Buckhannon Volunteer Center Coming Soon!
Buckhannon Volunteer Center coming soon thanks to Volunteer West Virginia grant award to City; Eight grantees announced during #BeKind campaign kick-off in Huntington
April 5, 2018
BUCKHANNON, WV: Wednesday, Volunteer West Virginia announced eight awardees, including the City of Buckhannon, for Volunteer Generation Fund (VGF) grant funding to host volunteer centers and increase volunteerism in communities across the state.
The grant funding is a part of the Be Kind, #VolunteerWV initiative, a campaign developed by Volunteer West Virginia to dedicate a year of kindness to West Virginia. The campaign’s goal is simple: to spread kindness and volunteerism across the state.
The City of Buckhannon received its full request of $23,885.00 to host the Buckhannon Volunteer Center, which will have both a physical and virtual presence and act as a hub for volunteerism in the community. Residents and visitors will have the ability to search an online database of volunteer opportunities posted by the City and participating community organizations. The grant funding will support a part-time coordinator for the hub as well as volunteer management software, volunteer training and background checks, promotion, and supplies.
The City of Buckhannon is fortunate to have many active service organizations within the community that collaborate with the City to benefit our residents and visitors. The Buckhannon 2015 and 2020 plans, which compiled survey results from the community, identified volunteerism as a community strength. However, while the Buckhannon community has many active service organizations, the area does not currently have a central volunteer center to promote and find service opportunities. The creation of a formal Buckhannon Volunteer Center will allow the already active volunteer base, identified in the Buckhannon 2015 and 2020 plans, to advertise service opportunities, recruit new volunteers, match volunteers with rewarding projects and events, and retain these volunteers for future endeavors. Mayor David McCauley welcomed the news and added, “We are pleased to be a part of this wonderful grant initiative and to be able to improve facilitation and coordination of our many volunteers in our community who give so selflessly yet passionately.”
Statewide, funded projects vary from launching a VolunTourism pilot program to developing in person volunteer centers and online volunteer hubs, such as the Buckhannon Volunteer Center. Grants were awarded through a competitive application and review process. Volunteer West Virginia received the funding from the Volunteer Generation Fund (VGF), which is managed by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency that oversees AmeriCorps and the nation’s volunteer initiatives.
In addition to the City of Buckhannon, the other 2018 VGF Grant Recipients are: The Fayette County Family Resource Network Inc. ($30,000.00), Tucker County Community Foundation ($26,419.50), Big Ugly Tri-County Volunteer Center – Step by Step. Inc. ($29,916.00), Greater Greenbrier Long-Term Recovery Committee ($29,993.00), United Way of the River Cities ($21,211.00), Community Connections Inc. ($17,937.00), and Main Street Ripley ($21,100.00).
Local service organizations and volunteer leaders are encouraged to contact City Hall at (304) 472-1651 to be added to the contact list for upcoming Volunteer Center news and announcements. Or, send an email to Callie.CSams@buckhannonwv.org.
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For questions, contact Callie Cronin Sams, callie.csams@buckhannonwv.org.