A Note from VIP Supervisor Corina Sadler, CVA
A Fall Full of Service in Plano
This year has been filled with new partnerships and moments of impactful giving by our City volunteers and staff. It is impossible to capture all of our stories, from volunteers who ensure every dog at the Plano Animal Shelter is walked to Police volunteers patrolling our neighborhoods. City staff recently collected and donated 200 coats and 50 blankets to Streetside Showers to keep our homeless neighbors warm this winter season. I hope this newsletter provides you with a glimpse into the work our volunteers and staff do, along with the value they add to the City of Plano. Each of these individuals showcase how our City thrives through service. As we look toward 2020, we will continue to create dynamic partnerships between the community and our City through volunteerism.

With Gratitude,
Corina Sadler, CVA
Get Involved
Check out these opportunities to volunteer with the City of Plano.
Find other volunteer opportunities at volunteersinplano.org.
The Interurban Railway Museum
The Interurban Railway Museum needs volunteers who are interested in serving their community by acting as museum docents and tour guides. Learn about Plano's history while you teach visitors of all ages at this unique history museum located in Historic Downtown Plano. Volunteers should ideally be able to commit to one 5-hour shift per week. Spanish-language fluency is a plus. To learn more, visit interurbanrailwaymuseum.org/volunteer .

Help Plano with Census 2020
Support Census efforts by volunteering. Volunteers provide language support at events so staff can reach more residents. Languages needed are : Spanish, Mandarin, Hindi, Arabic, Farsi and Vietnamese.
We also need volunteers to help at Census booths in stores, apartment complexes or community fairs. Help explain the Census process to the public or pass out flyers. Join us and become a Census Ambassador! If interested, contact Corina at corinas@plano.gov or call 972-941-7617.

Special Events
Interested in volunteering for one-time events in Plano? Email volunteersinplano@plano.gov to be added to the Special Event List to hear about City of Plano, Visit Plano and area events.

More Opportunities
Learn about other volunteer opportunities by visiting our website .

At Volunteers in Plano
Congratulations to VIP Supervisor Corina Sadler, CVA, who recently received AL!VE's Emerging Leader Award for her work with Volunteers in Plano. The Association of Leaders in Volunteer Engagement, a national organization of professionals who work in volunteer engagement, recognized Corina with this award for her exceptional leadership and knowledge in the field of volunteer resources administration. She received the award at the 2019 IMPACT Awards presentation at the 2019 Volunteer Management Hybrid Conference.

Corina started working with VIP 11 years ago and is continually helping City of Plano staff build relationships with Plano residents. She says the part she loves most is seeing these relationships build impactful programs that serve the community.
On October 23, Volunteers in Plano hosted the Volunteer Management Hybrid Conference at the Plano Event Center for 30 volunteer administrators from 13 nonprofit organizations and seven municipalities including Fort Worth, McKinney, Coppell, Dallas, Southlake and Denton. The Volunteer Management Hybrid Conference is an annual event presented by AL!VE and Better Impact Inc.

This event live-streamed for over 1,000 attendees at 48 sites across North America. VIP has hosted this event five times and is a leader in encouraging collaboration and growth among volunteer administrators in our region.
Sharing the Story of Volunteers in Plano
In October, Corina Sadler spoke to over 400 National Honor Society students at Plano West Senior High School about volunteerism and service. Students learned about Corina's story of service and how to get involved in their community. Volunteering in the community is a great way for high school students to build social skills, empathy and learn more about causes interesting to them.
City of Plano In the Community
Team Plano Keeps Neighbors Warm This Winter
Team Plano came together for a successful Coat and Blanket Drive collecting 200 coats and 50 blankets for donation to Streetside Showers , a nonprofit organization providing mobile hot showers and hygiene care to those in need. Thanks to Plano staff, hundreds of people will stay warm during cold winter months.

Special thanks to staff from the following departments who helped with collections:

  • Cheryl Maggiore (Records Management)
  • Marla Kreager (Library)
  • Coffy Robinson (Parks & Recreation)
  • Jerrick Younger (Police)
  • Sheryl Campbell (Police Records)
  • Peggy Harrell (Plano Fire-Rescue)
A Sneak Peak into Life at the City of Plano
Victor Flores, assistant city attorney participated in a government panel at the University of Texas at Dallas. Students received an inside look into what it's like to work for the City of Plano.
Organizations Give Back to Plano
VIP builds strong relationships with businesses and community organizations wanting to volunteer with the City of Plano. There are opportunities for groups to serve in a variety of ways in our departments. Thank you to the following businesses and student groups who teamed up for volunteering!
Key Staff at Davis Library
Market Street at Haggard Library
Hewlett Packard Enterprise at Davis Library
Hewlett Packard Enterprise at Haggard Library
Hewlett Packard Enterprise at Schimelpfenig Library
Bank of America at Davis Library
Dallas Cowboys Pro Shop at Davis Library
State Farm at Harrington Library
Special Recognition
Congratulations to Live Green in Plano Volunteers Annika Jyothi, Patrick Christmas and Ed Atiyeh for winning Environmental Community Awards! 

Compelled to take action against litter found near her school and the creek next to her home, Annika (pictured above) coordinated a series of litter cleanups, which she called "Clean, Green Movement." These cleanups removed hundreds of pounds of trash and created awareness to the issues caused by litter.

Ed and Patrick established a self-sustaining, organic orchard at the Plano Community Garden. As the trees mature they will produce healthy fruit. Future harvests will be donated to local food banks. In addition, the trees provide numerous environmental benefits, such as absorbing carbon from the atmosphere and attracting pollinators.

VIP Teens Receive Highest Scouting Ranks
Each year, scouts across Plano work hard to receive their top respective scouting awards by their 18th birthday. This fall, two Plano scouts worked with VIP to select and complete their final projects.
Pranay Shah Encourages Play at Davis Library
"I selected the Jenga set and Soma cube as my Eagle Scout project because I wanted to create a unique activity that would be widely used at a public place. Davis Library was a large part of my childhood and I wanted to give back to a place that has given me so much. Becoming Eagle Scout means a lot to me because I joined Cub Scouts back in first grade, over 10 years ago. It shows how much I have changed and my journey through the years."
Margaret Zhuang Educates Kids About Service through Art
"My Gold Award project, Coloring for a Cause strove to change the issue of dwindling participation and volunteerism in our communities. I handmade three versions of the coloring book with entertaining story lines, which followed characters on their volunteering journey and the impacts on the community. With the help of the Plano Parks and Recreation, I distributed over 300 copies at libraries, fairs and other children’s events."
Plano Stages Volunteer Recognition
Plano Stages volunteers took a trip around the world during their annual volunteer appreciation dinner. This Team of volunteers serves as ushers and are integral in providing a positive experience for guests of the many shows at Plano Stages. Volunteer John Reas (far right) received special recognition and his name listed on the Center Stage plaque for outstanding volunteerism.
Sam Johnson Recreation Center for Adults 50+
Partners with Collin College
For the first time, the Sam Johnson Recreation Center for Adults 50+ and Volunteers in Plano partnered with Collin College's culinary arts program to provide students a meaningful service learning opportunity. Students worked alongside gazebo cafe volunteers to prepare lunches and desserts served to over 100 members every day. Thank you Collin College and Collin College students for your service!
Plano Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association
Creates Wall of Honor
The Plano Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association (PCPAAA) recently designed and created its new Wall of Honor located at the Plano/Richardson Training Academy. The display honors members, past, present and future, whose outstanding contributions have contributed to the ongoing success of the organization. Included on the display wall is a 4’ X 6’ framed “Thin Blue Line Flag” dedicated to the Plano Police department.
Non-Profits Seeking Support
Each year, Communities Foundation of Texas creates a holiday volunteer guide for individuals, families and businesses interested in holiday service opportunities. Download the guide here .

Trusted World is a non-profit that provides clothing, non-perishable food and personal care items to other local non-profit organizations who are prominent authorities and passionate advocates for individuals in need of assistance. They serve 300 nonprofit organizations, many located in Collin County. Learn more here.

Volunteers make up more than 90% of the Red Cross North Texas workforce, allowing them to serve their mission 24/7/365. The Red Cross depends on volunteers like you to ensure their communities are prepared for disasters, help ease suffering caused by emergencies, support military families and much more. As a Red Cross volunteer, you will have the opportunity to make an impact in your community in a role fitting your interests and availability. Learn more here.