Mid and Upper Volunteer Center Services Feasibility Grant Awarded

SALISBURY, MD---The Governor's Office on Service and Volunteerism has awarded a $4,000 planning grant to study the feasibility of bringing volunteer center services to the six counties on the Mid and Upper Shore. The three Lower Shore counties are currently served by the Shore CAN Volunteer Center at Salisbury State University.

A Volunteer Development Team comprised of leaders from Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's and Talbot counties will conduct local meetings to determine what community needs can be addressed by volunteers and what services are needed to mobilize volunteers. The meetings will be conducted in April and May. The dates, times and locations will be announced shortly.

Local management boards in each of the six counties have played an active role in the planning of this study. According to Ellen Mousin, director of the Talbot Family Network, "This is an opportunity for communities on the Mid and Upper Shore to mobilize to address their most urgent needs. We learned long ago that the government can't do everything and that volunteers can make a tremendous difference in the quality of life in our communities. This study is a first step in creating an organization which will make it easier for citizens to know how they can make a difference by volunteering."

The study is the first phase of a statewide initiative to expand volunteer center services in Maryland. Governor Glendening's budget includes funding for a second phase which will provide additional support for the initiative.