Volunteers needed in North Fort Myers
In these hard economic times when agencies have to now “do more with less,” volunteers are needed more than ever to meet the growing needs of the community.
That statement was made by Margaret Baugher, director of RSVP, who recently spearheaded a Volunteer Fair at the Shell Factory and Nature Park.
“Overall in theses these hard economic times, non-profit and county agencies are losing staff so they need to do more with less,” she said. “The only way they can accomplish that is by having more volunteers.
And with these times, they’re also an increase in need for services.”
The benefit to volunteers is a healthy lifestyle, she said. a
“It’s a known fact that people that volunteer live longer, healthier lives.”
RSVP is a national organization that has been in service since 1971.
Many of North Fort Myers’ volunteers come from that office each week – with the office working like a clearinghouse for organizations that need volunteers.
In her experience, Baugher said volunteers have been recognized and appreciated in the area.
“That is part of the mission of our program is to provide recognition to volunteers,” she said.
The group’s local sponsor is the Senior Friendship Center, with one of its local branches at the Engagement Center at Hatton B. Rogers Senior Independent Living House.
RSVP generally works with senior volunteers, especially those 55 years of age and over.
“We also work in partnership with the United Way Volunteer Center which is also a clearing house for volunteers of all ages,” she said.
“Attendees ranged from teenagers looking to satisfy service hours for school to families wanting to help those in need, to retirees interested in using their life skills and experiences to give back to the community,” Baugher said about the Volunteer Fair.
Donna Ellis, Shell Factory marketing director, said it was wonderful to see so many people willing to offer their time in a time when volunteers are crucial to organizations.
“Over 150 people attended with over 23 different organizations having booths,” she said.
When the Shell Factory hosted the event last Saturday, representatives from its Nature Park talked to perspective volunteers.
“We had a number of people interested in working with the Nature Park,” Ellis said.
Participants included the American Cancer Society-Lee County Unit, American Red Cross of Lee County, Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida, Child Care of Southwest Florida Inc., CCMI Inc., ECHO, Foundation for Lee County Public Schools-Take Stock in Children Program and Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida Inc.
Others were Guardian ad Litem/Voices for Kids, Healthy Start of Southwest Florida, Hope Healthcare Services, Learning for Life, Lee County Library System, Lee County Parks & Recreation, Literacy Volunteers of Lee County, Nature Park at the Shell Factory, North Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce, North Fort Myers CERT, RSVP of Lee County, Senior Friendship Centers, Sheriff’s VOICE Unit, 20th Judicial Administrative Office of the Courts and United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades.
At RSVP, they get individual and group requests for volunteers, Web site updates and more that showcase the current most prominent needs in the community.
“All of my agencies felt that they had sincere interest from the volunteers they spoke with at the fair and all the agencies are still looking for volunteers,” Baugher said.
For more information, call Baugher at 275-1881, extension 203. She said she would be happy to discuss different organizations and needs with individuals.
To contact United Way directly, you can dial 211 on a home phone line or 433-2000 on a cell phone.
RSVP is located at 3600 Evans Ave., in Fort Myers.