Category: Sussex County

Be a Career Mystery Guest

Job Search and Fall Prevention Instructors Needed in Sussex County

Academy of Lifelong Learning Instructor

Read Me a Story!

Short-term, Work-From-Home Opportunity

The Delaware Association of Nonprofit Agencies (DANA) is seeking two volunteers to assist with the updating of the Directory of Grantmakers in Delaware last published in 2006. The duration of the project is 3 months. Volunteers may work at DANA or from their own homes (after instruction at office). Hours and days are flexible. Functions to include mailing information to foundations, updating electronic forms, making calls to foundations and preparing data spreadsheets.

For more information, contact Mary Cella at nycella@verizon.net.

Foster Grandparent Program

 "I'm retired, but I just decided that I wanted to do something more with my life - to give back to the community."

Sound like you? Foster Grandparents serve up to 40 hours a week offering emotional support, tutoring, mentoring and more to disadvantaged and disabled youth. Some volunteers may qualify to earn a tax-free, hourly stipend of $3.45 per hour. Foster Grandparents will also recieve transportation reimbursement, a free annual physical and supplemental accident and liability insurance while on duy. The income eligibility for the program has just been raised. For more information, call 857-5016 or email robin.fisher@state.de.us. 

Teach Inmates Decision-Making Skills

Going to prison is not the most popular volunteer endeavor. Yet, this is exactly what a special group of people do in the Thresholds Decision Making program. For an eight week period volunteers go into correctional institutions in the state to teach inmates how to make better decisions in their lives. Volunteers must take one day of training, fill out security clearance forms, attend a security meeting and recieve a volunteer badge before they can enter the prison classroom.

Each student inmate is assigned their own teacher. The inmate and teacher sit at a table across from each other in a prison classroom, each with a Thresholds workbook and together discuss and complete the exercises. The format of the program is one of the reasons it is so successful. Because it is not conducted in a traditional classroom style, it eliminates the usual tension, and peer pressure to not look dumb, stupid, or even too smart. It takes into consideration the reading levels of inmates, many of whom have dropped out of school in the 9th grader or earlier. Individual attention is the key to the success of this program. Since 1999 Thresholds has graduated 345 inmate students in 43 eight-week cycles.

To learn more about volunteering with Thresholds contact RSVP.

Contributed by Lynn Kroesen.

Program Instructor, Easter Seals

Habitat for Humanity Volunteer

Now that you have time what will you do with it? Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County loves retirees! Can you help lend a hand on one of our construction sites? If you can, you'll be joining our talented pool of "regulars" who volunteer on a regular basis. Come help Habitat build new homes and rehabilitate some of the foreclosed houses in and around New Castle County. Our regulars come for the mission, but stay to learn new skills and make new friends. To sign up or learn more information contact Susan Fox of RSVP, New Castle County at susan.fox@state.de.us or call 302-255-9690.

Editor's Note: For information about volunteering with Habitat for Humanity in Kent and Sussex Counties contact:

• Kent County: Contact Carol Lettieri, Director, RSVP, Kent County at rsvp.director@modernmaturity.org or call 302-734-1200, x129
• Sussex County: Contact April Willey, RSVP, Sussex County at april.willey@state.de.us or call 302-856-5815.

RSVP Brings a Matter of Balance to Delaware

Chances are you know someone who has fallen or who is afraid of falling. A Matter of Balance is a proven program designed to help people manage concerns about falls and increase physical activity.  RSVP is looking for volunteers to help provide this program.  

A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls is conducted in 8 two-hour sessions and uses group discussion, problem–solving strategies, videos and gentle physical exercise. Older adults learn positive coping methods to reduce fear of falling and remain active and independent. 

A Matter of Balance coaches help participants become more confident about managing falls by believing that they can increase their strength, find ways to reduce falls, and protect themselves if they do fall. In addition, participants report that they have increased the amount they exercise on a regular basis.   

A Matter of Balance coaches need good communication and interpersonal skills, enthusiasm, dependability and a willingness to lead small groups of older adults. Coaches also need to be able to lead low to moderate level exercise. 

There will be an information session to learn more about becoming A Matter of Balance coach on Wednesday, September 9 at 1 PM  in the Charles Debnam Building, 1901 N DuPont Hwy., New Castle.    If you would like to attend or want more information, please contact Debby Vandiver, A Matter of Balance Coordinator at  302-255-9878. In Sussex County, contact MaryAnn Hook at 302-856-5815 for information about upcoming trainings.

Creekwatchers - Nanticoke Watershed Alliance

Volunteers are needed in the Seaford, Laurel and Bridgeville areas to become "Creekwatchers". Nanticoke Watershed Creekwatchers regularly collect samples of river water at established locations, analyze the samples, and produce a report on the river's health each year. Their work indicates where trouble spots are, which areas are out of balance, and helps citizens and local officials decide how to bring the river back to health. The Creekwatchers' Annual Water Quality Report continues to guide decisions on how our communities grow and develop as well as overall clean up efforts. Creekwatchers are trained by alliance staff to operate high-tech scientific water monitoring equipment. For more information contact April Wiley of Sussex County RSVP at 302-856-5815 or by e-mailing April.Willey@state.de.us.

Learn About Life from the Dying

Delaware Hospice is looking for compassionate and energetic volunteers with daytime availability to volunteer in all areas of our organization. Our volunteers care for and support those at the end of life in many ways and may visit with hospice patients and families, deliver supplies to patients, support our adult and youth bereavement programs, or attend health fairs and community events, just to name a few! Extensive training and on-going support provided. We'd love to have you on our team!

For more information, contact Judith Whitehead, the New Castle County Volunteer Coordinator at 302-479-2577, x1105 or e-mail jwhitehead@delawarehospice.org.

Docent, Fenwick Island Lighthouse

Volunteers are needed to keep the historic Fenwick Island Lighthouse maintained and open to the public. Volunteers will conduct tours, answer questions and give historical information about the Lighthouse to school groups and the general public. Volunteers can take charge of the small museum and gift shop on the premises. Landscaping and grass cutting are also needs. For more information, call April Willey of the Sussex County RSVP at 302-856-5815 or e-mail april.willey@state.de.us .