Coastal Community Action, Inc. (NC)

Overview

Purpose of the program is to provide the highest quality services to children with special and/or exceptional needs by means of volunteer service of older adults (55 and above). These individuals contribute from 1540 hours per week at contracted public/private nonprofit volunteer sites. Assistance is provided with academics, school readiness, and mentoring, improved physical, mental, emotional and social development. Benefits to eligible volunteers include a small stipend ($2.65 per hour), an annual physical exam, meals, travel reimbursement, liability insurance and annual recognition for their service to children.

Expectations

• To continue to strive to enhance the educational capabilities of current volunteers by providing more meaningful and age appropriate in service trainings for them.
• Continue to foster a better understanding, interaction and cooperation between FGP and other CCA programs.
• Enable lowincome persons 55 and above to remain physically and mentally active and to enhance their selfesteem through continued participation in needed community services.

Triumphs

• Eighty-one FGP volunteers served 67,910 hours and were successful in assisting approximately 335 children to meet their respective personal goals through one on one intervention.
• Services were provided at local Head Start centers, public and charter schools, developmental center and daycare/after school programs.
• Knowledge of the FGP has been tremendously enhanced; this is evident by the number of inquiries/applicants received during this program year – over 50 inquiries. ( as a result of this, the state office did award an additional five (5) volunteer service years (VSYs) totaling 5,220 hours for the 2010-11 program year)
• The FGP volunteer of the Year was nominated and selected as a Carteret County recipient for the Governor’s Award for Outstanding Service.

Stressors

• Obtain local financial support from the counties served to allow CCA to expand services benefiting both seniors and children.
• To continue to meet the local 10% match of federal funds received, and to identify and secure in kind contributions for the volunteers so that the requirement of 80% of federal funds received be utilized for support of volunteers (cash and/or inkind) can be met.
• Continuing to provide high quality inservice training to ensure the volunteers are provided with comprehensive age appropriate educational instruction.

Aspirations

• To provide a semi-annual report to county governmental officials to better inform them of the services provided in their respective counties.
• Continue to develop and/or create ways in which each county can contribute to the required 10% match of federal funds awarded for the program.
• Continue to seek opportunities to be more visible in the counties in which we serve.
• To develop at least one non-federal VSY!!