Volunteer Program Serving New Needs and Populations

(March 15, 2006) - In 2005, 67 new volunteers joined the CSSMV mission bringing the agency’s active volunteer force to over 325 individuals.

The Senior Services program which relies on volunteers to make home visits to isolated seniors and to provide respite care for caregivers was able to increase service this year with the help of newly trained volunteers. Volunteers completed training and orientation and are currently offering needed support to help over 70 homebound seniors in the Dayton area.

Volunteer growth has also empowered the refugee resettlement program to help a new group of refugees from the former Soviet Republics. Through 2006, more than fifty Russian-speaking Meskehetian Turks will be resettled in the Miami Valley. Escaping from persecution, they are coming to the area with approval of the U.S. State Department and in collaboration with the U.S. Catholic Conference. Volunteers are being trained to help welcome and assist in the resettlement. Care Team Volunteers are gathering needed household goods and assisting as new arrivals seek to find housing, jobs and support services in their new homeland.

In other program areas, CSSMV volunteers are assisting with supervised family visits at Erma’s House, staffing the food pantry, helping with teen outreach in schools and providing clerical support in agency offices.

To learn about current CSSMV volunteer opportunities, visit www.cssmv.org.