National Volunteer Week Recognizes Area Volunteers

April 6, 2011 - PRLog -- WINCHESTER, VA (April 6, 2011) – The Volunteer Action Center (VAC) of Our Health, a local nonprofit which serves as a community resource for volunteers, is celebrating area volunteers throughout National Volunteer Week (NVW), April 10-16th. Each day is scheduled with an event or activity to engage the volunteers and staff of their 29 partners. The week of events is kicked off with a Progressive Volunteer Tour on Saturday, April 9, 2011; where twenty nonprofit partners will offer light food during an open house, welcoming the community to learn more about their organization and volunteer needs. Daily events are:

   Monday, 04/11-Community Bedtime Story -6:30-7:30pm at Handley Library Audtiorium
All ages welcome-pajama friendly! Donna Hughes shares her talents to celebrate family volunteerism!
   Tuesday 04/12-Power of Positivity Training -12-1:30pm at Our Health Kendall Community Campus
Facilitated by Donna Eagle, HR Manager for Winchester Public Schools-Open invitation; contact the Our Health office at 540-536-1600 to confirm attendance-Lunch provided.
   Wednesday 04/13-Wear a “V” Ribbon Day to promote volunteerism
   Thursday 04/14-Invitation Movie Event-7:00 pm at Alamo Drafthouse
Sponsored viewing of “Pay It Forward” for VAC partners and volunteer guests
   Friday 04/15-”Hats On” to Volunteers/Communi “Tea”-4pm on Our Health Kendall Community Campus.
Wear your favorite hat all day and join a celebration for community
volunteers at the Mad Hatters Tea!-Community invite.

During NVW, partners of the VAC engage volunteers in the community by sharing a discount card, coordinated by the VAC with downtown businesses. Business partners commit to a fifteen percent discount for the entire week. This year marks the beginning of another benefit for its partners during NVW. On Tuesday, 04/12 at the training, the first “J. Donald Shockey Award for Excellence in Volunteer Management” award will be given to a volunteer manager of one of its partner organizations. The award winner will also receive a $250.00 donation to be used for its volunteer program. Mr. Shockey has been an avid supporter of Our Health and the VAC from the beginning and continues to help foster its development.

On Friday 04/15 during the Communi “Tea” event, Our Health will unveil a new sign for its campus located on Cameron Street. The original buildings at 301 and 329 North Cameron surround a ‘green space’ grass area which holds a sign qualifying their campus location. The sign will appropriately recognize the campus naming of “The Dr. Robert G. Kendall Community Campus”. Dr. Kendall supports Our Health as a board member, is past board chairman and led the fundraising initiative which built the first stage of the Our Health campus. He has supported the nonprofit since the idea stage and continues to promote its purpose for the community.

As an affiliate of the HandsOn Network, the VAC commits to build a healthy network of volunteers which serve its partners. Community members are encouraged to visit their website at www.ohvolunteeractioncenter.org to explore needs of their nonprofit partners. An interactive online application connects volunteers to the VAC and its partners. Stacey Iden, Coordinator of the VAC, shares, “National Volunteer Week serves as a celebration to this community. Sharing opportunities with volunteers that connect them to area businesses and each other encourages their ongoing support, and hopefully inspires others.”

Our Health, a non-profit community resource, affiliated with Valley Health, which supports agencies in the Northern Shenandoah Valley. Incorporated in 1999, an idea became a reality when a collaborative location became home for several area agencies in downtown Winchester. The campus was further expanded in 2010 when key public service agencies moved into the historically renovated Silver LEED certified Snapp Foundry Building. Our Health continues to create opportunities which elevate community involvement and commitments to the region. Its Volunteer Action Center provides viable services to connect agencies with area volunteers and enhance programs. Please visit their websites at www.ourhealthva.org and www.ohvolunteeractioncenter.org to learn more. Our Health – Connecting Partners. Serving Community.

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Our Health is a non-profit community resource, affiliated with Valley Health, which supports agencies in the Northern Shenandoah Valley. Its Volunteer Action Center provides viable services to connect agencies with area volunteers and enhance programs.