Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 17, 1990 TAG: 9007170006
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHRISTINA MOTLEY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Elaine Higgs, director since 1988, is leaving the post July 31 to move to Cullowhee, N.C., with her husband, who has completed his doctoral work at Virginia Tech.
Mayton described Higgs as an outstanding director who "very quickly became involved in all aspects of the community." Higgs said she will miss the active volunteerism that abounds in Montgomery County.
"I wish I didn't have to give it up," she said. "I wish I could move Montgomery County down there. I've been involved in volunteerism for a long time and Blacksburg is a great area."
The executive director is one of two part-time paid positions for the center.
One of the most important criteria for the 25-hour-a-week job is a strong commitment to volunteerism, Higgs said. Good communication skills in working with people and computer experience is also desirable.
"Since volunteerism is something I've always done, I plan on volunteering in North Carolina, too," she said.
"Montgomery County is a special place," Higgs said. "I've never lived anywhere else where there is such an abundance of social service agencies and such a real willingness to help people solve problems."
The non-profit organization, which operates out of donated office space in Blacksburg's Wesley Foundation, publishes a Volunteer Opportunity Guide on the needs of the community. Its last edition listed more than 50 organizations. Higgs said she expects the list to double next time.
"We can throw money at problems and it won't solve them; but when we put humans out there, they solve problems," she said.
The center, which serves as a clearing house for volunteers and a liaison between businesses and volunteers, not only screens and recruits volunteers, but trains and matches volunteers skills with community needs, informs the public about volunteer opportunities and helps organizations in developing volunteer programs, Higgs said.
"This year we increased volunteer participation to 1,200 from the previous year's 1,000 volunteers," she said.
This fall, the center will be busy planning and coordinating its annual Christmas parties for Montgomery County's underprivileged children, Higgs said.
The center recruits groups - Virginia Tech student groups, civic organizations and churches to name a few - to host Christmas parties for the children.
Last year, 16 parties were held for more than 600 children, she said.
The organization also helps find volunteers for the Christmas Store, which the center helped start in 1982.
"People need more personalized service than just Christmas baskets," Higgs said. "These are more dignified ways to help the needy families."
Other outstanding volunteer needs in Montgomery County according to Higgs, include providing transportation for elderly, low-income and handicapped persons, homelessness, subsidized housing, literacy, AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, teen-age pregnancies and drugs.
by CNB