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VolunteerWAKULLA, INC. History
The National and Community Service website reports: "Throughout the history of the United States, Americans have valued an ethic of service ... Today, the ethic remains strong. Across our country,Americans of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities are donating their time and talents to schools, churches, hospitals, and local nonprofits in an effort to improve their communities and serve a purpose greater than themselves.”
According to data collected over the past 30 years by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Americans over the age of 16 are volunteering at historically high rates, with 61.2 million giving their time to help and it is the purpose of VolunteerWAKULLA to identify, train and connect volunteers to agencies and businesses.
Early in 2007, the Tallahassee Community College (TCC) Wakulla Center was challenged to find volunteer tutors to expand its ability to provide after school tutoring for public school students who were struggling with basic skills. It became almost a full time focused job to try to find tutors to help out for an hour or two a week. TCC Wakulla Center staff had heard of the successful work of Volunteer Florida and Volunteer Leon and sought out their advice about the viability of creating a Volunteer Wakulla Center. This discussion was joined by Brent Thurmond, Clerk of Courts for Wakulla County, who was investigating a way to access volunteer efforts in the clerk's office to maximize community services. Together, the Clerk's office and the TCC Wakulla Center launched a Volunteer Wakulla stake holder's meeting, which included Dr. Law, from TCC, Superintendent Miller from the public schools, Commissioner George Green, from the county commission, Wendy Spencer of Volunteer Florida, and representatives from the sheriff s office, the Red Cross, the health department, the United Way, the library, the Christian Coalition, St. Mark's Wildlife Refuge, the extension service, the Senior Center, the Department of Parks and Recreation, and Habitat for Humanity. VolunteerWAKULLA was on its way!
A Volunteer Wakulla website (www.VolunteerWAKULLA.org) was created, thanks to the staff of VolunteerLEON. This web site offers links to volunteer interests and opportunities, as well as the ability for local organizations to share their need for volunteers and the skills that are needed.
The TCC Wakulla Center offered office and meeting space and temporary administrative support. The Clerk of Court's office also offered information technology and secretarial support. Grant funding applications have been started.
VolunteerWAKULLA has its website, VolunteerWAKULLA.org, activated to link the interests, times and energies of Wakulla residents to the wide variety of volunteering opportunities and needs in our community.
VolunteerWAKULLA, Inc. has received its Articles of Incorporation from the state of Florida, and the Federal Recognition of Exemption under Section 501 (C)) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The organization is now poised for growth in Wakulla County and is committed to making a difference!
Crawfordville, FL 32327