Community News

»Gown Town helps ensure all students can be dressed to impress at prom. Gown Town provides free dresses, suits and accessories to high school students who have a school I.D.

http://newsroom.usd259.org/modules/groups/homepagefiles/gwp/1521178/1517498/File/1112Express/20120206Express.pdf?sessionid=eae3616baa429bdc3a4c2648eac02a14

»Project: Join hundreds of area youth to make a difference during Spring Break. Complete project list will be available beginning Thursday, Feb. 16 at unitedwayplains.org/youthdaysofcaring.

Agency: Variety

Date: March 19 - 23; registration starts Monday, Feb. 20

Minimum age: 12 (depends on project)

Contact: United Way Volunteer Center, 267-0202 
 
 
http://www.unitedwayplains.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=47&Itemid=237

»Saint Francis Community Services (SFCS), a 501c3 non-profit child welfare agency, has recently partnered with Home Depot stores in Kansas through the “Home Depot—Framing Hope” program.  This program will directly benefit families in your local community!  SFCS will match the needs of families with the household and home repair donated items from Home Depot.   The families will be eligible for donations and assistance with repairs due to one or more of the following factors:  low-income, “Kinship Families” who are raising the child of a family member and have home repair and/or home safety needs,  families who want to become foster parents but who have home repairs that need to be done before their house will pass inspection, families who are at-risk of having their children placed into the child welfare system and have urgent home repair or home safety needs, and low-income elderly persons.  Volunteers are needed to assist in the following ways:

 1.    Storage: Local donated storage space is needed to house the donated items until they can be distributed.

 2.    Transportation:  Assistance is needed to help pick-up donations from Home Depot. SFCS is also seeking assistance to transport the donations to storage and to deliver to the home. 

 3.    Minor Household Repairs: SFCS is looking for assistance to help with minor household repairs (lower skills) for projects such as installing deadbolts, caulking, replacing screens in doors, etc.

 4.    Intermediate-Skill Household Repairs: Assistance is needed to help perform more challenging household repairs (intermediate to higher level skills) such as replacing/installing windows and doors, fixing roof leaks, installing gutters, replacing old handrails, etc.

SFCS is counting on community volunteers in Wichita, Hutchinson and Hays to help make the Saint Francis and Home Depot “Framing Hope” program successful in these areas.  Thank you for considering how you can help!

For more information, please contact:

Jennie Humann, SFCS Grants and In-Kind Donations:  785-200-7066, jennie.humann@st-francis.org

Mark Claussen, SFCS Director of Development: 785-410-0361, mark.claussen@st-francis.org

»Would you like to learn about potential careers in the legal profession... and get paid for it?

The Wichita Bar Association, a non-profit organization of attorneys in the Wichita area, has a perfect opportunity for Wichita area students entering their senior year of high school in the fall of 2012 who answer “yes” to that question. The Bar Association’s Summer Intern Committee will be accepting applications from students interested in participating during the summer of 2012.

http://www.wichitabar.org/resources/summerinternprogram.php

 
»Employees and high school students can get involved in the Bigs in Schools program. Bigs in Schools matches children one-on-one with caring, carefully screened adults or high school volunteers to be a friend, role model, and guide.

http://newsroom.usd259.org/modules/groups/homepagefiles/gwp/1521178/1517498/File/1112Express/20110919Express.pdf?sessionid=1feed603fdd87b2a456f19dbe288fb5a


»Less than a year after the long-running and popular Biddy Basketball program was dropped by the Salvation Army, it has found a new home.  The program, that has helped groom some of Wichita’s finest athletes, will be based at Champion Church, 1156 N. Oliver.  They’re currently recruiting players, coaches, officials and volunteers for a season scheduled to begin November 1.

The league is open to players ages 4 – 14 with a cost per person of $90.  Registration continues through Oct. 15.

 An initial registration session held in August netted more than 120 individuals and 10 teams.  It was dwindling participation and economic losses that led to the Salvation Army cancelling the program it has sponsored locally for nearly 50 years.  The league had dwindled down to about 60 teams, a long way from the 200 plus teams the league boasted during the height of its popularity.

 To help players get off to a good start, the league has scheduled a basketball fundamentals skills clinic, Oct. 12 – 26, 5 to 6:30 p.m.  The workshop is for players ages 4 – 8 and the cost is $25 per person.

 In addition to players and coaches, the league is looking for officials, gym supervisors, score keepers and learning center teachers.

Want to learn more about the league, stop by their open house, Sat., Sept. 17, Noon to 3 p.m., at 1156 N. Oliver.  League representatives can be reached by telephone at 807-7717.

 Source: The Community Voice, September 8, 2011

»A new local non-profit has organized, and partnered with the City of Wichita, to offer free after school programs at McAdams Recreation Center.  The program which begins Mon., Sept. 12, will be open from 3:30 – 7 p.m., Monday – Friday.  McAdams Recreation Center is located at 1329 E. 16^th St.

Organized programs will include academics, nutrition, fitness and sports.  In addition, there will be homework assistance, tutoring, fitness challenges, mentoring and programs for those with developmental challenges.  Daily snacks will also be provided.

 All regular activities will be provided free of charge.  Some special programs, offered on an occasional basis, may involve a fee.

 Students must register for the program by calling 648-2237.  Volunteers are also needed.  If you’re interested in volunteering, contact Jose at 648-2237.

 Source: The Community Voice, September 8, 2011

 See also: http://wichita.craigslist.org/vol/2567725820.html

»Currently we are seeking 5K Race Day Volunteers for the weekend of November 6, 2011.

Day of Event Volunteers Needed:

• Food/Drink Stations
• Cheer Zone Stations
• Event Set Up/Clean Up
• Managing Water Stations
• Medical/Aid Station Standby
• Registration/Packet Pick Up
• Course Leader and Assistants
• Course Marshals and Followers
• Awards/Posting Results
• Finish Line Assistants
• ...and much more!

 Source: http://www.volunteermatch.org/search/opp908003.jsp

»For Juniors and Seniors

Wichita Parks and Recreation is seeking volunteers to help with their play day on Saturday, September 17^th.  This is a free event that will benefit families in the Wichita community.  Volunteers are needed to help set-up (8a.m.-12p.m.), to work the event by running games (1p.m.-4p.m.) and for clean-up (4p.m.-6p.m.)  Please contact Stacey Hamm by e-mailing her at shamm@wichita.gov to register to volunteer. 

 Source: http://www.bcchs.org/dailybulletin/daily%20bulletin%2008-31-2011.doc

 See also: http://www.wichita.gov/NR/rdonlyres/E41C21D9-35D9-46AB-A0FD-76E81F23066A/0/PlayDayFlier2011.pdf

»Wichita, KS – Wichita Independent Neighborhoods, Inc. (WIN) is proud to announce registration is open for the 10th Annual 2011 WIN Neighborhood University Conference taking place on September 17, 2011 at Century II Convention Hall. The one day conference provides an excellent opportunity for neighborhoods and communities from across the state to share their knowledge, experience and vision on how to make Sedgwick County and Wichita, Kansas communities and neighborhoods-the neighborhoods of choice. This year’s conference theme is “Waves of Change – Oceans of Opportunity: for Good Health, Good Living & Good Relationships”, and will feature plenary session speaker City of Wichita Vice Mayor and Councilwoman LaVonta Williams and keynote speaker Congressman Mike Pompeo, information-packed workshops, networking opportunities, exhibits, and a component for engaging youth in their communities called the Youth Summit.

Source: http://www.win-nuconference.com/pb/wp_f9c267dd/wp_f9c267dd.html

»FREE Nonprofit Training Workshop, September 20-23 2011 (various locations)
The Kansas Volunteer Commission is pleased to host a free workshop, facilitated by Dr. Sue Hyatt, founder of Business Nonprofit CONNECTIONS, Inc.  The workshop will be held in four different locations - topics to be announced soon!

Sept 20:  Dodge City, KS/Dodge City Public Library/1001 N 2nd Avenue
Sept 21:  Hays, KS/Fort Hays University, Memorial Union, Stouffer Lounge, Rm 222/ 600 Park Street
Sept 22:  Wichita, KS/Big Brothers Big Sisters/310 E 2nd Street (meeting room)
Sept 23:  Lawrence, KS/Maceli's Ball Room/1031 new Hampshire

 Source: http://www.ksde.org/Default.aspx?tabid=4549