Volunteers appreciation event includes ice cream social

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Lynn Aird
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  To recognize the philanthropic efforts of members of Team Vance, the Airman & Family Readiness Center is holding its annual volunteer appreciation event from 5:30 until 6:30 p.m., April 23, at Eisenhower elementary school on base. 

The recipient of the Vance Volunteer Excellence Award will be announced. 

"In the past we've had some formal ceremonies, but this year we want to do a more casual event so that families and children will feel comfortable being there," said Terri Presa, community resource consultant with the A&FRC. An ice cream social is included in the schedule. 

"Because of the work they do on base and in the community, we want to recognize all the volunteers we have on the base," said Ms. Presa. All volunteers are invited to the event.
Volunteer opportunities at Vance and in the Enid community are numerous. On base, the Special Olympics, the Thrift Shop and Camp Tomahawk are some of the choices available to those interested in lending a hand. The A&FRC has a list of 30 volunteer organizations in Enid. 

"When you give back to others, it enriches your life. We want all Team Vance members to be a part of that. We brief newcomers and give them a volunteer resource list when they first arrive," said Ms. Presa. "We see it as a partnership - Vance and the Enid community supporting one another." 

The Enid Public School district has been partnered with Vance for several years through the Adopt-a-School program. Each year squadrons on base are paired with local schools in an effort to offset the needs of the students. 

"At the beginning of this school year, Vance hosted a luncheon for the school principals to hear the schools' needs and figure out what the volunteers could do to help out," said Amber Fitzgerald, director of school and community relations for the Enid Public School district. "We were able to get all but two of the schools adopted." 

Squadron volunteers have participated in activities ranging from after school tutoring programs to school maintenance and upkeep. 

"Our Vance volunteers are always flexible and are willing to go wherever they are needed," said Ms. Fitzgerald. "They recognize that the needs of children change and always rise to the occasion. We're grateful for that. They're excellent role models and we see a tremendous impact on the students, who really benefit from that one-on-one attention." 

Organizations such as the American Red Cross also benefit greatly from volunteerism. "Our volunteers drive the organization," said Michael Pokorny, deputy director of the Cimarron Valley chapter of the American Red Cross. "Here, we have a corps of about 150. They take the place of individuals we would otherwise have to pay." 

"There's a part of the human spirit that wants to help when we recognize that others are suffering. When someone puts down their day-to-day routine to help others, it says something about them," said Mr. Pokorny. 

Another local organization that draws the majority of its support from volunteers is Hope Outreach, in particular, the Earn While You Learn program. Earn While You Learn teaches free parenting classes to first time mothers and fathers, covering areas such as pre-natal care, post-birth care, discipline and life-skills. 

"Volunteers are our lifeblood. We only keep three paid employees in the program," said Anne Price, director of the parenting ministry. "We average about 65 clients a week and usually have around 30 volunteers, several of which are from Vance." 

For more information about the volunteer appreciation event or volunteer opportunities at Vance or in the Enid community, call Ms. Presa, 213-7120.