Resource/Informational Events for City of Long Beach Residents offered by the City of Long Beach and the LI Long-Term Recovery Group

Long Beach “Save the Bay Day” Saturday, May 18, 2013; 10 A.M. to 1 P.M.

Stamp Out Hunger: Island Harvest Needs Volunteers on 5/13 – 5/15 to Sort & Pack the Many Pounds of Food LI’ers will be Donating to the Letter Carrier’s Drive. Groups are Welcome!

Volunteer Opportunities Monday, May 13-Wednesday, May 15

The Annual National Association of Letter Carrier’s Food Drive is taking place tomorrow, Saturday, May 11. Please remember to leave a bag of non-perishable food, such as canned vegetables, pasta, cereal, and other items that do not require refrigeration by your mailbox for your letter carrier to collect.

We are still in need of support to weigh, sort, and pack this food at our collection site so it can be transported to local pantries and other feeding programs. The following volunteer opportunities are available next week (Mon-Wed)

SORTING/PACKING- Groups are welcome! Note that, for safety reasons, the minimum age for volunteering is 12. Groups with minors under 18 must bring adequate adult supervision (minimum of 1 adult for every 5 children).

HEAVY LIFTING- You must be comfortable operating a pallet jack and moving between 200 and 1,000 pounds of food. The minimum age for volunteering in this capacity is 18. Training is required and will be conducted on-site on the day of the event.

SHIFTS AVAILABLE

Mon, 5/13 and Tues, 5/14
• 8-11am
• 10:30-1pm (for heavy lifting/moving)
• 12:30-3pm
• 2:30-6pm
• 5:30-9pm
• 8:30-10:30pm

Wednesday 5/15
• 8-11am
• 10:30-1pm
• 12:30-3pm
• 2:30-6pm

To learn more and to register, please visit:  Stamp Out Hunger LI

Joan Flynn
Volunteer & Community Relations Manager
Tel: 516.294.8528 x121; fax 516.747.6843
joan@islandharvest.org

199 Second Street, Mineola, NY 11501
40 Marcus Blvd. Hauppauge NY 11788| www.islandharvest.org

 

Hicksville Cleanup on Saturday, May 18, 2013! Volunteers Needed!! Help Take Pride in Your Community…

Greenbelt Trail Work & Erosion Control in Cold Spring Harbor Scheduled for Saturday, May 11! Volunteers Needed.

Saturday, May 11:  Cold Spring Harbor Work Outing

8:00 AM 

Info: Bill, 631-514-9487

A spring day is a great time to lend a hand for some hard but rewarding trail work and erosion control; meet in parking lot of Cold Spring Harbor State Park, on NY 25A next to library; bring water, work gloves, pails, shovels and safety glasses, if you have them; rain cancels.

Did you know…                                                                     

Long Island Greenbelt Trail Selected as NEWSDAY’s pick for Best Trails    

1978-2013 Our 35rd Year

The LONG ISLAND GREENBELT TRAIL CONFERENCE is a unique, non-profit grassroots organization that has created more than 200 miles of hiking paths on Long Island, including three National Recreation Trails. We are dedicated to protecting open space and our scenic Greenbelt trails for all to enjoy. We lead over 200 FREE GUIDED HIKES each year; and have donated a total of over 500,000 volunteer hours to Long Island’s parks and trails.

Our MAPS of our trails and woodlands, contributed by naturalist Larry Paul, are acknowledged as the very best and most detailed of any on Long Island. We encourage you to JOIN the Long Island Greenbelt Trail Conference and help us KEEP LONG ISLAND GREEN! Use this web site to learn more about our organization.

To find the Greenbelt Office in Blydenburgh Park: from Route 25-25A in Smithtown, go south on Brooksite Dr.; at next light (New Mill Rd.), turn right to park entrance at end of road….From Route 347, find Brooksite Dr. between the 347-454 junction and Rt. 111; head north on Brooksite to Cygnet Drive.  Make left and follow to the end.  Go left on New Mill Road to the park. Follow the paved path at the west end of the lot to the Blydenburgh-Weld House.

Contact us at ligreenbelt@verizon.net

Long Island Greenbelt Trail Conference, Inc
P.O. Box 5636
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Phone 631 360 0753
Fax 631 980 40

Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Saturday, May 11, 2013! Remember to Leave Your Non-Perishable Donations at Your Mailbox this Saturday!

Countdown to NALC Food Drive is on

Taken from the May 2013 issue of The Postal Record

“All of the hard work, the planning, the meetings, the checklists—all of that is about to pay off,” NALC Presi- dent Fredric Rolando said. “And our customers who desperately need this food will be the true beneficiaries of this massive, nationwide effort.”

The 21st annual drive is Saturday, May 11, and more than 1,400 NALC branches in just about every city, state and territory will have letter carriers, family members and thousands of vol- unteers out and about to help collect, sort and distribute the cans, boxes and jars of non-perishable food items left in bags next to costumers’ mailboxes.

The NALC’s effort is the nation’s largest one-day food-collection drive.

“Since food pantries and other service organizations are pretty much tapped out by the time our drive rolls around,” Rolando said, “this infusion of food comes at just the right time.”

In fact, the second Saturday in May was specifically chosen for the annual event. By that time, pantry shelves filled up through winter-holiday generosity are often bare or nearly so by late spring—a sad reflection of the reality that wide- spread hunger in America is a tough problem to solve. Also, school programs that provide free or reduced-cost meals to students typically do not continue operation during summer months.

Last year, the food drive gathered more than 70 million pounds of food, bringing our grand total to 1.2 billion pounds.

“It’s fun to set goals, to strive for better collection numbers and break records,” Rolando said, “but all any of us ask is that you try your best to collect as much food as you can. Helping our customers feed their hungry families is our real goal.”

Friends pitch in to help

Continuing the tradition begun by his father, Bil, Family Circus cartoonist

Jeff Keane has provided special promo- tional food drive artwork featuring the familiar characters of Billy, Dolly, Jeffy and P.J. helping to carry a sack of food out to the mailbox by the curb.

Also back this year as the drive’s national celebrity spokesperson is musician Nick Cannon, the host of TV’s “America’s Got Talent.” Cannon appears in a special food drive public service announcement made available to TV and radio stations to help promote the food drive. (Cannon’s video, along with a wide variety of other useful information and artwork, can be found on the Food Drive’s web page at nalc.org.)

“The NALC is truly grateful for the help we get each year, to reach so many neighborhoods all on one day,” President Rolando said. The food drive’s national and regional partners this year are the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association, Valpak, United Way Worldwide, Campbell Soup, the AFL-CIO, the USPS, Feeding America, Uncle Bob’s Self Storage (with loca- tions in 25 states), AARP and its “Drive to End Hunger” campaign, GLS Companies, Source Direct Plastics, the Publix grocery store chain and Valas- sis/Red Plum. PR

Stamp Out Hunger Facebook

Stamp Out Hunger Twitter

I LOVE MY PARK DAY…Saturday, May 4, 2013 Help Cleanup Our LI Parks Damaged by Sandy!

I Love My Park Day is an exciting new statewide event, organized by Parks & Trails New York(PTNY) in partnership with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) and local Friends groups, to celebrate and enhance New York’s parks and historic sites and bring visibility to the entire park system and its needs. The NY State Commission on National and Community Service is joining the effort this year to help recruit volunteers, promote the initiative and engage AmeriCorps members to support to projects across the state.

Volunteers from across the state will participate in cleanup, improvement, and beautification events at New York State parks and historic sites on Saturday, May 4, 2013. Volunteers will celebrate New York’s park system by cleaning up park lands and beaches, planting trees and gardens, restoring trails and wildlife habitat, removing invasive species, and working on various site improvement projects.

In the wake of Super Storm Sandy, our LI parks and historical sites need your help more than ever!  Check out these Long Island parks that will be participating this year and register to volunteer!

Long Island 
Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park 
Bethpage State Park
Caleb Smith State Park Preserve
Connetquot River State Park Preserve
Heckscher State Park
Hempstead Lake State Park
Jones Beach State Park
Montauk Point State Park
Nissequogue River State Park
Robert Moses State Park (REGISTRATION FULL)
Sunken Meadow State Park (Alfred E. Smith)
Walt Whitman Birthplace State Historic Site

Long Island Volunteer Center “Volunteer Fair” Today, Wednesday April 24, 2013 from 3-7 p.m. @ Carlyle on the Green @ Bethpage State Park

Sustainable LI Honors Long Island Volunteer Center for Disaster Response & Recovery Efforts along with other LIVOAD Members at Seventh Annual Sustainability Conference

Theresa Regnante, United Way LI; Kathy Rosenthal, FEGS; Lori Andrade, Health & Welfare Council LI; Patricia Sands, Long Island Volunteer Center ; Amy Engel, Sustainable LI

From Sustainable LI Newsletter:

Sustainable Long Island held its Seventh Annual Sustainability Conference on Friday, April 12, 2013 at the Carlyle on the Green, in Bethpage State Park, highlighted by keynote addresses from Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, Texas A&M University-Commerce Professor Jonathan Bergman, interactive workshops, and the 3rd Annual “Getting It Done” Awards. “The Road to Recovery” themed event provided an opportunity for attendees to discuss how to rethink, rebuild, and renew our region moving forward after Hurricane Sandy. 

Hurricane Sandy came ashore last October and changed the lives of thousands of residents and businesses throughout Long Island. It brought some of Long Island’s most pressing issues to the forefront and demanded our attention. Many of us today may think of one word when looking back on the Hurricane: tragedy. It was a tragic event with tragic consequences, the likes of which we may never see again. But from that tragedy comes opportunity.

The Seventh Annual Sustainability Conference was filled with opportunity. The opportunity to raise awareness. The opportunity to motivate the masses. The opportunity to stimulate action. The opportunity to come together and spread hope…

…Our final honorees of the day were three organizations that represent the Long Island Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (LIVOAD).

Disaster planning and response has always been important on Long Island, but recent events have made it a top priority. It is clear that more formalized coordination is crucial to the future of our region and that’s where the LIVOAD steps in.

LIVOAD works to foster an organized approach to disaster recovery, identify what services are needed, and develop efficient ways to deliver them.

LIVOAD is made up of regional nonprofit, for-profit and governmental agencies and the following three of them accepted a “Getting It Done” award on their behalf.  

First up was the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island (HWCLI). The HWCLI, in its role as a coordinator of LIVOAD, facilitated communication between countless nonprofit agencies in the days after the devastation; providing assistance to storm victims and emergency management officials from the local, state, and federal governments.

HWCLI convened the LIVOAD’s Long Term Recovery Group, leading the way in providing opportunities for health and human agencies to assist storm-affected families months, and possibly years, into the future. Through their efforts they manage disaster response in key areas, including case work, home cleanup, housing, volunteering, and the special needs of the undocumented population.

Since the storm, HWCLI has not, and will not rest until all vulnerable individuals and families are on the pathway to recovery and self-sufficiency.

Second was the Long Island Volunteer Center (LIVC). LIVC was in a unique position to take on a leadership role within the LIVOAD following Superstorm Sandy; focusing on volunteer recruitment, management, training, and deployment.

LIVC facilitated hundreds of thousands of volunteers who contributed to the regional response; helping not only their friends and neighbors, but disadvantaged strangers who needed support the most. When the storm hit, LIVC had a system in place to accept offers from individuals volunteering as well as to capitalize on opportunities from local agencies.

LIVC worked with LIVOAD members in deploying volunteers quickly and effectively and has overseen a significant increase in volunteer registrations since Sandy.

The commitment to serve those who suffered most during the storm is just a small example of how the LIVC is a driving force for community service Island-wide.

The final honoree for the LIVOAD was the United Way of Long Island (UWLI). UWLI used their knowledge, abilities, and partnerships to play a vital role within the LIVOAD’s Long Term Recovery Group (LTRG); serving as Executive Committee member, fundraiser and overall resource before, during, and after Superstorm Sandy.

However their most critical role was raising an initial $1 million for the LI Hurricane Sandy Unmet Needs Roundtable, a funding collaborative which brings together donors to create a pool of funding that can be used to meet the unmet needs of thousands of victims whose insurance and FEMA disbursements fell short of covering rebuilding costs in full.

In addition, UWLI coordinated the 211 system, which was created as a single point of entry for families and individuals impacted by the storm to connect to vital services, including emergency food and shelter, assistance with home muck out and clean out, home reconstruction and rebuild, and the STEP project in Suffolk County.

This telephone hotline and online system has received thousands of calls for assistance since October 29 and is just one of the many ways the UWLI offers high impact solutions through efficient, effective, and transparent initiatives.

Exciting Volunteer Cleanup Opportunity @ Historic Rosemary Open Air Theater at Huntington Seminary on Saturday, 4/27 & Sunday, 4/28/13

Stages on the Sound is in the beginning stages of renovating the historic Rosemary Open Air Theatre on the grounds of the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Lloyd Harbor.  The theatre was built into a hillside overlooking the water by Roland Conklin for his wife Rosemary starting in 1912.  The estate’s mansion burned down in the 1990′s.

Currently, the space is mostly overgrown. Fortunately, a number of efforts throughout the decades since the space fell into disrepair have kept the trees from getting too large and the general condition of the stone work and terraces is excellent.

The organization’s goals over the next several years are to:


1. Clear the space so it is accessible
2. Use the space this summer for a theatre camp for students
3. Start professional performances in the space next summer
4. Continue to restore the space until it echoes its former glory and becomes a permanent and important fixture of the region

To get started, they have scheduled a cleanup weekend for Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28.  Volunteers will be needed to help both days, with Saturday being the longer of the two days.  Activities will include:  pulling weeds, cutting brush, clearing growth, yanking vines, hauling trees, and generally reclaiming the site from nature.  Tools will not be required, but volunteers are welcome to bring their own tools remembering to mark them with their names.  Volunteers should bring work gloves, dress appropriately and bring bug repellant to apply before working. There will be volunteers of all ages there, so it will be a fun activity for families to do together if they are interested.

Stages on the Sound is a 501(c)3 organization, and they carry their own volunteer accident insurance.

Cleanup will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday.  There will be plenty of parking at the seminary (in the side lot) but a bit of a walk to the theatre.  They expect to finish around 6 p.m.  Volunteers are invited to work for all or part of the day as their schedule allows.

Lunch, snacks and drinks for all volunteers will be provided.

Volunteers are welcome to join the group for dinner in the seminary on Saturday evening.

Additionally, the group is hoping to host a social to show off some of the history of the space and to talk about their plans for the future.  Local volunteers are welcome to come to the Seminary on Friday night for that social event, if they wish, and then join the group the next morning for the cleanup.  The social will probably be around 8:30 p.m.

If work progresses as planned, a smaller number of volunteers will be needed on Sunday to help with grass seed planting and to spread straw over the seeded areas.  This work will begin at 9:30 a.m. and continue until it is finished.  It is possible that some cleanup will remain if it is not all accomplished on Saturday.

Volunteers are asked to RSVP to Will Ditterline, Artistic Director for Stages on the Sound, at:

willditterline@yahoo.com

On the days of the cleanup, Will can be reached at 917-306-6895

 

 

LIVC “Volunteer Fair” Wednesday, April 24, 2013 @ Carlyle on the Green at Bethpage State Park

Long Island Volunteer Center to Host 2013 Volunteer Fair During National Volunteer Week

Volunteers Make All the Difference!

 Unique Opportunity for Long Islanders to Meet Local Nonprofit Agencies                        in Need of Volunteers 

In recognition of National Volunteer Week (April 21-27), The Long Island Volunteer Center, in association with the Long Island Community Foundation (LICF), will host the 2013 Long Island Volunteer Fair on Wednesday, April 24, 2013, at Carlyle on the Green at Bethpage State Park from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The Volunteer Fair provides an opportunity for Long Islanders interested in community work to explore local nonprofit agencies in need of volunteers. In the wake of superstorm Sandy, local nonprofits are experiencing an increased demand for assistance and are in critical need of volunteers.  More than 60 local nonprofit agencies will attend the Volunteer Fair. A list of agencies can be found on the right-hand side of the homepage under Volunteer Fair details at www.longislandvolunteercenter.org.

National Volunteer Week is about inspiring, recognizing and encouraging people to seek out imaginative ways to engage in their communities.  Sponsored by Points of Light—National Volunteer Week was established in 1974 and has grown exponentially each subsequent year, with literally thousands of volunteer projects and special events scheduled throughout the week across the country.

About Long Island Volunteer Center (LIVC)

The Long Island Volunteer Center is the resource center for volunteerism and community service initiatives throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties.  Established in 1992, LIVC operates year round and its services are provided free of charge.  The LIVC collaborates with corporations and community organizations to address the needs of Long Islanders.  LIVC is an affiliate of the HandsOn Network since 2008, connecting agencies seeking volunteers with individuals and groups looking for ways to serve their communities.  In 2011, the LIVC was designated by New York State as the Regional Volunteer Center for Long Island.

About Long Island Community Foundation (LICF)

The Long Island Community Foundation (LICF) is the Island’s community foundation, making grants to improve our region and helping donors with their philanthropy since 1978. We identify current and future community needs, strengthen the Island’s nonprofit sector, encourage philanthropy, and, with our generous donors, build a permanent endowment to address these needs. We have made more than $130 million in grants from hundreds of funds established by individuals, families, and businesses. LICF is a division of The  New York Community Trust, one of the country’s oldest and largest community foundations. For more information, visit www.licf.org.

For additional information on the Volunteer Fair, please contact (516) 564-5482 events@longislandvolunteercenter.org.

For press inquiries, please contact Erin Burke at eburke@markettalknow.com at (631) 239-6903.

Family Volunteer Trash Cleanup Opportunity in Long Beach This Weekend 4/19-21!

HUGE WEEKEND OF SANDY RELIEF!

Project 11561 and many sponsors help put together an awesome cleanup effort in the spirit of Earth Day this weekend April 19th – 21st. Asking anyone and everyone to help give a hand, get out and cleanup our town which we all love so much.  There will be five stations located around town where people can come to pick up trash bags and plastic gloves, go out and clean up, and then drop garbage back off.  The stations are Clark Street Park, Pacific Park, Kennedy Plaza, Sherman Brown Park, and Georgia Park.

As a part of the cleanup we will have trash scavenger hunts for children to complete. Trash Hunt lists will be available before Saturday on the Project 111561 Facebook Page:

Project 11561 Facebook

The Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut is currently running a rubber duck donation campaign.  They are asking for rubber ducks that they can give out to the students in an effort to put a smile on the faces of these children who have been through so much.  Any child who comes back to one of the stations with a completed scavenger hunt will receive a LB surfer duck that they can sign and that will then be sent to Newtown.  Parents of these kids and others who bring back bags of garbage will receive a coupon for three free raffle tickets at the Swingbellys “Pay It Forward” Event that will be held later that day.

Earth Day:  Cleanup the Canals in                    Long Beach

Central LI Surfrider has organized a cleanup of the water in the canals for Saturday April 20th as well.  Volunteers should meet at the Heron St. Canal at 9 a.m.  Volunteers can help clean up from land or bring wetsuits/kayaks/surfboards/ and help from the water.  Great job Marvin, Larry, and Kelly putting this together.

SKUDIN SURF WILL BE PROVIDING EXTRA WETSUITS AND SURFBOARDS FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO GET IN THE WATER AND GIVE A HAND!

LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS AWESOME WEEKEND THAT SO MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER TO HELP BRING LONG BEACH BACK BETTER THAN EVER!

Many thanks,

Cliff Skudin

Looking for Something to Do on the Weekends? Volunteer!!

Muttontown Preserve

Do you enjoy the trails here? Have you seen the trail conditions since Hurricane Sandy hit?

The Muttontown Preserve has never been as damaged as it was during Sandy and the following Nor’easter.

Most of the work accomplished so far, has been through the efforts of the Muttontown Horsemen’s Association. We also want to improve the fencing of the riding rings.

There is much work remaining, and it is too extensive for one park user group to handle; we need YOUR HELP!

There are many ways you can assist our efforts and not all of them include manual labor. Find out what YOU CAN DO by calling our hotline

516-922-TAIL

Please join us on Saturday, April 20th for our first 2013 Spring Trail Cleanup      9:30am - 12:30pm

Refreshments and some tools are provided.

Wear protective clothing, sunscreen, and bug spray. Meet in the big parking lot off Route 106.

**********************************************************

Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service

On Tuesday April 9, 2013, the first-ever Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service united mayors across the country to spotlight the impact of national service and to honor those who serve.

The Corporation for National and Community Service reports that altogether, 832 mayors in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico officially recognized the work that AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers are doing to make cities better and stronger. Together, these mayors represent nearly 100 million citizens, or nearly one-third of all Americans.  

This initiative was led by the Corporation for National and Community Service, Cities of Service, the National League of Cities, and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Why a Day of Recognition?

As solution-focused local elected officials, mayors understand the key role citizens play in meeting community needs. A coordinated day of recognition presents a unique opportunity to spotlight the key role that national service plays in solving pressing problems. Participating in the day will highlight the importance of citizen service, bolster support for nonprofit and national service groups, and help bring more city residents into service.

Use this link for more information about the initiative:  Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service

Locally, Bayville Mayor Doug Watson could not have been a more appropriate or poignant supporter of the initiative.  He was personal friends of our dear founder Joan Imhof, whose bright spirit remains with us cheering us on as we work with our amazing AmeriCorps friends and the other disaster groups in Super Storm Sandy recovery work. Mayor Watson took a tour of the LIVOAD Volunteer Recovery Center (VRC) with Doug Doxey, our warehouse manager extraordinaire, and convened with representatives from the Red Cross, Project Hope, AmeriCorps St. Louis ERT and the Long Island Volunteer Center.  Mayor Watson talked about how devastated Bayville was in the aftermath of Sandy and of his mitigation plans to protect its residents.  We are very happy to have been invited by the mayor to create a community service event in the future that would include LIVC, Red Cross, Project Hope, AmeriCorps and others.

Later in the day, Long Island Volunteer Center member Laura Messano, who has been working across Long Island each day with all the various disaster groups, arranged for representatives of Massapequa Park Mayor James Altadonna, Jr.’s office to visit the VRC. We provided them with a tour of the facility and spoke about disaster relief experiences and future disaster recovery plans post-Sandy .  The representatives brought a wonderful proclamation that recognizes the hard work being done in disaster relief and recovery through the VRC.

A huge thanks to Mayor Watson and Mayor Altadonna and his office for their wonderful recognition and support of volunteers working on Long Island!

The Long Island Volunteer Center is an affiliate of HandsOn Network and has been designated as one of ten Regional Volunteer Centers by the New York State Commission for National and Community Service to help empower non-profit organizations in their regions to build strong volunteer programs that will help those in need and to enrich the lives of those who volunteer.

April is the Month of the Military Child! Purple Up on Monday, April 15!

Did you know that April is the Month of the Military Child? Show your support for the children of our military personnel and wear “PURPLE” on Monday, April 15 as a visible way to show support and thank military children for their strength and sacrifices!!

Help Operation Military Kids by spreading the word!

Operation Military Kids Suffolk

Spring 2013 Volunteer Opportunities Abound!

Long Island Volunteer Center Releases Spring 2013

Volunteer Opportunities List

The Spring 2013 list of volunteer opportunities compiled by the Long Island Volunteer Center has been released advertising the volunteer needs of over 130 agencies across Long Island.  It is organized into community needs–Economy, Education, Environment and Health and is further broken down into voluntary categories from animals to social services, hunger/homelessness to mentoring, nature to cultural arts.  Contact information for volunteer coordinators is included as well as the location of the agency needing volunteers.  The list allows the interested volunteers to consider the breadth of needs across Long Island as well as the areas of interest that could be pursued while considering convenience to home, school or work.

You may access the list by clicking on this link:

Spring 2013 Volunteer Opportunities

Or you can call 516-564-5482 to receive a copy of the list via mail or fax.

The Long Island Volunteer Center, an affiliate of HandsOn Network and one of ten regional volunteer centers designated by the New York State Commission on National and Community Service, connects agencies seeking volunteers with individuals and groups looking for ways to serve their communities.

 

I LOVE MY PARK DAY…Saturday, May 4, 2013

I Love My Park Day is an exciting new statewide event, organized by Parks & Trails New York(PTNY) in partnership with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) and local Friends groups, to celebrate and enhance New York’s parks and historic sites and bring visibility to the entire park system and its needs. The NY State Commission on National and Community Service is joining the effort this year to help recruit volunteers, promote the initiative and engage AmeriCorps members to support to projects across the state.

Volunteers from across the state will participate in cleanup, improvement, and beautification events at New York State parks and historic sites on Saturday, May 4, 2013. Volunteers will celebrate New York’s park system by cleaning up park lands and beaches, planting trees and gardens, restoring trails and wildlife habitat, removing invasive species, and working on various site improvement projects.

Win a $100 Camping Gift Card
Just register for I Love My park Day online by April 22 and you are automatically entered to win a $100 Camping gift card to NY State Parks (OPRHP.) The winner will be selected at random and contacted via email and/or certified mail within five (5) business days of date the winner is selected.  See website for further details.

In the wake of Super Storm Sandy, our LI parks and historical sites need your help more than ever!  Check out these Long Island parks that will be participating this year and register to volunteer!

Long Island 
Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park 
Bethpage State Park
Connetquot River State Park Preserve
Heckscher State Park
Hempstead Lake State Park
Jones Beach State Park
Nissequogue River State Park
Robert Moses State Park 
Sunken Meadow State Park (Alfred E. Smith)
Walt Whitman Birthplace State Historic Site

TODAY Gives Hope! to Super Storm Sandy Victims

FEBRUARY 01, 2013

NBC’S TODAY AND UNITED WAY HELP SUPPORT COMMUNITIES HARDEST HIT BY SANDY WITH ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES

NEW YORK, NY – United Way and NBC News’ TODAY are partnering to help communities in need with “TODAY Gives Hope: Hurricane Sandy.” The TODAY show team will leverage its strength in news coverage, cross-platform promotion and partnerships to inspire viewers to bring hope back to communities hardest hit by Hurricane Sandy.

Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc in the Northeast, and months later, the destruction remains. Families lack essential supplies and are still struggling to rebuild their homes. “TODAY Gives Hope: Hurricane Sandy” will focus on the communities in New York City, Long Island, New Jersey and Connecticut most affected by the storm. The partnership with United Way and Amazon.com will help supply essential items to the communities that were severely impacted.

“United Way is on the ground, working with affected communities to identify what supplies are needed and to distribute goods to families,” says Sheena Wright, President & CEO of United Way of New York City. “By partnering with NBC News’ on TODAY Gives Hope: Hurricane Sandy, we can get the word out about what people need and help Sandy’s hardest hit rebuild their homes and lives and return to a sense of normalcy.”

United Way will curate Amazon.com wish lists made up of much-needed items for these communities, and then will distribute the items to local community organizations. People can participate in “TODAY Gives Hope: Hurricane Sandy” by logging on to TODAY.com/Hope where they can learn more about the current state of each region that still needs help. From there, they can donate items specific to each region like cleaning supplies, tools, blankets, and space heaters from the Amazon.com wish lists, and then share why they are helping. Also supporting the initiative is Penske, which will provide trucks to deliver the items and CI Group, which will donate storage space.

Please use this link to donate to those in need on Long Island:

Today Gives Hope/Long Island

About United Way
United Way is a worldwide network in 41 countries and territories, including more than 1,200 local organizations in the U.S. It advances the common good, creating opportunities for a better life for all by focusing on the three key building blocks of education, income and health. United Way recruits people and organizations who bring the passion, expertise and resources needed to get things done. LIVE UNITED(r) is a call to action for everyone to become a part of the change. For more information about United Way, please visit: www.UnitedWay.org.

Media Contact

Kamian Allen – 212-671-0892

Kamian@thetascgroup.com 

Mayors of Super Bowl Cities Wager Volunteer Service

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                              

February 01, 2013

As part of ‘Service Bowl,’ winning mayor to host community service project with AmeriCorps members and local volunteers 

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – As the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers prepare to face off in Sunday’s Super Bowl, the mayors from the two cities have come up with a friendly wager that focuses on the importance of volunteering and community service.As part of ‘Service Bowl,’ winning mayor to host community service project with AmeriCorps members and local volunteers

Mayor Edwin M. Lee of San Francisco and Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake of Baltimore agreed that the winning mayor would host the mayor from the opposing team for a day of volunteer service with AmeriCorps members. This service project will be done in partnership with the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency that administers AmeriCorps and Senior Corps.

“Mayors are leaders who get things done, responding every day to needs in their cities,” said Wendy Spencer, CEO of CNCS. “With this friendly wager, Mayors Lee and Rawlings-Blake highlight the impact and power of national service and volunteering.  No matter which team wins the game, both cities—and all football fans— can celebrate the Service Bowl.”

The mayors’ friendly wager further elevates the role of community service within the Super Bowl’s activities. As part of the official events, the Super Bowl Host Committee will also host a community service effort, Super Saturday of Service, in which local volunteers will revitalize five New Orleans playgrounds. AmeriCorps members serving with Habitat for Humanity New Orleans and Habitat for Humanity Baton Rouge will participate. AmeriCorps members will also take part in service activities organized by Rebuilding Together.

Mayors Lee and Rawlings-Blake join more than 100 U.S. Mayors in their focus on service. Both have signed on to participate in the Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service, an initiative launched last month at the U.S. Conference of Mayors winter meeting. Mayors across the country will participate in a national day of recognition this April 9 to highlight the impact of national service in their cities and thank individuals who serve. Both cities are members of the national coalition, Cities of Service.

As the federal agency for service and volunteering, CNCS annually engages more than four million citizens in service at more than 70,000 sites across the country through AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and other programs. A significant portion of this investment is focused on cities. Last year, CNCS leveraged more than $1 billion in investments for organizations operating or based in more than 500 cities with a population of 30,000 or more.

The San Francisco Area ranks eighth among large cities for volunteering and service, and in 2011, 1.12 million volunteers served a total of 90.6 million hours, an economic value of $2.5 billion. CNCS provides more than $11 million in funding, including support for 1,492 AmeriCorps members and 747 Senior Corps volunteers.

In Baltimore, 575,000 volunteers gave a total of 88.6 million hours, an estimated value of $2 billion. The city receives $12.6 million in funding from CNCS, which also supports 1,498 AmeriCorps members and 722 Senior Corps volunteers serving in the area.

Americans looking to participate in their own Super Saturday of Service can find a volunteer service project in their area using the search engine at www.serve.gov.

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CONTACT: Samantha Jo Warfield
Phone: 202-606-6775
Email: sjwarfield@cns.gov

The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages more than four million Americans in service through its AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, Social Innovation Fund, and other programs, and leads President’s national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.

Long Island Volunteer Center Holds Book & School Supplies Drive to Help Local Schools Hit by Super Storm Sandy

Long Island Volunteer Center Holds Book & School Supplies Drive to Help Local Schools Hit by Super Storm Sandy 

Hempstead, N.Y. – January 7, 2013, The Long Island Volunteer Center (LIVC) is hosting a week-long Book and School Supply Drive at the Long Island Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (LIVOAD) Volunteer Recovery Center located at 175 Central Avenue South in Bethpage.  Donations will be accepted from Saturday, January 19 to Friday, January 25 between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm.  The Drive commemorates MLK Day of Service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Donations of new books and basic school supplies are needed by local school districts on the South Shore of Long Island impacted by Super Storm Sandy.  In addition to the drop off location, The Long Beach School District has created a Wish List of needed items on Amazon.com.  A tax deductible donation can be sent directly to the Long Beach School District through this link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/search.html/ref=cm_gift_wl_teaser?type=wishlist&field-lastname=&field-firstname=&_po_type=wishlist&field-name=lbny&x=0&y=0

“As Dr. King asked Americans to bridge our differences and come together in unity, LIVC is asking our fellow Long Islanders to help replenish items destroyed by Super Storm Sandy so that our schools can continue to provide quality education for our children,” said Diana O’Neill, Executive Director of LIVC. “Following Sandy, Long Islanders face a unique opportunity to unite in volunteer service and do what we do best – lend a hand, help our neighbors and become a stronger, better community as a result.”

Additional information is available at www.longislandvolunteercenter.org or by calling (516) 564-5482.

About the Long Island Volunteer Center:

The LIVC is the resource center for volunteerism and community service initiatives throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties.  Established in 1992, LIVC operates year round and its services are provided free of charge.  The LIVC collaborates with corporations and community organizations to address the needs of Long Islanders.  LIVC is an affiliate of the HandsOn Network since 2008, connecting agencies seeking volunteers with individuals and groups looking for ways to serve their communities.  In 2011, the LIVC was designated by New York State as the Regional Volunteer Center for Long Island.  

About Long Island Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (LIVOAD)

The LIVOAD is a coalition of non-profit, government, and for-profit organizations in Nassau and Suffolk Counties committed to working together in the areas of disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.  Members of the LIVOAD support each other through their collaborative planning efforts to identify potential needs of disaster victims and develop coordinated and efficient delivery of needed resources and services.  Each VOAD member organization maintains its own autonomy while coordinating closely with others in four key areas:

• Planning for the needs of various populations post disaster
• Training agencies to facilitate effective relief work in all phases of disasters
• Convening member agencies in a coordinated response during disasters
• Partnering with government emergency response and recovery agencies and programs.

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More Than $9.6 Million in Federal Funds Available for Sandy Disaster Case Management

Release date:

DECEMBER 26, 2012

Release Number:

NR-115

NEW YORK—New York State survivors of Hurricane Sandy whose disaster-related needs cannot be met with existing federal and state assistance will now have access to case management services to identify additional resources for their recovery.

The State of New York and the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that more than $9.6 million in federal funds has been made available for the Disaster Case Management program, which is fully funded by FEMA and administered by the state in partnership with nonprofit, community-based agencies.

Through this program, disaster survivors will have a single point of contact for a broad range of services to help identify resources to meet their needs.

“It’s going to take the whole community working together to help New Yorkers with their recovery,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Michael F. Byrne. “Disaster case management is an integral part of helping survivors become self-sufficient. This grant brings together the resources of the state and federal government, in coordination with local communities, nonprofit and faith-based organizations, to match the needs of survivors with the services available within their communities.”

Case managers will assist disaster survivors in developing a goal-oriented plan for their recovery, match survivors’ essential needs to available resources in the area and monitor their progress toward reaching recovery goals. Services are available to any survivor with disaster-caused unmet needs.

At the request of the state, the program is operating in Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester counties and offering case management services for up to 24 months.

The State of New York is working with FEMA on a request for additional disaster case management assistance in the five boroughs of New York City.

Survivors who have unmet needs are encouraged to call 2-1-1 for information on services available in their area and referrals to case management services.  For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit

www.fema.gov/SandyNY,

http://twitter.com/FEMASandy,

www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and

www.fema.gov/blog.

Last Updated:

December 26, 2012 – 08:20

State or Region:

New York

Related Disaster:

New York Hurricane Sandy

Volunteers Needed! See How You Can Help!

AmeriCorps Members assist a Long Islander in Cleaning Up her Home

Volunteers are still needed to help victims of Super Storm Sandy.  Your fellow Long Islanders need your help cleaning debris from homes, conducting needs assessments and working at supply and donation distribution centers. No special skills are needed.  Training will be provided.  Work alongside groups trained in disaster recovery.

If you are over the age of 18 and interested in making a difference, please visit www.longislandvolunteercenter.org to see how you can get involved and help those still struggling to recover this holiday season.

Use the search word “Sandy” and your zip code to search for opportunities or click on the calendar to the right on our homepage to see a list of opportunities for each day.   Click on an opportunity on the calendar for a full description of the activity and sign-up information.

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Governor Cuomo Announces Extension for “STEP” Emergency Assistance Program

Governor Cuomo Announces Extension for ‘STEP’ Emergency Assistance Program

Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power Program Deadline Extended through December 31, 2012

[1]

Albany, NY (December 18, 2012)

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the deadline to apply for the Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power (STEP) program has been extended through December 31, 2012 for New York City and the counties of Suffolk and Nassau. The STEP program provides emergency assistance with restoring temporary electricity, heat and hot water to homes that can shelter homeowners while permanent repair work continues.

“The STEP program is designed to allow families to remain in their homes while emergency or electrical repairs are being made,” Governor Cuomo said. “As New Yorkers continue to recover from the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy, the extension for this program will allow more families to get the emergency assistance they need in order to rebuild and still have their place to call home.”

The deadline is now extended for obtaining Right of Entry forms (ROE) for the program, which offers the following options:

• Residential Electrical Meter Repairs – For those whose home can be used to shelter-in-place, and only need repairs to the electric meter to have power restored. This might include repairs to the weather head, service cable or the meter socket.
• Shelter Essential Measures – For those whose home can be used to shelter-in-place, STEP will provide temporary electricity, heat and hot water to meet basic life sustaining needs while permanent repairs are made.
• Rapid Temporary Exterior Repairs – These are necessary and essential repairs to protect storm-damaged residences from further damage that may present an immediate threat to life and property, and, where appropriate, facilitate sheltering-in-place pending repairs that are more permanent repairs. This may include securing broken windows, covering damaged exterior walls and roofs, and patching and securing damaged exterior doors.

Suffolk County residents who wish to participate in the STEP Program should call 2-1-1 to set up an appointment for an assessment of their home. Residents seeking assistance through the Nassau County STEP Program should dial 1-888-684-4267. Residents in the five boroughs of New York City can call 3-1-1 to access information about the program. Once the assessment is completed, the scope of work will be determined and communicated to the program participant. The program manager will schedule a contractor to perform the work needed on the residential property. Work is required to be completed within sixty days of the assessment of the home.

Source URL: http://www.governor.ny.gov/press/12182012-STEP-extension

Links:
[1] http://www.governor.ny.gov/

Governor Cuomo Announces FEMA Disaster Assistance Deadline Extended Through January 28, 2013

Governor Cuomo Announces FEMA Disaster Assistance Deadline Extended

Residents of thirteen declared counties may apply for FEMA disaster assistance through January 28, 2013 [1]

 Albany, NY (December 10, 2012)

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the deadline for residents living in one of the thirteen disaster-declared counties to register for FEMA assistance has been extended to January 28, 2013. The previous deadline was December 31, 2012.

Federal disaster assistance for individuals and families can include money for rental assistance, essential home repairs, personal property losses and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance. Residents in the following counties are eligible for assistance: Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Richmond, Rockland, Westchester, Suffolk, Queens, Orange, Putnam, Sullivan and Ulster.

“As we work to help communities get back on their feet, this extension will be a big help to New Yorkers who were hit hard by Hurricane Sandy,” Governor Cuomo said. “As we move into the holiday season and start the New Year, this extension will allow affected families and individuals extra time to apply for much-needed assistance to help rebuild and recover.”

Individuals can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov [2] or via smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov.

Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Applicants who use 7-1-1 Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) may call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice.

Source URL: https://www.governor.ny.gov/press/12102012FEMA-Deadline-Extended

Links:
[1] https://www.governor.ny.gov/
[2] http://www.disasterassistance.gov

Long Beach, NY Schools Need Your Help to Rebuild after Super Storm Sandy!

Long Beach, NY after Super Storm Sandy

Looking for a great holiday gift idea?  Can’t think of a holiday gift for family and friends who have everything?   Make a donation to the Long Beach School District!  Your friends and family will feel good to know that they were able to make a difference and to play a part in the recovery in Long Beach!

The Long Beach community has sustained extensive damage due to Super Storm Sandy.  Classrooms in their Middle School, East Elementary, Lido Elementary, West Elementary, Blackheath Pre-K Center and High School were damaged by flood waters of two to six feet. Everything at this level and below is destroyed and must be replaced.  Your tax deductible donation will help their students return to their classrooms and a sense of normalcy.

There are several ways to help using the link below; you can Adopt a Class through Amazon, have 4% of your Amazon purchases go to the Long Beach schools; contribute to rebuilding a classroom, sponsor an athletic team to replace lost equipment, contribute to a scholarship fund for graduating seniors whose families suffered tremendous losses, etc.

Long Beach Public Schools Donate 

Frequently Asked Questions about FEMA Disaster Assistance

ContentRelease date: December 5, 2012

Release Number: NR-076

NEW YORK – State and federal disaster officials urge survivors of Hurricane Sandy to come forward and ask questions they may have about registering for disaster assistance. Accurate information is readily available and can help dispel misleading rumors. Here are some questions that are commonly asked: Q. How do I apply for FEMA disaster assistance? A. You can apply at Disaster Assistance or m.fema.gov, or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. If you have a speech disability or hearing impairment and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly. If you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362. Q. What happens after I apply for disaster assistance? A. FEMA will mail you a copy of your application and a copy of Help After a Disaster: Applicant’s Guide to the Individuals and Households Program that will answer many of your questions. If you do not have insurance: An inspector will contact you after you apply to schedule a time to meet you at your damaged home. If you have insurance: You need to file your insurance claim and provide FEMA with a decision letter (settlement or denial) from your insurance company before FEMA issues an inspection. There is an exception for damages caused by flooding; if you have flood insurance, FEMA will issue an inspection before receiving a copy of your flood insurance decision letter to evaluate your eligibility for temporary living expenses since these are not covered by flood insurance. About 10 days after the inspection FEMA will decide if you qualify for assistance. If so, FEMA will send you a check by mail (or direct deposit) with an explanation of what the money covers (i.e. rent or home repair). If FEMA determines that you are ineligible for any reason, you will receive a letter and be given a chance to appeal. Appeals must be in writing and mailed within 60 days of the determination. Read the letter carefully for the reason of ineligibility before filing your appeal. If you get a Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan application in the mail, you must complete and return it to be considered for a loan or certain types of grant assistance, such as transportation, personal property, and moving and storage. Q. Why didn’t I receive rental assistance when my home can’t be lived in? A. If you cannot live in your home because of disaster damage and you did not receive rental assistance, please contact FEMA to check on your status. It could be that during the inspection you indicated that you were unwilling to relocate. If so, FEMA would not move forward to issuing a rental assistance check for you to move to another location. Q. I received a rental assistance check, how do I find a new place to rent? A. The FEMA Housing Portal is intended to help individuals and families, who have been displaced by a disaster, find a place to live. The portal consolidates rental resources to help individuals and families find available rental units in their area. This information can be accessed by visiting www.fema.gov and searching “Housing Portal,” or by calling 800-621-3362. Q. Will my family get assistance faster if we each apply separately? A. No. If two members of the same household apply for the same damaged home, FEMA assistance could actually be delayed. If more than one member of a household has applied, the additional registrants should call the FEMA Helpline, 800-621-3362 to withdraw their applications. Once this occurs, the original registration for the household can be processed for assistance. Q. If I received a settlement from my insurance but still have additional needs, what can I do? A. As soon as you receive an insurance settlement, you should provide a copy to FEMA and identify any unmet needs you have. Although FEMA cannot duplicate benefits that your insurance provided, FEMA may be able to assist you with lost essential items not covered by insurance and can also help you find resources through other recovery partners. Q. Why did I get a different amount of home repair assistance than my neighbor? A. Each survivor’s case is unique. There are several factors involved, including insurance status and the extent and type of damage found during the home inspection. If you feel that the assistance you received does not cover your needs – for example, the funding you received for repairs are less than the estimates you’ve received from contractors and you have not yet met the FEMA maximum grant – you can appeal. Q. Will FEMA provide additional rental assistance beyond the initial assistance period if I still cannot return to my home? A. Rental assistance can be provided for up to 18 months from the date of declaration while you are setting up your permanent housing plan. After your initial period of assistance, you will be sent a letter on how to “recertify” if you need additional rental assistance. Q. Could FEMA assistance affect my Social Security benefits, federal taxes, food stamp (SNAP) eligibility, or Medicaid? A. No. FEMA assistance does not affect benefits from other federal programs and is not considered taxable income. Q. I’ve already cleaned up the damage to my home and made repairs. Is it too late to register once the work is done? A. No. You may be eligible for reimbursement of your cleanup and repair costs, even if repairs are complete. The important thing is to document the expenses you incur. It is a good idea to take before-and-after photos for your records. Q. If I received disaster assistance last year, could I get it again this year? A. Assistance may be available if you also suffered damages from a previously federally declared disaster. Q. My child is a U.S. citizen, but I am not. Can I apply for FEMA disaster assistance? A. If anyone in an affected household is a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or qualified alien (a “Green Card” holder), they are eligible to apply for FEMA disaster assistance. If a minor child is eligible by these criteria, even when other members of the family are not, the family can file an application on the child’s behalf. In this case, all identification documents have to be in the child’s name and Social Security number. The copy of the child’s Social Security card and birth certificate are acceptable verification. This information can be mailed to FEMA or brought to a Disaster Recovery Center. For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit:

FEMA Disaster DR-4085

FEMASandy Twitter

FEMASANDY Facebook

FEMA Blog

Last Updated: December 6, 2012 – 14:37 State or Region: New York Related Disaster: New York Hurricane Sandy

National Emergency Grant Temporary Employment Opportunities

Are You?

A worker who temporarily or permanently lost your employment due to Hurricane Sandy?

Unemployed? A Dislocated Worker?

 Duties May Include:

Debris Removal / Roadway Clearing Buildings/Grounds Clean Up Other projects as required

Department of Labor grant to hire workers to assist in recovery of damages resulting from Superstorm Sandy.

Please see the PDF Document for Details:

Temporary Employment Opportunities

Holiday Volunteer Opportunities 2012

Take a look through the HOLIDAY EVENTS list now posted on LIVC’s website. Ask a friend to join you in helping Long Island agencies provide food & gifts to Long Islanders in need.

Holiday Volunteer Opportunities 2012

Hurricane Sandy Links

Long Island 211

https://211longisland.communityos.org/cms/node/126

Long Island Exchange.Com:

http://www.longislandexchange.com/press/2012/11/08/suffolk-county-update-red-cross-shelters-fema-temporary-housing-rental-subsidy-increase/

Please remember to donate blood.  O negative is always in short supply!  Donations are down so your help is needed!

Welcome to New York Blood Center

Nassau County OEM:

http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/OEM/hurricane/SandyRecovery.html

Suffolk County OEM:

http://scoem.suffolkcountyny.gov/OEM/BEINFORMED/SuffolkUpdateNov8.aspx

FEMA:

http://www.fema.gov/news-release/steps-applying-fema-assistance-0

Register Directly for FEMA online: http://www.disasterassistance.gov/.

Department of Homeland Security:

http://www.dhses.ny.gov/oem/event/sandy/sandy-info.cfm

NYC Government:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/index.html

Long Island Volunteer Center Speakers Bureau Now Available

All Things Volunteer…

Long Island Volunteer Center Speakers Bureau

Hempstead, NY – September 28, 2012 – The Speakers Bureau is a new and exciting component to our services, developed to promote our primary mission of spreading the reach and impact of volunteerism, engaging community members, and promoting corporate social responsibility.

In an effort to provide the workplace, local nonprofit agencies, and community service organizations with knowledgeable speakers, the Long Island Volunteer Center, an affiliate of HandsOn Network, determined the need for a Speakers Bureau. Our speakers are now available to educate on desired topics and motivate workplace employees and community members to volunteer. Through experience, compelling stories and a thorough knowledge of the industry, our speakers will engage and educate your audience. We can contribute to your organization successfully reaching its volunteer-related goals.

Whether assisting a nonprofit in building organizational capacity, working with businesses to develop an employee volunteer program, or addressing community and societal issues in order to bring about change, we look forward to working with you.

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For further information please contact:

Tenaya Parchment
speakersbureau@longislandvolunteercenter.org
516-564-5482.

 

Still Hurting from Hurricane Irene? Help is on the Way Across Long Island

Still Hurting from Hurricane Irene?
Help is on the Way

Volunteers Coming to Long Island to Address Ongoing   
Needs Stemming from Storm’s Aftermath

 
Hempstead, NY – September 21, 2012 – Catholic Charities, Long Island Volunteer Center and Health & Welfare Council of Long Island announced today that volunteers from the Christian Reformed Worldwide Relief Committee (CRWRC) will be available to assist Long Islanders still struggling to recover from Hurricane Irene.

Walk-in centers will be set up from October 1 through October 11 throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties. CRWRC’s Disaster Response Services trained volunteers, known as the ‘Green Shirts’ for their attire, will be canvassing neighborhoods and collecting information to create a comprehensive needs assessment, which will assist local volunteer organizations as they work to address unmet hurricane-related needs, such as housing, debris clean up, and transportation, etc.  Local residents who had previously applied to FEMA or were not eligible for FEMA assistance are still able to participate in local resource assistance through this program.

Below are the locations for the CRWRC Walk-in Centers:

1.)  LONG BEACH:

St. Mary of the Isle
315 East Walnut Street
Long Beach, New York 11561

Thursday, October 4th & October 11th
Noon – 4:00 pm (Day)
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm (Eve)
*Translator available

2.)  EAST PATCHOGUE:

St. Joseph the Worker
510 Narragansett Avenue
East Patchogue, New York

Wednesday, October 10
10 am – 2 pm (Day)
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm (Eve)
*Translator available

3.)  BABYLON:

Church of St. Joseph
40 Grove Place
Babylon, New York 11702

Wednesday, October 3
Noon – 4:00 pm (Day)
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm (Eve)
*Translator available

4.)  FREEPORT: 

First Presbyterian Church
178 South Ocean Avenue
Freeport, New York  11520

Tuesday, October 2 & October 9

Noon – 4:00 pm (Day)
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm (Eve)
*Translator available

5.)  MASSAPEQUA:

Massapequa Public Library
40 Harbor Lane
Massapequa, New York  11758

Saturday, October 6
9:00 am – Noon
*Translator available

6.)  HUNTINGTON:

Huntington Library
338 Main Stree
Huntington, New York  11743

Friday, October 5
10:00 am – 1:00 pm (Day)
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm (Eve)
*Translator available

7.)  AMITYVILLE:

St. Martin of Tours
37 Union Avenue
Amityville, New York  11701

Monday,   October  1
Noon – 4:00 pm (Day)
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm (Eve)
*Translator available

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For press inquiries, please contact: 

Erin Burke
631.239.6903
burkeprfreelance@gmail.com

 

 

Had a Relaxing Summer? Looking to Volunteer? The Long Island Volunteer Center is Asking All LIers to Get Involved…2012 Fall Volunteer Opportunities List Now Available!

Hempstead, NY – September 18, 2012 – The Long Island Volunteer Center is asking all Long Islanders to get involved and make a difference in their communities.  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 “Volunteering 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 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.”

Interested Long Islanders can register online to learn about upcoming volunteer projects.  The fall 2012 volunteer opportunities list is now available for download on the website.  A link can be found under highlights and on the local opportunities page.  As 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

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Fall 2012 Volunteer Opportunities List

Patricia Force Elected Board Chair of Long Island Volunteer Center

Patricia Force Elected Board Chair of Long Island Volunteer Center 

Patricia Force

Hempstead, NY – September 13, 2012 – The Board of Directors of The Long Island Volunteer Center (LIVC) has elected Patricia Force as its new Chairperson.   LIVC is a nonprofit organization that encourages Long Islanders to engage in service to their communities and mobilizes volunteers and donations to support community service initiatives.  Force assumes the Chair position following the passing of LIVC President Emeritus and Founder Joan Imhof in late 2011.

A resident of Mount Sinai, Force began volunteering with LIVC in 2000 and joined its Board in 2008.  Force has been active in many of LIVC’s signature projects, including Prom Boutique, and was instrumental in helping secure LIVC’s designation as the Regional Volunteer Center for Long Island by the New York State Office of National and Community Service last fall.

Force is Vice President of Client Relations and Marketing for Cliffco Mortgage Bankers in Westbury.   She is also a member of the Board of Directors of Long Island Volunteer Enterprise (LIVE), a corporate volunteer initiative, and President of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Port Jefferson Station.

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.  Last September, LIVC was designated by New York State as the Regional Volunteer Center for Long Island serving Nassau and Suffolk Counties.   For more information, contact the Long Island Volunteer Center at (516) 564-5482 or visit www.longislandvolunteercenter.org .

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For press inquiries, please contact: 

Erin Burke
631.239.6903
burkeprfreelance@gmail.com

Long Island Volunteer Center Blood Drive on Monday, September 10, 2012 in Recognition of National Day of Service & Remembrance

Long Island Volunteer Center Hopes to Set Blood Drive Collection Record to Commemorate September 11^th Anniversary

 Nassau County Firefighter’s Museum to Host Blood Drive in Recognition of  National Day of Service & Remembrance

Hempstead, N.Y. – August 13, 2012, The Long Island Volunteer Center (LIVC) is hosting a Blood Drive on Monday, September 10th from 2:00pm to 8:00pm at the Nassau County Firefighter’s Museum in Garden City.   LIVC is asking Long Islanders to donate blood to pay tribute to 9/11 victims and heroes.  Registration is strongly recommended.

Last year’s blood drive resulted in the collection of 60 pints of blood. LIVC is hoping to surpass 2011’s record by 50 percent.  According to Long Island Blood Services, one pint of blood can save up to three lives.  The nation’s blood supply is at a 15-year low and the demand for donations is at a critical level, especially for blood types O-negative, O-positive, A-negative and B-negative.

“There is no better way to remember those lost on 9/11 than by taking action to help others survive. Now in its third year, LIVC’s life-saving blood drive continues to grow bigger each year thanks to the generosity of our fellow Long Islanders,” said Simone Solz Leo, Blood Drive Chair at the Long Island Volunteer Center. “There is a constant need for blood donations in our region. Becoming a volunteer donor is a significant way to mark the September 11^th anniversary and participate in the country’s National Day of Service & Remembrance.”

To donate blood, you must be at least 17 years old, weigh more than 110 pounds and be in general good health with no tattoos for the past 12 months.  Sixteen year olds may donate blood with parental consent. Over the age of 76 requires a doctor’s note.

About the Long Island Volunteer Center:

The LIVC is the resource center for volunteerism and community service initiatives throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties.  Established in 1992, LIVC operates year round and its services are provided free of charge.  The LIVC collaborates with corporations and community organizations to address the needs of Long Islanders.  LIVC is an affiliate of the HandsOn Network since 2008, connecting agencies seeking volunteers with individuals and groups looking for ways to serve their communities.  In 2011, the LIVC was designated by New York State as the Regional Volunteer Center for Long Island.   For more information, contact the Long Island Volunteer Center at (516) 564-5482 or visit www.longislandvolunteercenter.org .

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To Register to Donate Click Here:  LIVC Blood Drive Registration Form

For additional information please contact:

BloodDrive@longislandvolunteercenter.org

516-564-5482

For medical eligibility, please contact:

Long Island Blood Services:  1-800-688-0900

For press inquiries, please contact: 

Erin Burke:  631-239-6903

burkeprfreelance@gmail.com

  

 

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR 2012 LONG ISLAND VOLUNTEER HALL OF FAME

Now in its 11^th Year, Local Award Celebrates Humanitarian Spirit and Community Service

Hempstead, NY – July 12, 2012 – The Long Island Volunteer Hall of Fame (www.livolunteerhalloffame.org ) is seeking nominations for its 11^th annual Hall of Fame inductees. This award celebrates the humanitarian spirit by inducting volunteer founders of nonprofit organizations whose vision, dedication and drive have made exceptional contributions in their communities.  Nominations are also being sought for volunteer lifetime achievers and youth volunteers.

Membership in the Long Island Volunteer Hall of Fame is a prestigious honor bestowed upon leaders in the nonprofit community.  Since its inception in 2001, 135 deserving individuals have been inducted into the Long Island Volunteer Hall of Fame.

For the second year in a row, the Long Island Volunteer Hall of Fame will honor an exceptional Long Islander with the Inspirational Service Award. This award recognizes a volunteer who has made a significant impact through a commitment to community service. This individual inspires others in his/her life and serves as a role model for volunteerism. Last year’s recipient was Victoria Ruvolo, the victim of a senseless attack when a young man threw a frozen turkey through her windshield on the Long Island Expressway in 2004.  She has tirelessly volunteered her time and shared her inspiring story of forgiveness with at-risk youth.

The call for nominations will run from July 12 to September 30, 2012.  Nomination forms can be accessed  at http://www.livolunteerhalloffame.org/Nominations_Get_Involved.html or obtained from the Long Island Volunteer Center at (516) 564-5482.  Nominators may be any person or group with direct knowledge of the nominee’s contribution.   Inductees are selected by an independent panel of judges. The 2012 induction ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, February 3, 2013.

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.

The Long Island Volunteer Center leads the Long Island Volunteer Hall of Fame, a collaborative initiative that grew out of the 2001 United Nations International Year of Volunteers.  Additional collaborators include Bethpage State Park, Girl Scouts of Nassau County, Long Island State Veterans Home, Long Island Educational Opportunity Center, and Molloy College.

For more information, contact the Long Island Volunteer Center at (516) 564-5482 or visit www.longislandvolunteercenter.org .

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For press inquiries, please contact: 

Erin Burke

631.239.6903

burkeprfreelance@gmail.com

Lynbrook Teen Selected as One of Nation’s Top 10 Youth Volunteers

Volunteers in the News

Lynbrook Teen Selected as One of Nation’s Top 10 Youth Volunteers

Raymond Mohler’s incredible work was recently recognized on a much larger scale.

• By Matthew Hogan, Associate Regional Editor, Patch.com

Lynbrook South Middle School student Raymond Mohler was honored back in December as the Lynbrook Public Schools Volunteer of the Year in the 2012 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program — but now Mohler has been acknowledged on a much larger scale.

On Monday, May 7, the 14-year-old was named as one of America’s top 10 youth volunteers of 2012.

On top of being awarded a local Prudential Spirit of Community Award in December and a New York State honoree back in February, Mohler was given a national Prudential Spirit of Community Award in a ceremony at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

According to MarketWatch.com:

Selected from a field of more than 26,000 youth volunteers across the country, Raymond received a personal award of $5,000, an engraved gold medallion, a crystal trophy for her school, and a $5,000 grant from The Prudential Foundation for a nonprofit charitable organization of his choice.

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning was on hand for the award ceremony, where the 2012 Super Bowl MVP greeted all of the young volunteers.

Mohler, also known as ‘Little Saint Nick,’ and his family founded the Little Saint Nick Foundation in 2003 when he was only 5 years old. He experienced his own medical challenges when he was diagnosed with a rare hip disease at the age of four.

Having to wear braces on both legs for only two years, Mohler felt that he was blessed and decided to give back to the sick children at the hospital who were not as fortunate to be coming home.

Mohler has donated more than $250,000 worth of toys and entertainment centers to various hospitals. He regularly leaves gift bags for sick children when he visits them in hospitals.

Raymond Mohler Prudential Awardee

NYS Commission on National & Community Service Announces First Wave of Results Towards the Goal of One Million New Volunteers State-wide over a Three-Year Period

For Immediate Release:

June 19, 2012

New York State Commission on National & Community Service Announces First Wave of Results Towards the Goal of One Million New Volunteers State-wide Over a Three-Year Period

The Long Island Volunteer Center Has Big Impact in Our Area

Last September, the New York State Commission on National & Community Service, through the New Yorkers Volunteer initiative, announced the establishment of 10 Regional Volunteer Centers across the State, whose goal is to foster the recruitment of one million new volunteers State-wide through partnerships with thousands of non-profit organizations. Just 7 months into the initiative, the Commission has completed a survey of all the Centers and reports that significant progress has already been made.

Locally, the results have been impressive. “Long Islanders have always shown their compassion towards others,” said Diana O’Neill, who directs the volunteer program at the Long Island Volunteer Center, the designated Regional Volunteer Center for this region. “In just 7 short months, over 16,000 new volunteers have stepped forward, and we’ve only scratched the surface.”

O’Neill cited new technology as both a way of getting the word out to people who want to volunteer, as well as helping capture and report the data. “It’s become so much easier to connect people with community needs.  Our website, as well as social media such as Twitter and Facebook, are invaluable in connecting with all those who want to volunteer, but may not have found the right match. At the same time, new software has allowed us to keep track of our volunteers and let the State and Federal funders know that their investments are working!”

“The incredible commitment of the staffs and volunteers at all ten Regional Volunteer Centers, along with the efforts of their partner agencies, has already begun to pay off,” said Mark Walter, Executive Director of the New York State Commission on National & Community Service. The survey results show that more than 50,000 new volunteers have been recruited throughout New York State during the first six months of the program. These new volunteers join many New Yorkers in service and represent caring citizens from all walks of life, including: seniors and college students, corporate volunteers and skilled workers, and on and on. New Yorkers taking the time to help their neighbors and develop their communities is inspiring and impactful.”

In 2008, New Yorkers Volunteer website was launched as a statewide initiative to engage more New Yorkers in volunteering and community service. It provides information and training opportunities for local volunteer organizations. It provides a marketing and media campaign to promote volunteering. And, it educates New Yorkers about state and federal funding opportunities for national service and volunteer programs.

The Long Island Volunteer Center is included on the New York Volunteers website and is an independent non-profit organization that creates opportunities for all individuals to serve, challenging citizens to turn their ideals into action and their passion into positive change. This Regional Volunteer Center serves Nassau and Suffolk counties.

The New York State Commission on National and Community Service was established in 1994 by an Executive Order of the Governor, and administers programs funded by the National Community Service Trust Act of 1993, including AmeriCorps State and AmeriCorps Education Awards programs. The Commission members are diverse and bi-partisan and are appointed by the Governor.

The State Commission on National & Community Service works collaboratively with the Corporation for National & Community Service and New York State Education Department to administer 240 national service programs that engage more than 80,000 volunteers annually in the State of New York. The State Commission and its partners leverage the impact of AmeriCorps, VISTA, and Senior Corps programs to address the needs identified in the State’s service and civic engagement agenda in the core areas of education, environmental stewardship, healthy futures, disaster services, veterans and military families, and economic opportunity. In addition, the State Commission leads the efforts of a statewide network of ten regional volunteer centers that partner with community-based organizations to deliver training and resources that build volunteer management capacity in order to more effectively meet state and local needs.

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Long Island Volunteer Center Makes Dreams Come True for 1,500 Local Students with 18th Annual Prom Boutique

Prom Boutique Volunteers Send a Huge Thank You to Everyone Who Helped to Support This Year’s Event!

Hempstead, NY – May 15, 2012 – The Long Island Volunteer Center (LIVC) hosted its 18^th annual Prom Boutique at two Nassau County locations this spring, providing over 1,500  local students with the opportunity to obtain new dresses for their graduations or proms.  This year’s event was the largest in Prom Boutique history.

Working in conjunction with Nassau Community College Marketing & Fashion students, LIVC hosted the first Prom Boutique at the College on Saturday, April 28.  A second event was held on Saturday, May 12 at the Family & Children’s Association Hagedorn Family Resource Center in Hempstead.  Over 53 high school guidance counselors and at-risk youth agencies referred students whose families could not easily absorb the expense of a new gown to the events.

“The Prom Boutique began in the spring of 1995 with a mother’s simple wish to give her daughter a dress for her prom without breaking the family’s tight budget.  In that first year, we were able to provide 35 young women with dresses.  Through the years, the Prom Boutique has helped thousands of students obtain outfits of their choosing for their special day,” said Diana O’Neill, Executive Director of LIVC.  “It is truly a life-changing event – not only for the students but for the volunteers as well.”

Now in its 18^th year, the Prom Boutique was formed with the simple premise that a happy occasion such as a prom or graduation should not place a huge financial burden on a young woman’s family.  At the Prom Boutique, students receive a complete outfit, including dress, shoes, handbag, jewelry and make-up, for free.  The Prom Boutique is by invitation only and is handled in a manner that respects the young women’s privacy and dignity.

“The high school prom and graduation are milestone events in a young woman’s life.  The Prom Boutique is a way for Long Islanders to help local students celebrate these occasions with a beautiful outfit that they would otherwise be unable to obtain,” said Anne Sprotte, co-chair of the Prom Boutique.

LIVC mobilized a team of over 500 volunteers to assist with gown collection, sorting, event set up, boutique staffing and guest coordination. Volunteers included students from Nassau Community College fashion, marketing and visual merchandising classes and the Mineola High School Volunteer Center; service organizations such as The Transition Network and Soroptimist International of Long Island; faith-based organizations including the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and Temple Beth Am;and youth organizations such as Nassau County Girl Scouts and Huntington YMCA. Volunteer seamstresses also provided their expertise to properly fit the gowns for the students.

“The Long Island Prom Boutique would not have been possible without the support of the nearly thirty local businesses and organizations who generously donated their time and resources to make it a special day that these deserving girls will not forget,” said Lana Gluck, co-chair of the Prom Boutique.

The 18th annual event was made possible through the contributions of State Farm Insurance Companies, JP Morgan Chase Volunteer Matching Program, The Glass Family Foundation, and friends of the Long Island Volunteer Center.

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 .

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US VETERANS HONORED WITH LONG ISLAND VOLUNTEER PROJECTS

Long Island Volunteer Enterprise Honors US Veterans with National Volunteer Week Project to Celebrate 20^th year of Service

FARMINGDALE, NY (April 6, 2012) — In celebration of National Volunteer Week, Long Island Volunteer Enterprise (LIVE) will kick off its 20^th anniversary year with a project to benefit veterans living on Long Island.  The LIVE planning committee, which consists of professionals from ten prominent Long Island companies, will assist with spring clean-up at a home for four previously homeless veterans in Shirley, NY.

The kick-off project, which will take place on April 18, is one of over thirty projects that have been submitted to LIVE by organizations that benefit veterans on Long Island.  The home in Shirley is one of 4 managed by the Suffolk County United Veterans Project, Inc.

“LIVE has made a significant difference in the quality of life of thousands of Long Islanders over the past twenty years,” said Sandy Viola, LIVE 2012 Chair and Director at Deloitte.  “We are determined to make our 20^th anniversary year the greatest yet, and have decided to dedicate this year to the ultimate social servants, Long Island’s veterans.”

Founded in 1993, LIVE is committed to improving the Long Island community by matching corporate volunteer teams to projects submitted by not-for-profit agencies in need of assistance.  In its 20 years of existence, LIVE volunteers have completed over 250,000 hours of volunteer work for Long Islanders in need.  In celebration of its 20^th anniversary, LIVE is kicking off its 2012 season with a tribute to those who have fought for our country.

The project falls on Wednesday of the 2012 National Volunteer Week, which wil run from April 15-21.  ”This year’s National Volunteer Week theme, Celebrating People in Action, was a perfect fit with LIVE’s 20th anniversary focus on veterans,” said Rosemary Mascali, 2012 LIVE Planning Committee Chair and Manager at Transit Solutions.  ”With this project, we hope to encourage other Long Island companies and organizations to adopt the nearly 1oo projects which have been submitted to LIVE so far this year to help Long Island vets as well as other Long Island not-for-profit agencies.”

Location: 115 Carlton Drive East, Shirley, NY  11967
Date: April 18, 2012
Time: 2:00 pm – 7:00 pm

About Long Island Volunteer Enterprise Founded in 1993, LIVE – Long Island Volunteer Enterprise – mobilizes volunteer teams from the corporate, academic and not-for-profit sectors to complete a one day project that will significantly improve the quality of life for many who live and work on Long Island. In cooperation with the United Way of Long Island and the Long Island Volunteer Center, LIVE promotes corporate volunteerism on Long Island for the betterment of our community and helps renew Long Island’s spirit, beauty and quality of life.

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.

About the Suffolk County United Veterans Project, Inc. The Suffolk County United Veterans Project, Inc. (SCUVP) was founded in 1989 to assist homeless veterans regain their dignity and independence. Residents are former members of the military who struggle with the problems of substance abuse and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and who have not been able to succeed in any alternate form of treatment. The Suffolk County United Veterans Project, Inc. endeavors to break the cycle of homelessness by giving the veteran the tools he needs to stabilize his housing, increase his income and gain greater self-determination.

Contact: Lauren Viola
Communications Director
516-695-9243;
lviola@deloitte.com
www.liveli.com

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Spring 2012 Volunteer Opportunities List Available

Long Island Volunteer Center Releases Spring 2012 Volunteer Opportunities List

The Spring 2012 list of volunteer opportunities compiled by the Long Island Volunteer Center has been released advertising the volunteer needs of over 130 agencies across Long Island.  It is organized into community needs–Economy, Education, Environment and Health and is further broken down into voluntary categories from animals to social services, hunger/homelessness to mentoring, nature to cultural arts.  Contact information for volunteer coordinators is included as well as the location of the agency needing volunteers.  The list allows the interested volunteers to consider the breadth of needs across Long Island as well as the areas of interest that could be pursued while considering convenience to home, school or work.  It can be accessed at www.longislandvolunteercenter.org at the resource page tab or obtained via mail or fax by calling 516-564-5482.

The Long Island Volunteer Center, an affiliate of HandsOn Network and one of ten regional volunteer centers designated by the New York State Commission on National and Community Service, connects agencies seeking volunteers with individuals and groups looking for ways to serve their communities.

Spring 2012 Volunteer Opportunities

Dr. Don Levy of Siena College Research Institute Presents 2011 NYS Civic Health Index at Two Long Island Events; Study Reveals Long Island Highest in State Volunteering and Donations to Charity

Dr. Don Levy, Eric Czupil, Diana O'Neill, Jessica Pinckney, Beth Tailleur

On February 13, 2012, Dr. Don Levy, Director, Siena College Research Institute gave two presentations of the just-published New York State Civic Health Index which measures the level of civic engagement of New Yorkers according to established metrics.  The morning meeting was hosted by the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island for heads of member agencies and the afternoon presentation was held at United Way of Long Island for volunteer coordinators and community leaders.  Over 100 Long Island organizations were represented at the two offerings.  Newsday covered the afternoon event and published excerpts from the findings reporting that the Long Island region leads the state both in rates of volunteerism and in making charitable donations.  Some challenges continue to exist in satisfactory volunteer experiences, recruiting volunteers for effective placement, and volunteer management capacity.

The Long Island Volunteer Center, an affiliate of HandsOn Network, made the arrangements for the presentations and for the afternoon offering secured panelists representing different sectors of community including academia, business, government, service organization, seniors, and youth to talk about their experiences in advancing the cause of volunteerism and to react to the findings of the study.  With Dr. Levy were two members of the New York State Office of National & Community Service, Beth Tailleur and Eric Czupil, who sponsored the research.  Ms. Tailleur officially announced that as of September 1, 2011, the Long Island Volunteer Center has been designated as one of ten regional volunteer centers selected to increase volunteers and raise the profile of civic engagement across the state.  This designation was made through a competitive grant process under the Volunteer Generation Fund created by the Serve America Act.

In addition to these organized presentations, the Long Island Volunteer Center has sponsored the September 11 and Martin Luther King, Jr., National Days of Service, the Fifth Annual Long Island Volunteer Fair, and the Tenth Annual Long Island Volunteer Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Reception.  It also converted to a new website platform HandsOn Connect and published seasonal lists of volunteer opportunities and its holiday volunteer opportunities and needs list.  Facebook, Twitter, Blog and LinkedIn accounts have also been established to promote access to volunteer information and increase use of technology in volunteer recruitment.  In addition, the EGC Group selected the Long Island Volunteer Center for its annual CreateAthon last fall and developed a pro-bono marketing and advertising campaign for the Fifth Annual Long Island Volunteer Fair held at Farmingdale State College.

For more information, contact the Long Island Volunteer Center at 516-564-5482 or access www.longislandvolunteercenter.org.

Newsday coverage can be found at http://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/study-ny-volunteerism-strongest-on-li-1.3533496

The New York State Civic Health Index can be accessed at http://www.ncoc.net/NYCHI2011

The New York State Office of National & Community Service can be accessed at http://newyorkersvolunteer.org/

 

Long Island Volunteer Hall of Fame Announces 2011 Inductees

The Long Island Volunteer Hall of Fame will hold its 10th annual induction ceremony and reception on February 5, 2012 at the Carlyle on the Green, Bethpage State Park to honor volunteer founders of nonprofit organizations whose vision, dedication and drive addressed a community need and began a legacy of service to improve the quality of life for Long Islanders. Special awards for Inspiration Service and Lifetime Achievement in Volunteerism plus Next Generation Youth Awards will also be conveyed to recognize exemplary individual volunteer efforts in active citizenship, community service, and philanthropy. Selected by an independent blue ribbon panel of judges, the inductees are:

Children and Youth Services—Patricia D’Accolti, Children’s Sport Connection
Education—Nancy and Rod Zuch, The Morgan Center
Environment/Animals—Nancy Lynch, Pet Safe Coalition
Family Support—Glenda White-Hills, Millenium Sistahs
Health—Nancy Leupold, Support for People with Oral and Head and Neck Cancer
Homelessness—Larry Hohler, Hope Children’s Fund
Philanthropy—Dan Connor, The Gladiator Fund
Seniors—Sister Jeanne Andre Brendel, O.P., Harvest Houses (run by The Emmaus House Foundation)
Special Needs—Dr. Deborah Benson, Common Ground Alliance

Inspirational Service Award—Victoria Ruvolo, nominated by The Sunshine Center
Lifetime Achievement Award in Volunteerism—Jay Steingold, nominated by EAC Long Island Dispute Resolution Centers
Next Generation Award for Emergency Services—Simeon Melman, nominated by Good Samaritan Hospital
Next Generation Award for Leadership—Benjamin Jake Kornick, nominated by Nassau County Youth Board
Next Generation Award for Visionary Philanthropy—Christopher Yao, nominated by Daos Children’s Centre

The 2011 judges who selected the founder categories and youth awards were: Suzie Alvey of Garden City Patch.com, Katie Banaszak, Americorps, Gurwin Jewish Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Colette Coyne of Colette Coyne Melanoma Awareness Campaign (2010 Inductee), Lana Gluck of Long Island Volunteer Center, Brittney Hellinger of NYIT Carleton Group, Miss Long Island 2012 Jessica Pinckney, Dianne Robinson of New York Blood Center, and Angela Zimmerman of Nassau County Department of Human Services Office of Youth Services. Judges from the Association of Professional Volunteer Administrators selected the candidates for Lifetime Achievement Award in Volunteerism and Inspirational Service Award: Kathleen Fee of Mercy Medical Center, Susan Helmus of Long Island State Veterans Home, Judy Pockriss of Old Bethpage Village Restoration, Janet Romeo of The Epilepsy Foundation of Long Island, and Patricia Shea of Momma’s House (2006 Inductee). For more information, contact the Long Island Volunteer Center at 516-564-5482.

Long Island Volunteer Center

Long Island Volunteer Hall of Fame

Joan Imhof – LIVC Founder & President

During this season of fellowship, giving, peace and good will, the staff at the Long Island Volunteer Center has sad news to announce.  LIVC’s Founder & President, Joan Imhof, passed away on December 12, 2011 after a brief illness. Her vision, dedication and firm belief in the values of volunteerism created and sustained the Long Island Volunteer Center for almost 20 years.  Those of you who have met Joan know that she was a very special person – humanitarian, community leader, teacher, mentor, inspirational public speaker, hands on helper, loving wife, mother & grandmother and dear friend to many.  She loved Long Island and devoted her life to serving the Long Island community.

Kindly share this information with your leadership & colleagues since Joan’s reach was wider than any email list we could maintain.

With our wishes for love & peace now and throughout the new year,

The Staff of the Long Island Volunteer Center

“What you do with your heart affects the whole universe…”