The official Web site of Volunteer Florida and Florida AmeriCorps http://www.volunteerflorida.org info@volunteerflorida.org (Volunteer Florida) Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'" Each year, Americans across the country answer that question by coming together to serve their neighbors and communities. http://www.volunteerflorida.org/stories/2010/MLKDay info@volunteerflorida.org (Volunteer Florida) This week, the Corporation for National and Community Service is joining the National Service-Learning Partnership and more than 100 national service-learning leaders, educators, and community advocates to kick off the 4th Annual National Learn & Serve Challenge. This year-long opportunity acknowledges and encourages all that youth do in service. It promotes service-learning -- a proven means to harness the vitality and skills young people possess to improve our neighborhoods, revitalize our communities and make education relevant and effective. http://www.learnandserve.gov/about/programs/challenge.asp info@volunteerflorida.org (Volunteer Florida) The Great VISIT FLORIDA Beach Walk will be held Saturday, November 6. It will be a fun day for residents and volunteers to “Share a Little Sunshine” by taking photos of their favorite Florida beach and uploading them to ShareaLittleSunshine.org. The goal of the Beach Walk is to showcase these images so that when combined they serve as a real-time depiction of all 825 miles of Florida’s beaches. This will allow the Sunshine State to put an end to any doubts in the minds of visitors anywhere in the world that every single one of Florida’s beautiful beaches are in fact clean, clear and open for business. http://www.visitflorida.com/beachwalk info@volunteerflorida.org (Volunteer Florida) Neighborhood Disaster Tabletop Exercises for CERTs, Neighborhood Watch Programs and Neighborhood Associations and others. A unique group of disaster preparedness organizations invites Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) and Neighborhood Watch programs along with Neighborhood Associations to participate in one of the scheduled disaster tabletop exercises being facilitated via the internet. http://www.drc-group.com/project/footprint.html info@volunteerflorida.org (Volunteer Florida) DMD is a national initiative of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) that is organized in Florida by The Able Trust and statewide partners. What began in 1999 as part of a White House effort to increase the profile of Disability Employment Awareness Month has now become an international effort to connect students and job seekers with disabilities with volunteer business mentors for a one-day job shadowing experience. http://www.abletrust.org/ndmd/_doc/DMD-2010-Fact-Sheet.pdf info@volunteerflorida.org (Volunteer Florida) Honoring Young People in Middle & High School For Outstanding Volunteer Service To Their Communities http://www.volunteerflorida.org/InOtherNews.html#one info@volunteerflorida.org (Volunteer Florida) The Great VISIT FLORIDA Beach Walk will be held Saturday, November 6. It will be a fun day for residents and volunteers to “Share a Little Sunshine” by taking photos of their favorite Florida beach and uploading them to ShareaLittleSunshine.org. http://www.volunteerflorida.org/beachwalk info@volunteerflorida.org (Volunteer Florida) Visit the Volunteer Florida Web site for everything you need to apply for AmeriCorps funding in 2010! http://www.volunteerflorida.org/grantinfo.html info@volunteerflorida.org (Volunteer Florida) Volunteer Florida is working closely with the State Emergency Operations Center in order to provide the most current information regarding the oil spill. Visit Volunteer Florida's disaster site for the most up-to-date information. http://www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org info@volunteerflorida.org (Volunteer Florida) On March 23, 2010, Governor Charlie Crist and the Florida Cabinet officially designated April as Florida Volunteer Month. The Cabinet Resolution, sponsored by Attorney General Bill McCollum, is the official kick-off of the monthlong Florida Volunteer Month celebration! http://www.volunteerflorida.org info@volunteerflorida.org (Volunteer Florida) THE GOVERNOR'S COMMISSION on Volunteerism and Community Service, Volunteer Florida, is proud to sponsor the 6th Annual Florida Volunteer Month! Each April, Florida celebrates the volunteers that improve lives and communities across the state, and encourages Floridians who have not discovered the joys of volunteering to join the volunteer movement! http://www.volunteerflorida.org/VFsites/FVM2010 info@volunteerflorida.org (Volunteer Florida) Celebrating its seventh year as a signature community service project of Volunteer Florida, 6 Days 6 Ramps reaches out to persons with disabilities to join in the service project to learn about AmeriCorps and how the power of an individual can change lives forever. http://www.6days6ramps.org info@volunteerflorida.org (Volunteer Florida) AmeriCorps is an exciting opportunity to bring new funding for nonprofit organizations working in the areas of education, human needs, the environment, public safety, and homeland security to your community. Please join Volunteer Florida at one of three regional workshops to learn more about the application process and what types of grants are available. RSVP to anitra@volunteerflorida.org. http://www.volunteerflorida.org info@volunteerflorida.org (Volunteer Florida) Visit the Volunteer Florida Web site for everything you need to apply for AmeriCorps funding in 2010! http://www.volunteerflorida.org/americorps.html info@volunteerflorida.org (Volunteer Florida) Volunteer Florida encourages you to donate wisely to support Haiti earthquake relief operations. For a review of trusted charitable organizations, check out Charity Navigator (www.charitynavigator.org) or GuideStar. (www.guidestar.org) Center for International Disaster Information: (www.cidi.org) CIDI has a database to register your offer of assistance for Haiti earthquake relief. AidMatrix Foundation: (aidmatrix.org) AidMatrix Foundation is partnering with non-government organizations providing relief in Haiti by managing offers of donations. It has a database to register your offer of assistance for Haiti earthquake relief, and can provide you a list of medical and other relief supplies requested by response organizations. SERVFL for Medical Volunteers: (www.servfl.com) SERVFL is the State of Florida's online system for managing public health and medical disaster responders (volunteers and staff teams). If you are licensed medical professional interested in volunteering, register on this site. http://www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org info@volunteerflorida.org (Volunteer Florida) Collecting donated items after a disaster has hidden pitfalls. See the Volunteer Florida in-kind donation information sheet for more details. (PDF, 57K) http://www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org/documents/donation_drive_infosheet.pdf info@volunteerflorida.org (Volunteer Florida) Yesterday, Haiti was hit with a powerful 7.0 earthquake. Reports are still coming in of the devastation that has occured in and around Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince. Volunteer Florida is providing the following links for more information and how you can help. http://www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org info@volunteerflorida.org (Volunteer Florida) Volunteer Florida is pleased to partner with the Florida Department of Children and Families to announce its Notice of Funding Availability of disaster relief funds for the reimbursement for disaster social services. http://www.volunteerflorida.org/SSBG/SSBG.html info@volunteerflorida.org (Volunteer Florida) January 18, 2010 is the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Start planning your MLK Day project now, or find a project in which to participate! Visit the Volunteer Florida Web site for more information. http://www.volunteerflorida.org/VFsites/MLKDay/index.html info@volunteerflorida.org (Volunteer Florida) Acclaimed oral history project stresses stories of service in 2009 commemoration. http://www.volunteerflorida.org/stories/2009/NDL/ndl.html info@volunteerflorida.org (Volunteer Florida) The Florida Medical Reserve Corps Network is comprised of both medical and non-medical volunteers that help augment Florida's First Responders during disasters. Do you want to make a real difference in the lives of all Floridians? Learn more! http://www.volunteerflorida.org/stories/2009/MRC/MRC.html info@volunteerflorida.org (Volunteer Florida) This October, more than 600 AmeriCorps members statewide attended ceremonies in Jacksonville, Lakeland and Miami to take the AmeriCorps Pledge and begin their year of intensive service and sacrifice for Florida's communities! http://www.volunteerflorida.org/stories/2009/Launches/Launches.html info@volunteerflorida.org (Volunteer Florida) In preparation for 2010 MLK Day of Service, Volunteer Florida is encouraging AmeriCorps State and National Direct programs to visit the MLK Day website at www.mlkday.org for resources and planning assistance. http://volunteerflorida.org