Wicker Lauds Volunteer Activities in Mississippi

WICKER LAUDS VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES IN MISSISSIPPI
Last week I participated in the 30th anniversary celebration of the Foster Grandparent Program in Lafayette County. The event was a fitting tribute to a remarkable program exemplifying the spirit of volunteerism that remains strong throughout the state of Mississippi.

I also recently met in Washington with Marsha Meeks Kelly, head of the Mississippi Commission on Volunteer Service. Her organization promotes community service and puts volunteers in touch with local organizations to meet local needs. She shared information about the involvement of Mississippians young and old in service activities that have strengthened our communities.

FOSTER GRANDPARENTS ACTIVE
The Foster Grandparent Program has been one of those key initiatives in our state. Volunteers over the age of 60 serve as mentors and caregivers to young people with special or exceptional needs. Nearly 100 volunteers provide 99,000 hours of volunteer service in the Lafayette County program each year. They tutor students to improve reading skills at area elementary schools, assist in special education classes, and offer encouragement to at-risk students who are repeat drop-outs or have had problems with drug and alcohol abuse.

The Lafayette County volunteers have the strong support of civic, business, and government leaders, and their work has been praised often over the past three decades.

SENIOR PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES
Ms. Kelly's Commission oversees two other activities that benefit from the talents of our senior citizens. The Senior Companion Program is designed to help seniors live independently. The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program provides persons 55 years and over with opportunities to use their skills and life experiences in widely-varying projects in their communities.

The AmeriCorps Program also has a strong presence in Mississippi. It is a network of community-based programs manned by Americans of all ages committed to helping people and improving the quality of life in their neighborhoods. AmeriCorps members work on initiatives involving education, public health, public safety, and housing.

The AmeriCorps involvement in education programs in Mississippi is extensive. Last year, its members were active in 183 schools, offering tutoring, mentoring, and after-school instruction. More than 24,000 students from kindergarten to middle school received one-on-one or small group tutoring assistance. Computer technology services and training were also provided to teachers and parents.

YOU CAN VOLUNTEER
Over the past year, the Commission for Volunteer Service has been able to maximize its resources, coordinating volunteer activities in 76 of our state's 82 counties. It is estimated that its 75,200 volunteers contributed 840,000 hours of service to helping others in Mississippi in 2003. Anyone wishing to join in this effort may reach the Commission in Jackson by calling 888-353-1793 toll-free or by visiting the website at www.mcvs.org.

These programs and the work of countless churches, civic clubs, and other non-profit organizations demonstrate that Mississippians believe in the power and the effectiveness of volunteer service.