Matching Volunteers to Service in Northwest Mississippi

We are here to help you, the volunteer, find a volunteer opportunity that you are passionate about.

We are here to help you, the non-profit organization, publicize volunteer opportunities and recruit volunteers. 


News & Events:

PRESIDENT'S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARDS BANQUET, MAY 1, 2012:

Please join us in celebrating our 2012 President's Volunteer Service Award winners:

Back row from left:
Erma Cathey-Oliver, Vivian Berryhill, Jay Perkins, Ginger Armistead, Jane Roberson, Charles Reid, Kathy Morris, Lisa Sparks, Jill Morris, Lin Workman, Reginald Boyce, Joe Azar, Jimmy Caldwell, Dewayne Williams, Jessica Randle, Votie Holmes, Constance Payne (accepting for Harvey Payne, Sr.)
Front Row from left:
Peggy Bordelon, Brenda Wiggs, Phyllis Williams, Shelia Pounders (accepting in memory of Bobbie Jean Pounders), Stephanie McKinney, and Tonja Caldwell.
Not pictured:
Walter Matlock and Lee Otis Smith

Coahoma County: Charles F. Reid; Desoto County: Ginger Armistead, Vivian Berryhill, Reginald Boyce, Erma Cathey-Oliver, Walter Matlock, Jill Morris, Kathy Morris, Jessica Randle, Lisa Sparks, Dewayne Williams, and Lin Workman Marshall County:  Stephanie McKinney, Harvey Payne Sr. Panola County:  Joe Azar, Bobbie Jean Pounders,  Jimmy Caldwell, Tonja Caldwell Quitman County:  Brenda Atkinson Wiggs Tallahatchie County: Peggy Bordelon, Jane Roberson Tate County:  Jay Perkins, Lee Otis Smith, Phyllis Williams  Tunica County: Votie Holmes. 

The Awards Banquet was May 1, 2012 at the Gale Center, 2601 Elm Street, Hernando, Mississippi at 6:00PM.  

This year's speaker was Dr. Linell Fromm, the new Executive Director of the Mississippi Center for Nonprofits. 

Dr. Fromm has owned her own consulting company, The Fromm Group, since 1986 and has served as manager of leadership and education for Nonprofits First in Boynton Beach, FL in addition to working with CanedCom International based in Sri Lanka, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and as a consultant to the Director's Office of the County of San Diego Department of Health Services.

For six years she served as the public member of the San Diego Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) spending her last year as chair-woman. Dr. Fromm also served as executive director of family planning clinics in Yolo County (Davis-Woodland, CA). She was also executive director of the San Diego AIDS Project, a full service community education and client-centered social service program. During the 1980s and 1990s, the AIDS Project was San Diego's premier provider of services to the AIDS community and the leading HIV education provider. Prior to that assignment, Dr. Fromm was director of development and public affairs officer at The Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla. Dr. Fromm was a member of the City of San Diego Public Arts Advisory Commission.

Dr. Fromm earned a doctorate of education (EdD) in leadership and organization development from the University of San Diego; a master of public health (MPH) from the University of California Berkeley; and a master of public administration (MPA) from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. She holds an academic certificate in human resources management from San Diego State University. Trained at the Fund Raising School and the Grantsmanship Center, she holds the certified fund raising executive (CFRE) designation from the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

A frequent reviewer and panel committee member for competitive grants and proposals, Dr. Fromm has participated in the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Fire Service grant award program; Cal-TIP technical review; Fulbright undergraduate, Scholar and Junior Faculty Development Programs; and Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship program.

Dr. Fromm, a Fulbright Scholar to Ukraine in 2003-2004, received a Fulbright Scholar award to Ukraine for 2005. Specializing in public administration, public health and the management of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), she was working in Kiev, Ukraine at Kiev Polytechnic Institute.

               
DESOTO COUNTY EARTH DAY 2012:

Date: Saturday, April 21, 2012

Time: 10:00AM-2:00PM

Location: on the Square in Hernando

Hosted by: The City of Hernando, City of Olive Branch, City of Southaven, City of Walls, and Desoto County Board of Supervisors, Desoto Greenways, Desoto County Extension Service, Desoto County Soil and Water Conservation, and Volunteer Northwest Mississippi.

This event is free to the public and to vendors.

The Day will focus on Energy Efficiency, Resource Conservation, and Sustainable Living.  There will be activities for everyone including a scavenger hunt, children and adult workshops and programs, a moon bounce, face painting, and more! The Desoto Arts Council Contest and DeSoto County Anti-Litter Contest winners will be announced.

The Hernando Farmer's market will be a part of Earth Day 2012. 

LIGHT IT UP BLUE- AUTISM AWARENESS EVENT:

On Monday, April 2, 2012 the Interact Club of Hernando High School, in partnership with Volunteer Northwest Mississippi, hosted a Community Event supporting World Autism Awareness on the Square in Hernando.  This is an international event that Hernando and DeSoto County will be  a part of.  For more information on the international event, visit www.lightitupblue.org.
Businesses on the square and the county buildings will be changing out their exterior bulbs to blue to honor this event.  KC Johns will provide music for the event, including a cover of the song "Rainbow" written for World Autism Awareness Day.
The Hernando Mayor's  office will present a proclamation declaring April 2nd Autism Awareness Day in Hernando.  There will be several activities for children including crafts, moon bounces and face painting.
Dr. Williamson and Dr. Johnson from Integrated Health Services will be on hand to talk with parents about therapies offered at their practice and have information on Camp B.O.L.D.
Papa Johns of Hernando will also be sponsoring a World Record Breaking Pizza Eating Contest. 
Hernando High School Cheerleaders will also perform. 

Please come out and help us spread the word on Autism Awareness and support those who are affected by Autism. 

For more information, contact Anna Dickerson at 662.449.5002.


MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY OF SERVICE:

The MLK Day of Service, Reflection, and Art was held at all of the local libraries  and was a huge success!  Thank you to First Regional Libraries and TeachUp! Mississippi for all of your hard work.  Families attended events at the libraries in Hernando, Olive Branch, Southaven, Horn Lake, Walls, Holly Springs, and Coldwater the weekend of January 14, 2012 to celebrate the life and mission of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Children enjoyed story time at each location and had the opportunity to color inspirational sheets relating to MLK's life.  Children also participated in a writing station where they wrote about their dreams.  A "Pledge of Tolerance" was also available to each branch.  Volunteers, children, parents, and guests signed off on the pledge and promised to exercise tolerance and embrace all people, regardless of race, color, or creed. 

For more information on this event or future events, contact Anna Dickerson, the Director of Volunteer Northwest Mississippi at 662.449.5002 or volunteer@cfnm.org. 
Like us on Facebook!