Major projects underway:
- The Maine Service Instigator Grant is open for applicants. $750 - $1,000 is a available for organizations working with middle and high school students to explore hunger and food insecurity in their communities.
- Volunteer Program survey is collecting information around the effects of COVID on volunteer programs in the state. Survey results will inform future programming for volunteer managers from Volunteer Maine.
- Updating CMV course with better e-learning techniques and updated information.
- Training and recruiting entities to use Maine Ready as the disaster relief platform for current and future disasters.
Upcoming project focus:
- Applying for the ASC Youth Service Grant: 10 State Services will receive $20k for 15 months to explore how they can expand the quantity and quality of youth service.
- Creating a coordinating a Volunteer Managers network -- especially for those who do not have a current running network in their area.
- Looking for committee members for the Volunteer Leadership Conference (fall).
- Governor Service Awards -- moved to June
Issues to be aware of:
- Maine Responds has decided to pull their volunteer base out of Maine Ready, after 2 weeks of activation on the site. We are working to make sure those volunteers are receiving communication about their transfer.
Prepared by Program Officer for Volunteer Initiatives Kelsey Preecs