Volunteer Extraordinaire - Joy Gibson

The Partnership is blessed with many volunteers, all of which we would like to say "THANK YOU" to during National Volunteer Appreciation Week (Apr. 27-May 3). But one particular volunteer, Joy Gibson, was recently awarded the 2008 Community Service Award by the United Way Volunteer Center. We would like to share her story about her committment and passion for the Partnership's Family Violence Shelter and Services.

About Joy....

Joy Gibson signed up as a volunteer for the Partnership in February of 2006. After intensive training of over 20 hours, she began serving as a “Hotliner” in July and has maintained a constant service record of at least one four hour shift every week since that time.

The Crisis Hotline serves the community as a “basic” resource for those seeking a broad variety of resources to meet needs, but it is the primary point of contact for those who are facing domestic violence or who have been sexually assaulted in this greater Chattanooga community. “Hotline volunteers are critical to the function of the Crisis Resource Center”, says Regina McDevitt, Director of the Crisis Resource Center. “The Crisis Hotline (423.755.2700) is available 24 hours per day to ensure all victims of violence have someone to turn to. We would not be able to provide the level of care and attention that we do without our volunteers.” The Crisis Resource Center provides crisis intervention services, emergency hotlines, counseling, shelter, and advocacy and referral services to individuals and families in crisis situations. Last year, 5,023 people were served through the Partnership’s Crisis and Emergency Services.

In July, 2007, as the Hotliners were in desparate need of additional volunteers, Joy stepped up not only by covering additional shifts each week, but by agreeing to serve as “team leader” and assume a major role in the complete updating of the Hotliner resource manual. Thanks in large part to Joy's hard work and leadership, the Hotliners are now stable, revitalized and growing. In addition to serving many shifts on the Hotline, she leads each monthly meeting, puts together the monthly calendars of service, and facilitates communications among the team and with the PFCA staff. She averages over 50 hours of service every month.

As a person with lupus, she is a role model for all people with disabilities demonstrating that they too can serve effectively and meaningfully in meeting the needs of our community through volunteer service. John Sims, Partnership Volunteer Coordinator, also notes : "Family call her ‘Joy to the world’ and she is a person who not only lives up to that name by bringing joy to all the staff and volunteers at FVSS with whom she works, but she brings hope through her compassion for callers and the helpful resources offered.”

For more information on how you can volunteer with the Partnership, visit our website or call (423) 755-2702.

Celebrate Earth Day and Support the Partnership

Earth Day 2008 will be celebrated throughout our community on Tuesday, April 22nd, and it is easy being green! Being a good steward of our environmental resources is as easy as turning off lights when not in use, carpooling when possible, and buying products made with recycled packaging. But did you know that you can "go green" and support the Partnership at the same time? That's right! You can help the area's largest social-service agency in two ways:

• Donate your used and unwanted cell phone year-round to the Partnership to be recycled or refurbished and keep them out of landfills! Just drop your phone and battery off at any Partnership office location, including 1800 McCallie Ave. or 300 E. 8th Street in Chattanooga. All phones received are turned into funds that support the Partnership's Family Violence Shelter and Services. Call (423) 697-3829 to find out more.

• Become an ePartner and upgrade your Partnership quarterly newsletter subscription to be emailed to you, instead of sent through the mail. You'll save paper, postage, and a trip for the mailman while still getting the latest Partnership news. Simply send your email address to lgilder@partnershipfca.com with Email My Newsletters! in the subject field.

The Partnership would also like to say a special "Thanks!" to community partner Greenlife Grocery for helping raise money for the Partnership's Family Violence Shelter & Services through their Donate a Bag campaign. They raised over $300 by asking customers to bring their own shopping bag and/or donate one back to the store. This helped to save nearly 6,000 bags! Thanks, Greenlife, for supporting the Partnership.