods. Volunteer Week is in April so it’s a good time to send out a shout of gratitude to our local support and encourage each other to consider lending a hand in a meaningful way. Life can be tough. Volunteering is one of the simplest and most powerful ways we can make a difference close to home.
I sent a query to some of our local organizations to see if anything caught their interest.
Interested in sports? Jessica Pisani, Charleston Miracle League Director, would love to talk to you. Jessica started her role as a volunteer buddy and knows the impact it makes.
The mission of the Charleston Miracle League is to create an inclusive baseball experience where children and adults with special needs can play, build confidence and create an inclusive environment.
A volunteer role might include serving as a buddy to players with special needs, assisting players on the field and providing encouragement throughout the game, ensuring that every participant has a safe, fun and inclusive baseball experience. There are roles for greeters, announcers and simply cheering in the stands. We could all do that!
The games are on Saturdays. Major League (adult) season is March 7-Apil 4 (10 a.m.-1 p.m.) and Minor League (youth) season is April 11-May 9 (10 a.m.-12 p.m.). Contact Jessica Pisani at: (843)608-8254 or www.charlestonmiracleleague.org
Tax Prep: Ann Woods enthusiastically welcomes us to consider serving with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. (VITA). It’s a free service for taxpayers over 50, low-to-moderate income individuals and families and hard working neighbors to make sure they receive the credits and deductions they’ve earned. Your spare time can be a lifeline for your neighbors and put money back in the pockets of people in the Charleston area.
They offer training and welcome volunteers of all ages and backgrounds. Applicants’ tax returns are filed electronically at no cost. The benefits of volunteering for VITA include free training from local mentors, earning an IRS Certified Tax Counselor Certificate after passing the standard annual exam, and enjoying working with a dedicated team committed to serving appreciative neighbors.
For more information, contact Anne Woods at (602) 785-1836 or annwood-saz@gmail.com
How about Seniors? Maggie Myers is the kind of neighbor we would all be lucky to have. She proactively registered as a Volunteer before she actually arrived in Charleston. Maggie staffs the Reception Desk at the Waring Senior Center and has met and made many new friends. “Volunteering has been a great opportunity to meet new people, to be involved, and learn new skills.”
The Waring Senior Center is a bustling and vibrant activity center, and Program Manager Peggy Chausse invites you to consider lending a hand. The mission of the Waring Center is to empower adults 50+ for personal independence, healthy aging, social connection, and lifelong learning in the Lowcountry. A volunteer role might include staffing the Front Desk or the Gym/Fitness Center, serving as a guest speaker or instructing a class in art, language, exercise etc.
Volunteer applications are available at the center’s front desk. Schedules and hours are flexible. The Waring Senior Center is part of Roper St. Francis Healthcare and the RSFH Volunteer Program. For more information visit www.lowcountryseniorcenter.com/waring-senior-center.
Building Math Skills: Madison Anderson, Executive Director of the Heart Math Tutoring program, invites all of us to consider being Math Tutors.
Tutors provide one-on-one math tutoring and mentorship to K-5 students across Charleston during the school day. Tutoring sessions take place in a classroom setting, with an onsite Program Coordinator present to provide support and ensure everything runs smoothly. Sessions take place at a CCSD school once a week from October to April, for 30 minutes or one hour.
Volunteer Tutors use Heart’s fun, easy-to-follow curriculum, which is fully scripted and designed to make tutoring simple and engaging. No special skills or educational background are required. Tutors come from many backgrounds, including high school and college students, working professionals, and retirees. Anyone can be a Heart tutor. You don’t need to be a math expert, Madison assures us; if we can count to ten, we can help a student succeed.
Visit heartmathtutoring.org/Charleston or call (843) 580-8646 to learn more and submit an interest form to become a tutor for the 26/27 school year!. Madison is happy to answer any questions you might have.
Healthcare: Hospitals can be stressful places, and the team of Volunteers at Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital adds a warm and caring touch. They provide a valuable service to patients, families, visitors, and teammates within the facility. Carla Johnston, Manager, Volunteer Services, invites you to consider joining their team.
Duties might include staffing the Visitor Information Desks, restocking supplies, clerical support, and escorting patients. No healthcare experience is required, but volunteers are asked to commit to a regular four-hour weekly schedule.
For more information, contact Carla Johnston at carla.johnston@rsfh.com, (843) 402-1156
Send ideas for upcoming columns to Joan Perry at westashleywanderer@gmail.com.
