The Rockingham Housing Authority is recruiting volunteers to participate in Project R.E.B.U.I.L.D. which aims to strengthen communities by training the general public to be self-sufficient and employable.
The project, whose initials stand for Removing Economic Blocks by Utilizing Integral Logical Development, is an AmeriCorps program funded through a $61,742 grant from the North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service in the Office of the Governor, according to Patricia Gilliam, program coordinator for the project.
Volunteers will facilitate or assist in the facilitation of financial literacy education, job search and employability skills, and in helping others obtain their GED. The project will be a collaboration between Richmond Community College, the town of Dobbins Heights, N.C. Works and Partners in Ministry.
“(The project) is to help those in the community,” said Chereka Belton, executive director of the Rockingham Housing Authority. “They’re here to help build.”
The program is scheduled for Oct. 27 with an AmeriCorps member pre-service orientation, followed by member-specific program development and training, according to Gilliam.
Volunteers must reach a certain number of hours over the course of a year and can either be half-time, 900 hours, or quarter-time, 450 hours.
Upon completion of their hours, volunteers will receive an award of $2,969 for half-time and $1,566.14 for quarter-time which can either be used to further their own education or be gifted to a child, grandchild, step-child, step-grandchild or foster child.
Belton said that recruitment is progressing slowly, with only five out of the necessary 27 volunteers needed to begin. Member recruitment is ongoing through Dec. 31.
Volunteers must be at least 17 years old, have a high school diploma, GED or be working toward their GED, and have no criminal record. Classes will be open to the public.
Currently, there are four locations confirmed as sites for the classes and support services as part of the project: RHA’s Falling Creek Community Center, NC Works, Dobbins Heights Community Center, and Partners in Ministry’s Rockingham facility.
For more information call Teraefean Goodwin with the Rockingham Housing Authority at 910-997-3316, ext. 3 or email at [email protected].
Reach Gavin Stone at 910-817-2674.