ANY VOLUNTEERS?: ORGANIZATIONS LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO HELP OUT

GRAPHCI - SOME CAPE GIRARDEAU GROUPS OPEN TO VOLUNTEERS

People serious about answering President Clinton's recent call to service will not have to look far in Cape Girardeau for organizations that need volunteers.

Many city civic and service organizations say they desperately need more help. From greeting senior citizens at the Senior Center to tutoring young children, there's plenty to do.

Susan McClanahan, administrator for the Cape Girardeau Senior Center, said she could use an extra hand or two.

Actually, she said she could use 25 to 30 more sets of hands to add to the other 100 or so that help with the center's various programs, from the noon meal to the homebound program.

There is a waiting list of people requesting meals through the homebound meal program, McClanahan said. That involves taking meals to seniors who are unable to leave their homes to go to the center.

"But there aren't enough vehicles for us to use or enough people to drive them," she said.

And while a paid staff actually prepares the food at the center, volunteers serve the food, greet folks and pour drinks. The center serves 42,000 meals a year and is open 260 days annually, McClanahan said. The center is paid only on a donation basis, she said.

McClanahan said more young people should volunteer at the center because the seniors enjoy their company. A volunteer can work as little or as much as she or he wants, McClanahan said.

The job is very gratifying, she said.

"To be a volunteer, you have to be an extremely unselfish, very giving person. You have to love being around other people, and most volunteers tend to put other people first."

Southeast Missouri State University students wanting to volunteer might wish to consider the AmeriCorps national service program.

Locally, AmeriCorps emphasizes education, said Kathy Patterson, a social work practicum student at the university chapter of AmeriCorps.

At various elementary schools, AmeriCorps volunteers tutor at-risk children, among other things.

"It's very gratifying," Patterson said. "It's a reciprocated learning process. Not only are the kids learning from you, you are learning from them."

Senior citizens with spare time could spend time serving in nursing homes, schools and other places with the Retired Senior Volunteer Program.

Ginger Daffron, assistant to the administrator of RSVP, said people older than 55 can be volunteers in the organization.

"The volunteers really enjoy being around other people and there will always be a need for them," Daffron said.

While many organizations express a need for more volunteers, there is no organization that coordinates the use of volunteers of all ages, said Nancy Jernigan, director of the area-wide United Way.

Such a group could help people who want to volunteer find a place for their skills, Jernigan said. She said she'd like to see such an organization formed.

"This community has a number of people who do volunteer but we have people who want to volunteer but don't know where to go," Jernigan said.

While it would require a vote of her board, Jernigan suspects the United Way might help fund an organization like this.

"There's something missing if you don't take time to help those who are less fortunate," she said.

She said an organization should be formed so that children can learn at an early age the importance of helping others.

"My children have no idea what other less fortunate children just three blocks away are going through," she said. "I'd like them to be able to share what they have with those children but I don't know how. There's a real need."

United Way volunteers are mostly used during campaigns but she says the organization is always looking for extra hands. More organizations should consider using volunteers, Jernigan said.

"There's really nothing a volunteer couldn't do."

SOME CAPE GIRARDEAU GROUPS OPEN TO VOLUNTEERS

Americorps

United Way

Teen Challenge Auxiliary

Community Caring Council

American Red Cross

St. Francis medical Auxiliary

Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)

FISH Volunteer Group of Cape Girardeau

Habitat for Humanity