Now that summer is here, we all look forward to home-grown vegetables and fruit from local growers. These fresh produce items are available on Tuesday and Thursday mornings on the library parking lot and on Thursday evenings during the Summer Street Stroll. Everyone loves fresh vegetables but sometimes the cost added on to regular grocery bills can be prohibitive. The Kansas Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program can be a solution. This is a new project that has been brought to our area through collaboration between Janel Rose, CDRR Program, Barton County Health Department and Janet Splitter, Executive Director, ElderCare and Friendship Meals. You must be age 60 or older, live in Barton County and meet certain income requirements. (For example, if you live alone, your income must be below $1,770 at least one month out of the year.) The program provides checks that can be exchanged for vegetables, fruit, and honey at the Summer Street Stroll on Thursday evenings from now through Sept. 12th. There are six vendors approved to accept the checks and they will have that information prominently displayed. There has already been one registration day at the Senior Center in Great Bend on June 20. The second registration opportunity will be at the same location from 10:30 a.m. —1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 9th. If you haven’t registered yet, make your plans now to come to the Great Bend Senior Center between 10:30 a.m. —1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 9 and be sure to tell your friends, family and neighbors. The application process is very simple and quick.
The Everyone Learns to Read by Sharing (EARS) Program provides volunteers to area elementary schools that listen to children read. The children in need of extra attention as identified by teachers practice reading with the volunteers for extra work on pronunciation and comprehension. Reading is a critical skill for success in school as well as success in life. This little bit of extra attention can really make a difference in the life of a child. We are currently recruiting volunteers for the 2013-2014 school year. For more information or to volunteer for this worthwhile opportunity, please call Donna at 792-1614.
We have several other volunteer opportunities for July if you know someone that likes to be involved or needs something to do. The Kansas Wetlands Education Center needs volunteers to help with several creative projects. The Barton County Fair is also coming up and there are a variety of volunteer jobs available from July 10-14. For more information, call Donna or Linn at 792-1614.
Volunteers in Action and the Kansas Volunteer Commission are co-hosting a very special non-profit leadership training this summer. The training will be on Tuesday, August 20th, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Barton Community College, Room F-30. The training materials were created by Susan Ellis, Energize, Inc and will be presented by trainers from the Kansas Volunteer Commission. Topics will include: Developing and implementing a volunteer engagement initiative, Effective tactics for volunteer recruitment, and Importance of ongoing, informal recognition. You will learn how to prepare a plan to use your volunteers in a way that benefits your organization but also provides a meaningful volunteer experience to improve retention. This free professional development opportunity is available to anyone who works with volunteers but you MUST register to attend. The registration is online at: www.KanServe.org. For more information, call Donna Baugh or Linn Hogg.
Donna Baugh, Executive Director Volunteers In Action/RSVP 1025 Main #D114 Great Bend, Kansas 67530 Office: 620-792-1614 Direct: 620-786-7558 Fax: 620-793-7689 Email: baughd@bartonccc.edu. Volunteers in Action is sponsored by Barton Community College.