Adult Volunteers Needed

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — Some Midlands faith-based and charitable organizations say they’d like to see more adult volunteers giving their time and talent, as one group gets ready to host a training it hopes will catch an older eye. Home Works of America, an organization that repairs the houses of the elderly and disabled, could not function without dedicated volunteers, mostly teenagers and young people. Executive director, Hank Chardos, says he’d like to see more of those who have moved beyond teenage years. “We don’t have a problem finding youth,” said Chardos. “Our challenge is adults, even if they don’t know one end of a hammer from the other. We need those adults to come out to encourage, mentor, affirm.” Folks at the Historic Columbia Foundation have had their share of challenges recruiting adult volunteers, too. But they hope a new training will change that. She believes kicking off a new volunteer training class will encourage people to donate their time and talents. “There are about four or five different ways to get involved,” said Tucker. “We have tour guides, education volunteers, admin volunteers and special events.” The eight-session course offered by the Foundation prepares adults to donate at least six hours a month towards the Foundation’s mission. Doing so, she claims, could equate to receiving a lot more. The new volunteer training class kicks off on June 18, 2012, with a total of eight sessions running through August 20, 2012. Each session lasts approximately 90 minutes and begins at 10 am. Schedule below. Those not able to attend the first session are still welcome to pick up the training on June 25. “[Volunteering] leads to job opportunities, new friends, all sorts of opportunities that really engage you within your community.” Whether it’s Historic Columbia, Home Works, or other organizations, studies have shown that, generally, community service for whatever reason, is a good thing. Volunteer Training Sessions for Historic Columbia Foundation are: June 18: Orientation (Seibels House, 1601 Richland Street) June 25: Mann-Simons History (Mann-Simons Site,1403 Richland Street) July 9: Gardens of Historic Columbia Foundation Properties (Carriage House, 1616 Blanding Street) July 16: Collections and Woodrow Wilson History (Carriage House, 1616 Blanding Street) July 23: Tour Techniques, Seibels‘ and Kitchen House (Seibels House, 1601 Richland Street) July 30: Hampton-Preston History (Carriage House, 1616 Blanding Street) Aug 13: Robert Mills History (Carriage House, 1616 Blanding Street) Aug 20: Overview of Columbia‘s Early History (Seibels House, 1601 Richland Street) Volunteer opportunities include: Historic house museum tours, Walking tours, Step-on tours around Columbia, Gardening work days on a seasonal basis to tend to the historic grounds and gardens of Historic Columbia Foundation, Assisting the Education Department, Administrative and Rental assistance, and Assisting the Cultural Resources department on an as-needed basis Volunteer benefits include: Complimentary entrance into the historic house museums (volunteer and members of his/her immediate family), Free or reduced rates towards admission to special Historic Columbia Foundation functions, A 15% discount on museum shop purchases, and A free subscription to Historically Speaking, Historic Columbia Foundation‘s quarterly newsletter. More information can be found online at http://historiccolumbia.org/site/calendar/2012/06/18/events/new-volunteer-training.