James Resource Network: finding help and hope
Volunteers collect items to distribute to James Resource Network clients.
By Lynne Marsala Basche; photos courtesy of James Resource Network
It could be the dad sitting on the park bench, watching his children play. Maybe it is the mom living in the beautiful house you admire when you pick your child up from a play date. Throughout our community, there may be single parents who need help and we do not know it.
Outwardly, these moms, dads and kids look no different than anyone else, but they could be facing overwhelming problems simply based on their circumstances, such as a divorce or a death. The James Resource Network provides support for single parents and their children and is looking for volunteers to help with its mission.
The James Resource Center is dedicated to giving single parents and their children a holistic approach to support, including mind, body and spirit. In an effort to provide these parents with the tools necessary to become self-sufficient and create a stable home environment, James Resource Center provides support groups, life-skills classes, clothing and professional services.
Volunteers are always needed in various capacities and must attend a new member orientation to learn about the mission and culture at the James Resource Network. If you are interested in volunteering behind the scenes, help with administrative tasks such as mailings, updating Facebook and Twitter, or planning events is always in demand. If you prefer to work directly with the public, there are opportunities to serve on the board, assist at special events, and represent the organization at community functions. Volunteering can be event-based or on a regular basis, and training is provided based on the opportunity.
In addition, She She’s Corner, an upscale resale women’s clothing and home furnishing boutique, serves the James Resource Center. All proceeds (minus operating expenses) go directly to the organization. She She’s Corner needs volunteers to sort, price and display merchandise, as well as attend auctions and estate sales to purchase items for the store.
If you would like to help the James Resource Network, consider contributing $30 for a food box that feeds a family of four, donating “gently loved” clothing, accessories and home furnishings or making a donation. Everyone has something to give, and when donations of any kind stay in the community to help our neighbors, it is a very powerful feeling. People in need are real, and they are all around us.
For more information about the James Resource Network, visit www.jamesresourcenetwork.com. If interested in volunteering, contact Heather Goldberg at heather@jamesresourcenetwork.com.
Several of the She She’s Corner volunteers enjoying a night out at the store.
