(Hempstead, NY) In celebration of National Volunteer Week (April 6th to April 13th) the Long Island Volunteer Center kicks off a week-long program that celebrates volunteers across Long Island. National Volunteer Week is about taking action and encouraging individuals and their respective communities to be at the center of social change – discovering and demonstrating their collective power to make a difference. “We all need someone to look up to. National Volunteer Week celebrates the humanitarian spirit and provides the opportunity to give appreciation to those who go above and beyond serving neighbors in need. It also reminds us to take stock of our own gifts and talents shared to build community and realize that every act of kindness matters,” said Diana O’Neill, Executive Director of the Long Island Volunteer Center.
Sponsored by Points of Light, National Volunteer Week was established in 1974 and has grown every year, with literally thousands of volunteer projects and special events scheduled throughout the week across the country and locally across Long Island. This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the celebration, demonstrating the enduring importance of recognizing our country’s volunteers. With the fifth anniversary of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, the creation of the Volunteer Generation Fund and President Obama’s resonant call to serve this year will be even more inspiring.
Volunteer Events:
Monday, April 7: Touro Law Clinic will be meeting with individuals and families impacted by Superstorm Sandy in Suffolk County at Briarcliff College from 7pm-8:30pm, Briarcliff College, 225 West Main St., Patchogue, no appointment is necessary.
Monday, April: The Nassau Bar Association continues to provide pro bono services for Long Island residents impacted by Superstorm Sandy on Mortgage Foreclosures and Superstorm Sandy Recovery. The clinic hours are from 3:00-6:00P. To register please call: 516 747-4070
Monday, April 7: The Sandy Legal Clinic at Hofstra University School of Law continues to provide pro bono assistance to Sandy impacted families since the storm hit Long Island in 2012. The clinic will join the New York State Civilian Emergency Response Corps and offer legal consultations with an experienced attorney, law student and/or legal professional from 6:00pm to 9:00pm at the Joan Axinn Hall Clinic Building at Hofstra Law.
Tuesday, April 8: The Executive Director of the Long Island Volunteer Center, Diana O’Neill presents Amy Castiglia founder of volunteer organization, Lindy Manpower the President’s Volunteer Service Award. This volunteer award aims to encourage individuals to live a life of service. Lindy Manpower is a grass roots community-based, volunteer-driven group that has been assisting hundreds of Long Islanders who are impacted by Superstorm Sandy. Ms. Castigliano has been assisting vulnerable Long Islanders since the storm hit. The Long Island Volunteer Center continues to recruit “skilled-based” volunteers for the CERC: Citizens Emergency Response Corp. CERC is a state-wide collaborative disaster response and preparedness initiative which aims to recruit “highly-skilled” volunteers to assist in on-going Sandy recovery efforts and to develop a network of volunteers who will be able to respond in future disasters.
Tuesday, April 8: Volunteer Anne Phillips from disaster relief organization, All Hands Volunteers appears on “Heroes on Our Island” at 8pm on FIOS1-TV.
Tuesday, April 8: The Long Island Volunteer Center speaks to 35 Farmingdale State College students regarding Volunteerism and Community Engagement.
Wednesday, April 9: Tuoro Law Clinic continues to provide pro bono legal services to individuals and families impacted by Superstorm Sandy in Nassau County. PLEASE CALL # (646) 786-0887 to reserve your space, Freeport Recreational Center, 130 East Merrick Rd, 10am-6pm, appt necessary.
Thursday, April 10: The Town of Islip is hosting 28 student volunteers from Farmingdale State College’s Construction Design department to prepare existing-condition drawings for the Town’s eight recreation centers under the direction of Professor Orla Smyth LoPiccolo. As part of their Construction Design class, on Thursday, the students will be visiting Town of Islip Recreation Centers in teams to photograph, sketch and measure the buildings. The students will then return to the classroom to draft their buildings in plans, sections and elevations. They will also examine the building envelope and suggest energy saving improvements in construction detail form. Their project drawings can then be used by the Town for purposes such as space allocation, determining the number of people permitted by code in assembly areas, emergency egress signs and as a starting point for a licensed professional to use for future building changes. This program was also involved in the renovation of the Town’s 12 VFW Posts in 2010.
Thursday, April 10: Disaster Relief Organization, Rebuilding Together Long Island volunteers will be building their 241st wheelchair ramp in Nassau County.
Friday, April 11: The Long Island Volunteer Center in conjunction with the launch of LIVE (Long Island Volunteer Enterprise) celebrates National Volunteer Week with a corporate community service initiative at the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County. United Cerebral Palsy provides education and medical aid to 1,800 children and adults with Cerebral Palsy and other developmental disabilities. Volunteers will weed and prepare flower beds for a residential home in Bayville from 1:00pm-6pm.
Monday, April 6 – Friday, April 11: Volunteers are reaching out and promoting New York Rising applications at the Long Island Volunteer Call Center and supporting neighborhood canvassing in Irene and Sandy affected communities reminding Long Islanders of the April 11th deadline
Photos and media are available for the following weekend events: April 2: Nassau Community College in conjunction with the Long Island Volunteer Center celebrated a campus-wide day of service. Over 500 students worked on 35 service projects. Executive Director of the Long Island Volunteer Center facilitated a training on volunteerism and was also the keynote speaker. April 6: Earth Run III a 5K run sponsored by the Garden City Bird Sanctuary and the Long Island Volunteer Center. Earth Run III is an on/off road run through the bird sanctuary where 50 volunteers supported 100 runners. April 6: The LIVC conducted a prom gown collection drive with 40 volunteers at 10 sites across Long Island in conjunction with faith based organizations, nonprofit agencies and local businesses. There were 200 donors that donated 1500 dresses. The Long Island Volunteer Center is featured this month in the New York Non-profit Press spotlighting the Superstorm Sandy recovery effort and on cable TV’s: Mr. Long Island Search for Truth and Beauty.
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.
