Family Resource Center volunteers receive presidential service award

By Virgin Islands Daily News Staff
ST. THOMAS - In honor of National Volunteer Week April 19-25, the Family Resource Center announced that four of its volunteers will receive the President's Volunteer Service Award.
Volunteer Jemica Gumbs is being honored with the gold Volunteer Service Award. Chamica Charles will receive a silver award. Chandel Brown and Tamica Charles will receive bronze awards.
The Family Resource Center has a long history of volunteer service. More than 30 volunteers perform community service each year on behalf of the organization - accounting for more than 5,000 work hours annually. Volunteers assist with many of the center's functions, ranging from working with clients, to running office errands, to participating in fund raising initiatives.
"We couldn't do all that we do without volunteers," said volunteer coordinator Rochelle Davis.
The center's volunteer corps encompass three age groups: adult volunteers, "volun-teens" between the ages of 13 and 18 and junior volunteers between the ages of 8 and 12.
The Family Resource Center also has initiatives to benefit volunteers, including scholarships, peer counseling and workshops. Students who volunteer for the center also have a chance to receive the community service hours required by all the territory's high schools.
The President's Volunteer Service Award is a national standard to recognize individuals, groups and families for giving a substantial portion of their time and efforts in volunteer service. Awards are based on volunteer ages and service hours. The Family Resource Center recently became certified to present the awards, Davis said.
The Family Resource Center is a private nonprofit agency incorporated in 1981. Services began in 1986 with the opening of an emergency shelter for women and children on St. Thomas. In the years since, the center has expanded its services to include all victims of violent crime and families in crisis.