Craft 4 a Cause -- Family Volunteering Nights!
 

On Friday, April 8 and Monday, April 11, the Volunteer Center of Washington County hosted “Craft 4 a Cause” at the Family Center of Washington County. The family volunteer events provided an opportunity for families to get together and give together. Together families created greeting cards, personalized coloring books, made blankets, built pinecone bird feeders, and decorated placemats.  All projects created at this event will be donated to clients of local nonprofit agencies.

Many thanks to all the families who participated, and to the Family Center for opening their doors to us!!

Volunteer Center Board of Directors and Staff Celebrate and Serve

Prior to the December 15 board meeting, the Volunteer Center board of directors and staff gathered for a short holiday celebration which included food, games, and a service project. Together the board and staff stuffed 200 bags with emergency preparedness information which will be distributed at the Celebrate Families event in February.

Volunteer Handcrafters Create more than 1,150 Handmade Items

For the past 12 months, 20 dedicated volunteers have donated their time and talents and have knitted and crocheted more than 1,150 handcrafted items for residents of Washington County. On behalf of the Volunteer Center of Washington County and our member agencies, we want to offer a big thank you for everything our handcrafters do for the community!

Hundreds of people in our county will have warm bodies and warm hearts thanks to the mittens, hats, scarves, slippers, lap robes, afghans, and dolls donated by these dedicated volunteers.

Thank you to our great volunteers from Kohl's Department Store who helped us count, sort and fold all of the items!

Everything is coming up Roses

The Volunteer Center would like to give a BIG thank you to everyone who participated in this year's annual Rose Sale. Thank you to our board members who sold dozens of roses! Thank you to the West Bend Chamber of Commerce, Serigraph, Pick Heaters, Westbury Bank, and the Port Washington High School German Club who sold roses on our behalf! Thank you to our wonderful volunteers who pruned, organized, and delivered nearly 200 dozen roses! And thank you to all of those who purchased roses for their loved ones! This event could not have been such a success without everyone's support!

Meet Our AmeriCorps Member!

The Volunteer Center is pleased to welcome our newest staff member, Lynsey Watry. Lynsey joins us through the Marshfield Clinic AmeriCorps program. She will spend the next year developing service clubs in Washington County middle schools, and organizing service projects for youth and families. Lynsey is a 2006 graduate of West Bend West High School and a 2010 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she majored in psychology and biology. We are excited to have her on staff!

Q: Why did you decide to join AmeriCorps?

LW: AmeriCorps gives me the chance to volunteer and help others in my community before I continue on to medical school where life will be so busy and hectic. I enjoy learning from different people and gaining new experiences that I otherwise would not have a chance to do if I immediately started my career.

Q: The AmeriCorps slogan is “One Year to Make a Difference.” How do you hope to make a difference during your time with the Volunteer Center?

LW: I hope to change kids’ perception on community service and their responsibility to the community. I hope to inspire altruistic behavior that they carry on throughout their lives. I also hope to make them more aware of their actions and consequences in the community. At the same time, I want to change myself. It will be an amazing learning experience.

Q: You have a long history of volunteer work. What has been your favorite volunteer experience?

LW:  During college I went on a pre-medicine trip to Nicaragua through the International Service Learning program. Not only did I get to help others by providing free patient care, but I got to experience a new culture. It really changed my perception on life and how materialistic the United States can be. I learned to enjoy and appreciate the things I do have. It helped me to see the world in a new light and want to create a better place for everyone to live.

Q: How do you like to spend your free time?

LW: I enjoy camping, sports, and being outside. I like to exercise and stay fit. I love to read – my favorite books are by Ayn Rand. I also coach girls’ basketball and just completed my EMT training this summer.

Q: What are your post-AmeriCorps plans?

I am pursuing a career in pediatrics so I am currently applying to medical school. If all goes well I’ll be starting next fall!

To contact Lynsey, please call (262) 338-8256 or email americorps@volunteernow.net

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