Volunteer Groups Lend a Helping Hand in Stillwater
community service, culture, volunteering,
The spirit of volunteerism is alive and well in Stillwater.
The city is home to a number of civic-minded organizations, with one of the largest being the Stillwater Area United Way. It oversees two dozen local agencies, and 99 percent of the money United Way raises in Stillwater remains in the city. The other 1 percent is sent to United Way of America.
Some of the agencies under the Stillwater Area United Way umbrella include the American Red Cross, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Payne County Youth Services, Salvation Army, Stillwater Community Health Center, Stillwater Literary Council and the YMCA of Stillwater. The local United Way chapter entered its 58th year of operation in 2009.
Another important volunteer-based service in town, the Stillwater Habitat for Humanity has been building homes for families in need since 1990. To date, a total of 14 Habitat homes have been constructed within the city, and the organization plans to build at least two more homes every year from now on.
Stillwater families and individuals are selected to become owners of Habitat houses on the basis of their income, number of people in the family, employment record and their current housing conditions. Volunteers work alongside the selected partner families in constructing simple, decent homes.
The families contribute hundreds of hours of “sweat equity” in building their own homes and then pay a mortgage that is interest free.
The Sanborn Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America is another volunteer organization in Stillwater. Founded in 1922, the Izaak Walton League has 300 chapters nationwide that take a common-sense approach to protecting natural resources and improving outdoor recreation opportunities.
Izaak Walton volunteers are involved in causes such as wildlife and species protection, clean air and water, wetlands management, renewable energy, reducing air pollution and promoting conservation.
Story by Kevin Litwin
