Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 13, 1990 TAG: 9005090467
SECTION: DISCOVER THE NEW RIVER VALLEY PAGE: 25 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: ROBERTA GREEN SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"Agencies and individuals contact me when they need volunteers," said Elaine Higgs, executive director. "And people and groups who want to volunteer contact me and enter our skills bank."
Higgs said the center lists all sorts of volunteers: college students, retired people, people who work, people who don't work.
"We have a long history of a close relationship blending all areas of the community," she said.
While Higgs stressed that everyone has valuable skills to contribute and there are all kinds of needs to be filled, she cited one new area of volunteers just now being tapped.
"Young people can also be good volunteers," Higgs said. "In keeping with President Bush's emphasis on youth volunteers, we see this as an area that needs to be strengthened. Young people do have special needs as volunteers - they have to be supervised and their projects have to be carefully selected - but it's never too soon to volunteer."
Higgs said her own children were involved n this year's Bloomin' and Broomin' last month. Even her 4-year-old participated in the clean up that drew hundreds of volunteers.
Many Virginia Tech students volunteer, Higgs said.
"Sometimes people in the community can think of the students in terms of traffic problems or beer parties," she said. "But they're really good at volunteering. They're a positive force in the community. And we want to recognize the students for the good function they serve."
Besides the general corps of volunteers, Higgs cites the contributions of the transportation group that provides rides to medical appointments for those unable to provide their own.
Doris Smith, a volunteer who lives in Christiansburg, is a member of this group.
"There's a real need for it," she said as she dashed first to take someone to a doctor's appointment and then continued on to wash windows for someone else.
What helps the system work, according to Higgs, is that all the Montgomery County agencies work together. For instance, the Department of Social Services calls relatively often with referrals of people in need. Also, Higgs serves on various boards, creating bridges that facilitate finding the needs and placing the volunteers.
"I came to work here when we moved to Blacksburg in 1987," Higgs said. "And I'm still waiting for our slow season. Sometimes we have people begging for jobs and no jobs. And sometimes we have jobs and few volunteers, but it all evens out. We're always busy."
In an effort to reach new volunteers, the VAC distributes two directories, a Human Services Directory, which lists information and referral numbers for community services in the area, and a Volunteer Opportunity Guide, which lists organizations and agencies in need of help.
Listings include the American Red Cross, the Montgomery County Christmas Store, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), among many, many others.
"The big thing in working with volunteers is to be appreciative," Higgs said. "Yes, sometimes it takes some time and requires some planning and training, but they're there because they want to be there. We train them well and treat them well."
Anyone interested in volunteering or in learning more about the volunteer opportunities in the New River Valley can write to VAC at P.O. Box 565, Blacksburg, Va., 24063 or call 552-4909.
by CNB