Points of Light Foundation honors Rural Action

AWARDS

December 2004
Ohio Hill Country Heritage Area honors Carol Kuhre

December 2004
Monday Creek receives ODNR Minerals Education Award

November 2004
Ohio Environmental Council presents Conservation Achievement of the Year award to Monday Creek

December 2002
National Rural Community Assistance Award

April 2000
National Award for Sustainability

Rural Action presents Sustainability Awards

Points of Light Foundation
Honors Rural Action

A new national publication by the Points of Light Foundation and the Volunteer Center National Network features an essay highlighting Rural Action’s work in Appalachian Ohio. Strengthening Rural America Neighbor by Neighbor—Effective Practices in Neighboring and Other Innovative Volunteer Strategies showcases seven volunteer organizations that serve rural residents, illustrating "the resilience and strength of rural America and the diversity of solutions to be found."

"This publication provides innovative volunteer strategies and thoughtful recommendations to volunteer organizations, program managers and others invested in improving conditions in rural communities," said Bandana Shrestha, Director of Model Programs and Partnerships at the Points of Light Foundation. "The most effective way to address pressing needs of rural communities is to find sustainable solutions that make a difference in the lives of families by strengthening grassroots efforts that build on the knowledge and assets of residents. Rural Action is doing all that and much more"

In publishing this booklet, the Points of Light Foundation seeks to "explore the role (volunteering) plays in transforming 'tough' neighborhoods into connected and family-supportive places."The Foundation promotes the concept of "neighboring" as a way local communities can empower, mobilize and build on citizens' strengths (see http://www.pointsoflight.org/Neighboring).

The section on Rural Action, entitled "Healing a Local Environment," describes the Appalachian Ohio region and its issues, particularly "the challenges left behind by the various extraction industries." It explains how Rural Action has developed community partnerships and leveraged volunteer assets to address these issues. Volunteers have contributed hundreds of hours toward efforts to restore Monday Creek, teach landowners to grow ginseng, goldenseal and other medicinal herbs, and connect farmers with consumers and institutions to purchase their crops.

The essay concludes with "Lessons Learned," such as the value of volunteers' "innovative suggestions," the need to attract volunteers "through a range of service opportunities," the benefit of thinking holistically to "address multiple community needs at the same time," and the desire to "capitalize on the pride local residents have in their area and give them ways to express it."

"We’re glad that we can help others by sharing information about the many ways our volunteers contribute to our work," said Rural Action Executive Director Jane Forrest Redfern. "The Points of Light Foundation performs a valuable service by explaining how Rural Action and similar groups involve volunteers in work that restores and strengthens our communities, economies and environments."

Visit the Points of Light website at http://www.pointsoflight.org