Volunteer Newsletter
Fall 2019
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Nothing is as strong as the heart of a volunteer.
-Jimmy Doolittle
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In this issue:
- Over The Edge
- Back To School Bash
- Getting Students Involved- College Fairs
- Campaign Kickoff
- Volunteer Reception Center
- Volun-Beer- Health Pillar
Upcoming Events:
- Volun-Beer
- Stand Down
- Over The Edge 2020
- Volunteer Opportunities
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Over The Edge had 45 of volunteers providing 203 hours of donated time.
Volunteers helped over 40 people go "Over The Edge" for United Way.
We had volunteers in the staging room, on the roof and on the ground to help edger's have a fun and memorable experience. Without these volunteers, we wouldn't have been able to have such an amazing event. Thank you!
With the support of the Edger's, the community members, the volunteers and local businesses, United Way of Dubuque Area Tri-States was able to raise over $60,000. These funds will go towards the Community Impact fund, which provides funding to strong quality programs, focused on advancing the health, education and income/financial stability of those in need in our community.
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Thank you for such amazing support, we are stronger together!
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On
Saturday August 1st, 2019
, the community came together at Comiskey Park for the Back To School Bash. Women United and United Way provided a healthy snack, de-stress doodling, yoga, sensory bottle build, a reading corner and more.
Thank you to the volunteers who helped during the event, to Hy-Vee who donated all the snacks, food and water, and to Center of I Am who provided the stress stones and karate lessons!
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Getting Students Involved
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Looking for volunteer opportunities?
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Community involvement should begin early and we strive to ensure that our local students have that opportunity. Volunteering provides students with experience, connection, and the fulfillment of giving back to their community.
United Way is always excited to work with our local colleges and universities in order to get students involved in the community. This past month we had a chance to network with students and get them "connected" through our Get Connected Volunteer Portal. This portal provides the students with access to over 100 local non-profits with numerous volunteer needs. When creating a profile, the portal connects a volunteer's interests and skills with the needs in the community, so virtually all the information is at your fingertips!
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Campaign Kickoff-
United We Rock
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During this years annual campaign kickoff breakfast we had a live show featuring emcee Katie Weidemann and guests:
- Gary Dolphin & Jan Powers, United Way's Campaign Co-Chairs
- Bob Woodward from Woodward Communications & Katie Thomas from Honkamp Krueger & Co, P.C.
- Michele Kaiser, from John Deere Dubuque Works and United Way's Board Chair
- Carrie O'Connor from Iowa Legal Aid & Tracy Morrison from Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Dubuque.
- Music by Joie Booth of Joie Wails Band and Elizabeth Mary
With 200 people in attendance, the show included information on United Way. Thank you to everyone that attended!
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Volunteer Reception Center Training
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On Friday September 13
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2019 from 12-2 pm, community members interested in volunteering in the wake of a disaster, came out to the Jule Operations and Training Center in order to better prepare themselves for what would be expected of them in the wake of a disaster. Volunteer Reception Centers (VRC) are critical in managing spontaneous volunteers in any emergency/disaster response. The VRC assists in turning spontaneous volunteers into a united force and are crucial in avoiding a disaster within a disaster. To learn more about Volunteer Reception Centers, visit Get Connected or contact United Way.
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Volun-Beer: Health Pillar
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Did you know in Iowa:
1 in 9 people are struggling with hunger?
1 in 6 children are struggling with hunger?
According to health rankings, our 10-county service area has over 31,000 people struggling with food insecurity. Over 13,000 people have limited access to healthy foods.
With community support, over the last year our community has seen over 28,000 meals served to area youth and over 15,000 people provided with a hot breakfast for emergency food. To continue to fight food scarcity, volunteers came together at 7 Hills Event Center on Tuesday September 17th. 100 kits were created in order to provide healthy and nutritious food for the local community. The kits were distributed to:
The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Dubuque
The Dubuque Area Labor Harvest
The Salvation Army
Thanks to the volunteers that created these kits and to Alliant Energy Foundation for funding this project. With these kits individuals and families in the community will have access to healthy and nutritious food.
The impact of the kits created with food were so meaningful, one club member said, "Since the club is closed on the weekends, my family will have a meal this weekend at home." Another member stated, "I can share with my family and it will be a great weekend!"- Tom Sullivan
Stay tuned for upcoming Volun-Beer events for October and November!
October Volun-Beer event will be focused on early literacy and kits will include a book and literacy activities.
November Volun-Beer will be focused on income and kits will include basic needs items.
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Mark your calendars for our Over The Edge 2020 event for Friday June 26th, 2020! Stay tuned for more information
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Current Volunteer Opportunities
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The Dubuque Museum of Art's Annual Gala and Auction is the museum's largest fundraiser of the year! Celebrating and benefiting Iowa's oldest cultural institution, the evening includes exceptional dining, and entertainment.
All proceeds from the event directly benefit the museum's education and community outreach programs, which serve more than 12,000 people annually.
Volunteers are needed for registration, coat check, spotters for the live auction and check-out at the end of the evening.
4-4:30 pm will be training/introduction to your volunteer post. Volunteers are requested to be ready for the event by 4:30 pm. The event will conclude by 10:00 pm.
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Inspiration Stables' mission is to inspire hearts and hooves to build lasting relationships to promote wellness, healing, self-expression and meaning. Inspiration Stables provides therapeutic horseback riding and hippotherapy sessions for children with special needs to build physical strength, confidence, trust and meaningful connection. They are hosting their first Power of the Herd 24- Hour Ride-A-Thon, which will take place on Friday September 27th and Saturday September 28th. Looking for a fun way to give back, check out this opportunity.
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The Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Gardens is hosting its annual Fall Cleanups. Come help us get our gardens ready for the winter!
Saturday, October 19, 9-12
Saturday, October 26, 9-12
A free lunch will be provided at noon inside the Visitor Center. But please email me or call the Arboretum at 563-556-2100 to let us know you’re coming so we can provide enough gloves, tools, and food!
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