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Public Sites and Parks |
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Beaufort Historic Site Beaufort Historic Site is a large preservation
organization that relies heavily upon its volunteers. From docents and tour
guides, to English double decker bus drivers and office staff, there are
literally hundreds of unique and enjoyable volunteer opportunities for
people of all ages at Beaufort Historical Association (BHA). The site
maintains Beaufort's oldest art gallery, the Mattie King Davis Art Gallery,
and a fund-raising thrift shop staffed by volunteers. Members of the
community are also encouraged to volunteer to provide information to
visiting school groups. Scripts and other materials are provided in advance.
Whether you want to volunteer on a regular basis, or just offer your
expertise or help during a special season or event, the BHA is always
appreciative of its volunteers. Carteret County Public Library Each of the four Carteret County public libraries has an
active volunteer group that helps with all types of library programs, from
Storytime for Kids to adult reading groups to book sales. Contact the
individual libraries in your area for details: Down East Library This small library was formed based on the need to have
library services in the Down East area of Carteret County. Founded,
supported and staffed by volunteers, this library is offering a wonderful
service to the area. Volunteers of all types are needed — from those
interested in answering the phone or shelving books to those interested in
helping with the children's reading program. There are many community
programs and classes developing, including after-school homework help,
knitting and scrapbooking classes, and book clubs. All the books in the
library are by donation, so book donations are always needed and
appreciated. Carteret County Public
School System Volunteer opportunities in the public school system are
many and varied. Each of the county's 17 public schools seeks individuals
interested in tutoring students, helping with special projects, working with
band programs or assisting in the office. Whether you are interested in
listening to a first grader read, helping a fourth grader with
multiplication, having lunch each week with a special student or working out
chemistry problems with a tenth grader, the school system would be excited
to have your help. The school system requires a background check and
provides mandatory training for all its volunteers. Core Sound Waterfowl Museum
& Heritage Center Core Sound Waterfowl Museum depends on volunteer help for
daily carving demonstrations and special programs year round.
Demonstrations, revolving local exhibits and programs focusing on local
heritage are offered year round. The museum houses the area's finest
collection of carvings and waterfowl art and archives oral histories and
artifacts from the Down East communities. Volunteers are needed to help with
programs for school groups and bus tours, to assist staff with
administrative duties and to serve on committees and boards. For more
information on the museum, see our
Attractions chapter.
Cape Lookout National Seashore Volunteers provide valued skills and assistance for many
programs at Cape Lookout National Seashore. At the Harkers Island
headquarters, volunteers can help at the Visitor Center to greet visitors,
provide information and operate the bookstore. There are also many programs
for those volunteers who like to be outside and active. As caretakers and
keepers, volunteers live and work for six weeks at a time at the Cape
Lookout Light Station, Cape Lookout Village, the Great Island Cabin area and
Portsmouth Village. Other volunteers help with special projects such as
photography, monitoring wildlife or presenting school programs. Whatever
your interest, there are many rewarding opportunities to help protect the
National Seashore and to facilitate visitor understanding and enjoyment of
its resources. Fort Macon State Park Volunteers, working through the Friends of Fort Macon, act
as guides at this historic site throughout the year. Training is usually
conducted in February of each year. Volunteers help park rangers with
special group tours and presentations. Fort Macon is one of the busiest
state parks in North Carolina, and volunteers play an important role in
facilitating visitation. A Coastal Education Center is in the process of
being built with completion slated for late summer or early fall of 2009.
Volunteer opportunities, such as meeting and greeting visitors and assisting
in the overall operation of the center ,are forthcoming; contact the park
for details. The History Place The History Place has become a landmark of Morehead City.
It focuses on Carteret County through exhibits and displays in a
12,000-square-foot facility that includes a museum, research library, museum
store, classroom and auditorium/learning center. Docents are the backbone of
this organization. The History Place has only one full-time paid staff
member and one part-time paid library director. The rest of the "staff
members" are volunteers. Docents greet visitors and answer questions, with
shifts usually set at three hours either once a week or once a month,
generally from 10 AM to 1 PM or 1 to 4 PM. Museum hours are 10 AM to 4 PM
Tuesday through Saturday. Docents assist visitors in the gallery, museum
store or library. Docents also assist, on occasion, with folding brochures
and newsletters or helping keep the museum scrapbook up to date. There is
always a need for volunteers to assist in preparing for events and programs.
Training for volunteers is provided. N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores The aquarium relies upon a large force of
cheerful volunteers to help visitors enjoy the many exhibits and programs
and to assist the staff with a variety of tasks. Volunteers interpret
exhibits, discuss marine life in the touch pools, staff the discovery carts,
greet school groups and help with kids' crafts and activities, among other
things. The information desk and the sport-fishing gallery also offer
volunteers a chance to work closely with aquarium visitors. N.C. Maritime Museum North Carolina Maritime Museum volunteers are renowned for
their hospitality and helpfulness. They work at the museum's information
desk, serve as interpreters at displays and as guides for school and other
groups, do restoration and construction work in the museum's Watercraft
Center and ship model shop, serve on the Board of the Friends of the Museum,
assist with the Cape Lookout Studies and Junior Sailing Programs, maintain
the reference library, perform clerical duties and help at special events
and programs.
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Animal-Care ServicesHumane Society of Carteret County Members provide staffing for administration and
animal-care services, usually for dogs and cats that are in between homes.
Volunteers are needed at the shelter primarily to help clean up the
facilities and care for animals. Donations are accepted for yard sales held
annually during the summer months. There is an ongoing wish list of items
for the shelter, such as monetary donations, dry food for dogs and cats,
non-scoopable litter, bleach, paper towels, dish soap, laundry detergent,
copy paper, index cards and more. Volunteers are also needed to operate the
Humane Society Thrift Store in Morehead City, (252) 726-1399. Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter This shelter for injured wildlife is operated with
volunteer help, including the help of licensed rehabilitators. Funding
efforts include daily aluminum-can recycling, an annual benefit dinner,
an art auction and contributions of visitors and rescuers of injured
animals. Feeding and animal care is volunteered. Volunteers are always
needed and must be 18 years of age or older. The Baby Bird Feeders
program offers opportunities for those 13 years of age and older.
On-the-job training is provided to all volunteers. Pet Adoption and Welfare Society
(PAWS) of Carteret PAWS focuses on animal adoption, health and safety, and
community education and participation. PAWS offers an adoption
program in which pets are spayed, neutered and healthy for their
placement. PAWS rescues and vets pets regularly in addition to expanding
and partnering with other community organizations. PAWS partnered with
Carteret County Emergency Management and County Animal Control to
provide a pet-friendly hurricane shelter for Carteret County. In another
partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Coastal Carolina, PAWS
offers fun and educational pet care clinics throughout the year.
Annually, PAWS hosts the Sunday Brunch fundraiser during the Carolina
Chocolate Festival, hosts the OktoberPets event at the Crystal Coast
Civic Center, and participates as Pets for Vets in the Morehead City
Veteran's Day parade. Plans are in the works for a Pet Adoption Center,
which will house the administrative and educational facility. Volunteers
are always needed to assist through participation in adoption programs,
foster care, the thrift store, membership, the hurricane shelter,
education and fundraising. The website provides a wealth of information
and showcases adoptable pets.
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Human-Care ServicesAmerican Cancer Society The American Cancer Society plans the annual Relay for
Life, a 24-hour fund-raising event each year in Carteret County. The
event takes place on a high school track in the county, bringing groups
from churches, businesses and families together in the fight against
cancer. Volunteers not only participate in the relay but organize it as
well. Help is always needed. Boys & Girls Club of Coastal Carolina The Boys & Girls Club of Coastal Carolina includes clubs
in Morehead City, Beaufort and Havelock. The club relies on volunteers
in all aspects of its operation, including tutoring, special-skills
training, fund-raising, homework help and administrative support.
Volunteer positions vary and include art program volunteers, handyman
volunteers, homework helpers, social recreation area volunteers and
technology lab volunteers just to name a few. Best of all, they provide
positive role models for kids. After-school programs are also in place
in several elementary schools in the area. They are always in need of
additional help. Specific volunteer positions that need to be filled can
be found on the club's website. Broad
Street Clinic The Broad Street Clinic offers medical treatment for
chronic illnesses for the non-insured who meet the agency's income
criteria. Volunteers help in administrative capacities and as
receptionists, and medical professionals donate their time to offer
services. There are volunteer opportunities during the day and evening,
and training is provided. Carteret County Domestic Violence Program Volunteers help in a variety of capacities for the
Carteret County Domestic Violence Program. An upscale resale shop,
Caroline's Collectibles, 3716 Arendell Street in Morehead City, is
completely staffed by volunteer help. Additional volunteers serve on the
board, assist at the program's center for non-violence, help in
Caroline's House and help raise funds for this deserving organization.
Volunteers are also needed to provide transportation and to serve as
child-care sitters. Carteret County General Hospital The Carteret County General Hospital volunteer program
began in 1977 and today has a vital group helping in 30 different areas
of the hospital. In addition to providing support for the hospital, the
volunteers also raise funds for the Hospital Foundation through various
fundraising activities held throughout the year. The largest fundraiser
is The Gift Gallery, the hospital gift shop, which is staffed by
volunteers. For more information about the Carteret General Hospital
Volunteers, call the Volunteer Office. Carteret Literacy Council This program matches tutors with students, often adults,
who need help with reading, writing or math. Private sessions are
arranged by the tutor-student team who meet once or twice a week at a
location convenient to both parties. Volunteer training is coordinated
by the Literacy Council every three months. In addition, the program
offers an annual business spelling bee each year in October and an
outreach program that offers free presentations on literacy,
storytelling for the Head Start program, and Bringing Books to Babies in
cooperation with Carteret General Hospital. Crystal Coast Habitat For Humanity Habitat for Humanity provides volunteer labor to build
homes for qualified families, and volunteers support the program every
step of the way. Volunteers serve on the board and are involved in
administrative functions, in the hands-on acts of building and in
fund-raising efforts. Call the office for volunteer forms. The program's
resale home store also relies on volunteer labor. Donations and
purchases from the store help the funding of the materials they need to
build the homes. You can call them at (252) 223-4493 and arrange for
them to pick up large item donations. Down East Council of Hispanic/Latino
Affairs (DECHLA) DECHLA provides services to the Hispanic and Latino
community in Carteret, Craven, Jones and Pamlico counties, including
free community English classes, Spanish and English interpretation,
computer education, and referral information and services. The New Bern
center is always in need of help in the upkeep and maintenance of the
premises, basic clerical tasks and data entry. There are ongoing
volunteer opportunities available; contact the director at the New Bern
office for the most current opportunities. Foster Grandparent Program The Foster Grandparent Program, administered by Coastal
Community Action, serves Carteret, Craven, Pamlico and Jones counties.
It provides a stipend for limited-income participants ages 60 and older
who offer 20 hours a week for one-on-one extra assistance of children in
school, libraries or in the hospital, where they must annually meet
safety training requirements of hospital employees. Volunteers must
apply. Guardian ad Litem After training, Guardian ad Litem volunteers are
assigned by the juvenile court to investigate cases of child neglect or
abuse and to report their findings to the court. This advocate for the
child ensures that the child's interests are properly presented to the
court. Hope Mission of Carteret County, Inc. Hope Mission exists to meet the immediate needs of
people requiring help. At the mission's soup kitchen, volunteers assist
in serving food provided by area churches, restaurants and private
donations. Lunch is served daily Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to
12:30 PM to people in need, and special dinners are served during the
holiday season. The soup kitchen often needs volunteers Monday through
Friday from 8 AM to 2 PM and welcomes church groups and organizations.
The mission also offers a men's shelter and a men's and women's recovery
home. Hospice of Carteret County A division of Carteret General Hospital, Hospice of
Carteret County trains volunteers to serve patients and care-giving
families. They provide relief and support for family members by keeping
the patient company, running errands and serving as a vital link between
the family and Hospice staff. Martha's Mission Cupboard This is an emergency food pantry for families in crisis
in Carteret County. Every month, the mission provides food for more than
300 families, senior citizens and mentally and physically challenged
persons. Martha's Mission operates strictly on donations, and volunteers
help to sort and distribute the incoming food. The Mission Cupboard is
open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10:30 AM to 3 PM. Meals on Wheels Meals on Wheels volunteers are always needed to help
deliver meals to homebound individuals. Meals on Wheels also has groups
in the surrounding areas, including Beaufort. Project Christmas Cheer Project Christmas Cheer began in 1985 when a group
volunteered their time to assist an overflow of families seeking
assistance from the Carteret County Department of Social Services.
Volunteers take applications and match the applicants with donors.
Donors make arrangements to deliver Christmas gifts such as food, toys,
blankets, fuel oil and things that would really help during Christmas of
a difficult year. The offices are open from October through December. Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) RSVP strives to meet vital community needs
by providing volunteer opportunities for seniors. Members of RSVP are
age 55 and older and pledge to perform at least one hour of service each
week. These active, energetic volunteers are matched with tasks that
suit their abilities, interests and experience. RSVP volunteers tutor in
schools, help homebound seniors with meal delivery, compile mailings and
make visits at nursing homes.
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Environmental ServicesN.C. Big Sweep N.C. Big Sweep is a statewide effort to clean trash out
of the waterways. It's a one-day effort that occurs in Carteret County
annually on a Saturday in October following the North Carolina Seafood
Festival. Big Sweep is locally coordinated through the N.C. Cooperative
Extension Service office in Morehead City. N.C. Coastal Federation This coastal environmental protection organization
offers education, restoration and preservation, environmental
information and legislative accountability and is funded through
membership contributions. Volunteers are needed to help with marsh-grass
plantings in the late spring, oyster shell baggings and reef creation,
and trail maintenance days. Volunteers are also needed in the office to
type, file, answer phones and more. Help with membership drives and
fund-raising is always needed. Specific expertise is welcomed, as NCCF
coordinates special projects and events. Rachel Carson Reserve Volunteer opportunities at the Rachel Carson National
Estuarine Research Reserve in Beaufort include: collecting water
samples, clearing trails, assisting with the annual horse and bird
censuses, guiding visitors on nature walks, leading canoe or kayak
trips, helping in the headquarters office, participating in periodic
beach sweeps or reserve clean-ups, and assisting the education staff
with summer camps. Volunteers gain firsthand knowledge of estuarine
ecology and enjoy the beautiful islands that comprise the Rachel Carson
National Estuarine Research Reserve. |
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