Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) will celebrate the volunteers who improve the lives of Roanoke area residents during National Volunteer Week, a time dedicated to demonstrating to the nation that by working together, we have the fortitude to meet our challenges and accomplish our goals.
National Volunteer Week, April 10-16, 2016, is about taking action and encouraging individuals and their communities to be at the center of social change — discovering and demonstrating their collective power to make a difference.
In 2015, VCE engaged nearly 30,000 volunteers who provided more than 900,000 hours of volunteer service in the Commonwealth. VCE offers several Master volunteer programs that provide training opportunities in gardening and horticulture; food, nutrition, and safety; natural resources management; water supply systems; financial management; and energy conservation. More than 15,000 adult and youth volunteers served over 200,000 youth ages 5 to 19 in hands-on educational programs designed to build leadership, citizenship, and life skills in Virginia 4-H, VCE’s youth development program.
“We have tens of thousands of volunteers in the VCE family, and we appreciate and value each and every one,” said Edwin Jones, VCE director. “Without them, we could not make the difference that we are charged to make in the lives of the people of Virginia.”
Locally, 74 Roanoke Master Gardeners reached 4,754 residents in 2015 programs. Two free public events will occur during Nat. Volunteer week. On April 12 at 2:00 p.m. the Blue Ridge Library will host a presentation on Straw Bale Gardening, 28 Avery Row, Roanoke 24012. On April 14 at 6:30 p.m. the Hollins Branch library will host Dividing Perennials, 6624 Peters Creek Rd, Roanoke VA 24019
Established in 1974 National Volunteer Week has grown exponentially each year, with thousands of volunteer projects and special events scheduled throughout the week. With the seventh anniversary of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, the creation of the Volunteer Generation Fund, and President Obama’s resonant call to serve, this year will be even more inspiring.
About Virginia Cooperative Extension
VCE brings the resources of Virginia’s land-grant universities, Virginia Tech and Virginia State University, to the people of the commonwealth. Through a system of on-campus specialists and locally based agents, it delivers education in the areas of agriculture and natural resources, family and consumer sciences, community viability, and 4-H youth development. With a network of faculty at two universities, 107 county and city offices, 11 agricultural research and extension centers, and six 4-H educational centers, VCE provides solutions to the problems facing Virginians today.
