Page 4 - Explore White County 2020

4SS SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020
ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE THREE RIVERS EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE • EXPLORE WHITE COUNTY
MEET
YOUR NEIGHBOR
Tamara Jenkins
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR, CERTIFIED FLOODPLAIN MANAGER & FIRE SERVICE COORDINATOR FOR WHITE COUNTY
HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN SEARCY?
25 years
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? Getting to work with the same people. I get to help make our county a better and safer place to live and raise a family.
HOW DID IT FEEL TO BE GIVEN THE OUTSTANDING FLOODPLAIN MANAGER AWARD? Being recognized at the state level for doing one of the hardest parts of my job reminds me daily way I love my job: helping to make our community safer.
YOU WERE ALSO NAMED FAIRVIEW VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR. WHAT WAS THAT LIKE? I love serving my community, and I guess it shows even more than I knew. Being on the Fire Department is having a second family, being out there helping each other and the community in the best and worst of times.
WHY IS THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IMPORTANT TO THE COUNTY? Our purpose is to protect White County citizens and their property from the effects of natural, man-made and technological disasters. We work together with all county departments and elected officials.
WHAT MAKES YOUR CITY A GREAT PLACE TO RAISE A FAMILY? I have to brag on our countywide community pride. We love our history, our beautiful county courthouse, our parks and rivers.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE PLACES IN WHITE COUNTY TO VISIT? Antique and flea-market shopping from one end of the county to the other and floating the Little Red River and lakes.
VOLUNTEER SPIRIT Ways to lend a hand in White County
BY SAM PIERCE / CREATIVE SERVICES WRITER
Sometimes the biggest issue for those wanting to volunteer in their communi- ty is not knowing where to begin or whom to contact. For residents of White County, whether a volunteer’s interests include an- imals, reading or construction, there are nonprofits and agencies in need of help.
Here are some organizations where oppor- tunities are available:
THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF SEARCY
Typically, when there is not a pandemic, volunteer hours for the Humane Society of Searcy are from 1-4:30 p.m., and those 16 or older can volunteer by themselves, but any- one younger than 18 has to have parental consent to volunteer.
If anyone younger than 16 would like to volunteer, a parent must be on-site with the child at all times and will be responsible for holding the animal at all times.
Currently, to limit the foot traffic in and out of the shelter, the Humane Society is not allowing any volunteers into the building. e facility is only admitting serious adopters or people who have already submitted applications to adopt an animal. e Humane Society, at 112 Johnston Road, plans to allow volunteers back in soon, but the date has not been determined.
Under normal circumstances, the shelter allows up to six volunteers at a time, as a result of a limited amount of staff at the Humane Society. Volunteers are welcome to call (501) 268-3535 to see if there is a spot available, but time slots are not scheduled in advance. If volunteers arrive and there are already six at the shelter, the newcomers are welcome to wait in their cars until someone leaves.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF WHITE COUNTY
e biggest way volunteers can assist Habit for Humanity of White County is on build days, which are usually on Saturdays when the weather allows. Build-day information is usually posed on the nonprofit’s social-media
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White County Judge Robert Edwards, who has since retired, swears in a new batch of advocates for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of White County on Feb. 21.
accounts, such as Facebook and Twitter. ose interested in volunteering can email habitatwhiteco@yahoo.com or fill out the form on Habitat’s website, www.
habitatwhiteco.org.
Another way volunteers can assist
Habitat is by working at its ReStore, at 1315 W. Beebe Capps Expressway in Searcy. e store has reopened after being closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the store’s new hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
e ReStore sells used household items — including appliances, furniture and beds — as well as building supplies and other items. Money raised from purchases helps build homes for deserving families. For more information, call (501) 278-5530.
Also, for those interested in volunteer- ing for e United Way of White County, applications are available at unitedwayof whitecounty.org.
COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES
CASA of White County is made up of about 100 volunteers who serve children who have entered the juvenile court system because of abuse or neglect.
As appointed officers of the court, CASA volunteers work alongside attorneys and caseworkers after completing the necessary training. Each volunteer is assigned a case and gathers information about the child and his or her individual needs.
Volunteers must be at least 21 years old and are screened closely for objectivity, competence and commitment, according to CASA’s website, wccasa.org.
CASA volunteers are required to undergo at least 30 hours of pre-service training be- fore being assigned a case. e initial train- ing includes an opportunity to visit the court while it is in session to observe proceedings.
For more information, contact CASA Ex- ecutive Director Laura Burks at director@ wccasa.org or (501) 305-3428.
THE LITERACY COUNCIL OF WHITE COUNTY
According to its website, there are sev- eral ways to get involved with the work of the Literacy Council of White County, but one of the most direct methods of serving is through tutoring, and all of the tutors are trained by the program.
Dixie Evans, executive director of the
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