"Connecting People who care with Causes that matter."
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New Volunteer Coordinator
 I would like to take this time to introduce myself. I am a Mississippi native, raised in the delta and I truly love this state. Those who know me might say this is an understatement, but I truly have a passion for volunteering and giving back. I have been volunteering in some capacity since high school and I have volunteered for more places and organizations than I can count. Just to name a few titles I have had over the years:
Volunteer Attorney
Volunteer Penguin Keeper
Volunteer School Aid
Volunteer Builder
Volunteer Gardener
Volunteer Mock Trial Coach
Volunteer Librarian
and the list goes on....
I have always enjoyed volunteering and giving back to my community and I love the joy and warmth that I get out of each volunteer opportunity. I hope to share my passion with the people of Northwest Mississippi and increase volunteer participation. There truly is no measure to what one person can do for a community just by giving a little bit of his or her time each month.
I am here to help with any and all problems that come up.I want to encourage volunteers and agencies to register for our site, Volunteer Solutions, and I am happy to help anyone with this process. I will also be hosting different training events and other opportunities to learn about the different resources available to both volunteers and agencies.
I have big plans for Volunteer Northwest Mississippi for 2012 and I hope you stay tuned and join me for what is going to be an exciting year!
I look forward to working with you all and I wish you a very happy holiday season!
Anna Dickerson
Volunteer Coordinator
Volunteer Northwest Mississippi
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Did you know?
- Women volunteered at a higher rate than men across age groups, education levels, and other major characteristics
- Persons age 35-44 were the most likely to volunteer (34.2%), closely followed by 45-54 year olds (32.8%) and 55-64 year olds (30.1%).
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December Quote:
Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love. ~ Hamilton Wright Mable
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Dear Friends,
Happy Holidays to everyone! We hope that you are enjoying your time with family and friends during this wonderful holiday season.
Volunteer Northwest Mississippi is already making it's New Years Resolutions and we would like all of you to be a part of it! In this newsletter you will find information on our new Volunteer Center Coordinator, plans for our future, and how our resolutions can help you!
Best wishes!
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Upcoming Opportunities
Martin Luther King Day of Service, January 16, 2012:
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'" Each year, Americans across the country answer that question by coming together on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service to serve their neighbors and communities. 2012 marks the 25th year of the King Holiday. Volunteer Northwest Mississippi is teaming with TeachUp! Mississippi to put on a project for MLK Day of Service. The event will be held on Saturday, January 14, 2012 at all Desoto County area libraries. We will have a designated story time and fun arts and crafts for the children. For more information, stay tuned to our website or visit our facebook page. Learn more about MLK Day of Service here.Superheroes Read Project with Desoto County Schools:Do you want to make a positive impact in the lives of DCS Title I students? Do you want to help instill a love for reading in children? Are you willing to devote ONE HOUR of your time a month to mentor a classroom of smiling faces? If you say yes to these questions, consider becoming a Superhero Mentor as part of our Title I Superheroes Read mentor program! For more information, contact Dr. Lewanda Morse with Desoto County Schools at: lewanda.morse@desotocountyschools.org or call 662-429-4198. To see more volunteer opportunities and to learn more about signing up for these events and more, visit Volunteer Solutions |
Community Foundation's
Annual Crystal Ball
January 21, 2012
"May the Force be with Us" 
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Spotlight Agency of the Month:
This time of year can be hard on families and Sacred Heart Missions together with Catholic Social Services and the Interfaith Council on Poverty have been hard at work to make sure 90 families in the area have a great Christmas.
The focus has been to make it a real "family" Christmas so they have not only collected toys for the children, but also food and household goods to benefit every member of the family. This Saturday the families will be picking up their "gifts" and it is sure to be a wonderful day!
Approximately 15 local churches have been working together to provide volunteers and donations for this mission.
Congratulations again, Sacred Heart Missions, Catholic Social Services, and the Interfaith Council on Poverty and thank you for all that you do to help those in our community!
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VNWS New Years Resolutions (and how they can help you!)
- Recruit Holiday (and Year-round) Volunteers
Whether your nonprofit or agency is seeking volunteers for holiday events or year-round opportunities, Volunteer Northwest Mississippi is streamlining the way Mississippians get involved in their communities. Volunteers can search the site for opportunities by location, interest, time availability or skill set and sign up to serve immediately. Mississippi nonprofits can recruit individual and group volunteers, follow up, track and report on volunteer responses and hours, find potential board members and secure in-kind gifts -- all at no cost to their organizations. To get started, visit volunteernwms.org
- Increase Community awareness
VNWS has plans to improve its website, Volunteer Solutions, social media and much more! Agencies who register with Volunteer Solutions will benefit from added publicity, targeted searches by volunteers, community spotlights, and a way to keep track of volunteer hours, just to name a few. Volunteers who register with Volunteer Solutions will be able to search for specific volunteer opportunities, view community calendars, link to organizations, keep track of hours and more. There is no cost to register with Volunteer Solutions and it takes only a few minutes to get started! To have step by step help in registering or to have the Volunteer Coordinator come to your next meeting, email us at volunteer@cfnm.org or call us at 662-449-5002.
- Expand Services offered by VNMS Training opportunities will be available through out 2012 on a variety of topics including (but definitely not limited to) how to use our site Volunteer Solutions to your full advantage, how to increase volunteers, and how to establish yourself as an agency/volunteer in the community. To find out about these opportunities and more, stay tuned to our monthly newsletters and our website.
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| "Party with a Purpose" this Holiday Season
This time of year it is often hard to find time to do all of the things you want to do. Everyone wants to spend time with loved ones, enjoy great food, give back to the community, and enjoy the holidays. Here is a great idea that will let you do all of this in one wonderful evening!
Host a "party with a purpose" this holiday (or anytime, really). Invite friends and loved ones and include on the invitation that you will not only be enjoying great food and great company but that you will also be collecting items for a local food pantry or homeless shelter. Ask each guest to bring at least five canned good items and you can even offer a prize to the guest who brings the most canned goods!
Be sure to designate an area in your home for collecting the donations with a sign that lets your guests know which shelter or pantry the donations will benefit.
Another helpful hint: include interesting facts about hunger in the US to inspire guests to really get into the spirit. One fact you could use: "In 2010, 4.8 percent of all U.S. households (5.6 million households) accessed emergency food from a food pantry one or more times."
Be sure to send out a thank you letter or email after your party to let your guests know how much they are appreciated! Also include information about how much was collected at the party so that your guests can know the impact they have had.
Make your holiday party something to be remembered and help families in your community by hosting a "party with a purpose" this year!
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