National Volunteer Week is April 10 – 16. It is about inspiring people to seek out ways to be a positive influence in their communities. Volunteering is an enriching experience for both the volunteers and those they serve. Volunteerism is alive and well in New Hampshire, especially in greater Concord.
For starters, there are about 250 IRS-certified Tax-Aide counselors who volunteer their time and skill to help fellow taxpayers complete their federal tax returns. Funded by the AARP Foundation, these volunteers helped more than 11,000 New Hampshire residents file their tax forms last year.
If you are interested in becoming an IRS-certified volunteer Tax-Aide counselor, contact Les Scammon, district coordinator for the Tax-Aide program, at 225-0679 or e-mail him at lessscam@comcast.net.
Donna Ciocca recruits volunteers for the Capitol Region Food Program Holiday Basket distribution in the Concord area. She also recruits volunteers for the New Hampshire Family Literacy Day which gives away 10,000 free new children's books. In addition, she volunteers for the Capitol Center for the Arts, Penacook Community Soup Kitchen and the Granite State Reading Council. You can contact Ciocca at 753-8522 or e-mail her at madciocca@aol.com.
Cheyene Baker has volunteered at the Concord Hospital for the last seven months. She is looking forward to a career in nursing. There are about 400 volunteers giving 40,000 hours of service each year at the hospital. Karla Roth, director of volunteer services at the hospital, can be reached at 227-7000, ext. 3882.
Robert Boley has volunteered at the Concord Public Library for the last 18 months. He spends two hours a day two days a week returning books to the shelves. To volunteer at the library, contact Library Director Patricia Immen at 230-3680.
Jonathan Flower is the guidance counselor and advisor to the Honor Society at Concord High School. There are about 100 students in the Honor Society, and they are required to do some community service.
Also, Sherry Burbank is the student services coordinator. She is always looking for opportunities where students can provide community service.
Denise Pariseau is advisor to the Key Club, members of which are also looking for ways to volunteer in community service. The three can be reached at 225-0800.
The students of the Bow High School are required to do 20 hours of community service during their four years at the school. Students are asked to find their own opportunities for service projects. For more information contact the school registrar, Martha Rae, at 228-2210.
Lea Caron of Bow and Kathleen Brockett of Concord are both volunteers at the McLane Center of the New Hampshire Audubon Society in Concord. Caron helps to care for the owls and Brockett helps with special events.
Stuart Russell, who taught English in Cameroon as a Peace Corp volunteer in 1965-67, volunteers as a teacher for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Granite State College. The course he is currently teaching is about the Peace Corps, which has about 8,000 volunteers serving in many different countries. Russell, who has a Ph.D. in African Studies, said volunteering in the Peace Corps made a positive impact on his life and future career.
Nancy Fellows of Hopkinton is a volunteer for the Little Nature Museum in Hopkinton. As a retired school teacher, she welcomes this opportunity to expand her knowledge of the natural world and become more aware of our interaction with the environment. For more information contact the museum's founder and director, Sandra Martin, at 746-6121 or e-mail her at info@littlenaturemuseum.org.
Martha Clapp volunteers as a Granite State Ambassador, helping welcome visitors to New Hampshire. Since 1996, GSA has certified about 1,000 ambassadors who have provided over $3.4 million in hospitality value through 170,000 hours of volunteer service. You will find them, wearing their green jackets, at visitor centers, special events, chambers of commerce and many other sites. As information specialists, they are a great aid to the travel and tourism industry of our state. Clapp said she meets people from all across our country and from many parts of the world.
You can contact GSA managing director Judi Window, at 621-0638 or judiwindow@gmail.com.
Paul Basham can be reached at pjbasham@gmail.com.
