Long Island Volunteer Center Urges All Long Islanders to Get Involved During National Volunteer Week

April 9, 2012 - PRLog -- Hempstead, NY – April 9, 2012 – The Long Island Volunteer Center is commemorating National Volunteer Week by asking all Long Islanders to get involved and make a difference in their communities.  Established in 1974, National Volunteer Week is about inspiring, recognizing and encouraging Americans to seek out imaginative ways to engage in their communities and runs from April 15 - 21, 2012.

The Long Island Volunteer Center, an affiliate of HandsOn Network, is designated by New York State as the Regional Volunteer Center for Long Island serving Nassau and Suffolk Counties.  This designation, which is a part of the NYS Volunteer Generation Campaign, came in response to the 2011 “Volunteer in America” report that ranked New York last in the nation in volunteer participation rates.  

“Many Long Islanders don’t realize that there is a tremendous need that exists right in our own neighborhoods.  Local nonprofits accomplish amazing results given their limited resources and manpower, but imagine what we could achieve if every Long Islander committed to even one hour a year of volunteer work,” said Diana O’Neill, Executive Director of the Long Island Volunteer Center. “One of the easiest ways to get started is to access our website at www.longislandvolunteercenter.org  where your interests, skills and availability for local volunteer opportunities can be registered.”

One of the Long Island Volunteer Center’s signature projects is Prom Boutique.   The Long Island Volunteer Center, working in conjunction with Nassau Community College Marketing & Fashion students, collects new and gently-used prom dresses and accessories for the annual Prom Boutique.  Now in its 18th year, Prom Boutique provides dresses to girls of families across Long Island who cannot easily absorb the expense of a new outfit for their prom or graduation.    Over 1,300 girls benefited in 2011 from 65 different schools and nonprofit youth organizations across Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

Interested Long Islanders can register online to learn about upcoming volunteer projects.  The spring 2012 volunteer opportunities list is now available for download on the website.  
As local volunteer opportunities are added regularly, registered members will be notified of new projects as they are posted.

About The Long Island Volunteer Center
Created in 1992 to improve the quality of life for all Long Islanders, the Long Island Volunteer Center is a nonprofit organization that encourages people to engage in service to their communities and mobilizes volunteers and donations to support community service initiatives.  
For more information, contact the Long Island Volunteer Center at (516) 564-5482 or visit www.longislandvolunteercenter.org .  

About National Volunteer Week
Sponsored by Points of Light Institute—National Volunteer Week was established in 1974 and has grown exponentially each subsequent year, with thousands of volunteer projects and special events scheduled throughout the week. With the third year anniversary of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, the creation of the Volunteer Generation Fund and the resonant call to serve from the President, this year will be even more energizing and inspiring.  If you’d like additional information on National Volunteer Week please visit http://handsonnetwork.org/nvw12 .