Arc of Orange County, NC

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Volunteer Services - "Make a Difference, Make a Friend!”

Welcome to the new department of Volunteer Services, directed by Susan Paul. The volunteer division brings back the Community Connections Program along with new varieties of ways volunteers and The Arc of Orange County can partner together to “Make a Difference!”

Community Connections Program is a special friendship that results when a volunteer is matched with an adult with a developmental disability. Together they form a community partnership spending a few hours each month exploring activities they both enjoy… eating out, going to the movies, playing sports. If you are over 18, and are interested in becoming a friend, please contact me.

The Arc Of Orange County’s Health and Wellness Cooking Class combines volunteers, Big DEAL participants and businesses in and about our community. Volunteer Head Chef Paige Koch plans and shops with an Arc adult each week teaching the Big DEAL cooking class how to prepare a healthy and delicious lunch! Volunteer high school assistant Josh Kim is on hand to assist with preparing healthy beverages or picking blueberries with his new friends at Frog Pond blueberry patch! Our field trips to nearby Maple View Ice Cream, Frog Pond Farms, and Spence’s Farm are free and offer an inside look how food is grown, ice cream is made and life on an organic farm. The proprietor of each graciously volunteers their time to host, tour and guide us through and answer all our questions.

Coming in October, Wednesday 15th 22nd and 29th for the first time, the Blue Ribbon Youth Leadership Institute will volunteer and offer three afternoons of fun, social and educational opportunities for The Arc’s middle and high schoolers. Orange County high school students volunteer earning service hours making an impact in their community through leadership and serving those in their community. This fall they have chosen The Arc as recipient of a learning program fostering friendship through social activities with an educational twist. If you are an Arc family and would like your child to participate in one of these afternoons, please contact me.

Best Buddies, UNC Campus has asked The Arc to collaborate with them beginning this fall semester. Best Buddies is an international organization that was founded by Anthony Kennedy Shriver that is “dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships.” I will be meeting with director, Gary Mesibov and their new chapter president in August to begin our new partnership. Please go to their website (www.bestbuddies.org) for additional background information and please if you are an Arc family and would like your family to participate, please contact me! (must be 18 years of age to participate in the program.)

I hope you look forward to hearing and exploring many of the exciting ways The Arc, our community and our dear and dedicated volunteers can make a difference!

To become an Arc Volunteer or to receive more information about the Volunteer Services Department, please contact Susan Paul at (919) 942-5119 ext. 111 or spaul@arcoforange.org.

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