A Work of Heart

STORY BY BRITTANY SMITH

Alexander City offers a variety of opportunities to get involved and give back to the community. Its organizations rely heavily on volunteers to adequately achieve their missions. Whether it’s a one-time event or time committed on a regular basis, community members are always needed at local nonprofits and chambers of commerce.

“Main Street is a non-profit organization that depends on donations and volunteers. Projects such as lighting, flowers, events and the mural all benefit our downtown and community. Beautification projects such as these help recruit businesses and bring customers to our shops and restaurants. Downtown is the heartbeat of our community,” Main Street Director Stacey Jeffcoat said.

Whether interested in volunteering during events, assisting with design and beautification plans or simply aiding with organizational efforts in the office, there are plentiful options.

“We always need help with our events, during the Farmers Market, help getting ready for board meetings, design projects, volunteers to be on our committees and more,” Jeffcoat said. “Whatever you might be interested in, I can guarantee we can find the perfect spot for you within Main Street’s program.”

With Main Street invested in the betterment of the community, Jeffcoat said, it’s also a great way for residents to give back to their hometown.

Lake Martin Area United Way is another great option for someone looking to volunteer as much or as little time as they can to help with local nonprofits. LMAUW serves 27 partnering agencies in the area, all who rely heavily on input from the community to function and serve residents.

“We can help everyone get connected to volunteer,” United Way director Sharon Fuller said. “There are so many opportunities to give back to the community, and we try to match people up with a cause that they have an interest in.”

Fuller said that the volunteer pool took a blow last year, dropping from 689 volunteers in 2019 to just 114 in 2020 due to COVID-19. LMAUW is now, more than ever, looking for volunteers, whether it is for a United Way project, a Main Street event or a local animal shelter.

“We work closely with other businesses around town, and we are happy to be the conduit of information,” Fuller said. “Our whole area is very giving. If there is a need and we push it out there, someone will pick it right up.”

The LMAUW has a plethora of events planned for the remainder of the year, and they hope to regain volunteer numbers and even surpass those from years past.

“Our annual fashion show is coming up. We love this event because it promotes the local shops and encourages people to shop small. We also host a silent auction and an annual quail fry and bake sale auction, which believe it or not is one event. We can use volunteers for all of them. We could not do fundraisers without volunteers.” Fuller said.

Other great events that the LMAUW hosts each year are the Annual Wedding and Event Expo at the Mitchell House in Dadeville every February, as well as the 100 Homes Golf Marathons and Bingos.

But events are not the only way to get involved with LMAUW. For those who are more numbers oriented, they work hand in hand with a group who processes tax returns for people in the community free of charge. The LMAUW will train any volunteer who is interested in this venture.

They also offer an opportunity to get involved with search and rescue with the rescue squad. This group of volunteers is among the first on scene when someone or something goes awry on the water in Tallapoosa and Coosa counties. This is one of the more popular volunteer options for retired law enforcement and military personel, Fuller said.

Fuller invites all who can and will to get involved at LMAUW.

The Alexander City Chamber of Commerce also relies on volunteers for their annual functions.

“There is an opportunity for everyone in the community to get involved somehow,” Chamber Vice President of Marketing and Special Events Kim Dunn said. “One of our more popular programs is the ambassador program.”

As a member of the ambassador program, participants provide extra hands at chamber events and work synergistically with the board to ensure that all events have ambassadors present.

“We invite them to ribbon cuttings, groundbreakings, Business After Hours and we typically meet the first Friday of each month to talk about what’s going on, what’s coming up and where we need help,” Dunn said. “It’s really just a volunteer opportunity to meet new people, learn and grow themselves and their business.”

The ambassador program is a great networking opportunity for everyone in the community, and there is always something for everyone. Some ambassadors volunteer to lend a hand and others use it as a stepping-stone toward other areas of leadership.

“I always say, ‘If everyone does what they can do, then it all gets done,’” Dunn said. “Some ambassadors are perfectly content being an ambassador and others enjoy the leadership-type roles. We have all different personalities and opportunities.

“Another way to get involved is by volunteering to help with Sun Festival or Jazz Fest. These particular events are especially popular among students who need community service hours for school, but anyone can volunteer. We recruit on our Facebook and other social media outlets when we are looking for volunteers for these events, and if someone is interested, we would definitely put them to work.”

Main Street Alexander City Stacey Jeffcoat, 256-307-3949

Alex City Chamber of Commerce

Kim Dunn, 256-234-3461

Lake Martin Area United Way

Sharon Fuller, 256-329-3600

Lake Martin Area United Way

Agencies - Serving Tallapoosa and Coosa Counties:

Alexander City Rescue Squad

Provides 24-hour emergency search and rescue services. 256-329-8023

American Red Cross Central East Alabama

Disaster services, preparedness, health and safety services and blood drives. 256-234-3291

ARISE, Inc.

Provides curb to curb transportation service. 256-329-8444

Boy Scouts of America - Tukabatchee Area Council

Physical and mental fitness preparation for future leadership. 800-977-2688

Camp ASCCA

Recreational and educational opportunities for the disabled. 256-825-9226

Camp Fire USA

Offers educational programs to girls that teach life-long skills. 256-749-0768

Coosa County Sheriff’s Reserve

Places a certified uniformed officer on school campus in Coosa County Schools. 256-377-4922

D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education)/S.A.F.E. (Safety Awareness For Everyone)

Provides drug and alcohol awareness to sixth grade and other prevention programs to all school age children in Alexander City Schools. 256-234-3421

D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) - Tallapoosa County

Provides drug and alcohol awareness to sixth grade and other prevention programs to all school age children in Tallapoosa County Schools. 256-825-4264

Domestic Violence Intervention Center

Provides a safe place and advocacy services for victims involved in domestic crisis. 334-749-1515

Empowered to Conquer

Dedicated to empowering students to reach their highest potential. 205-660-2009

Food Bank of East Alabama

Provides food to the hungry from donated and purchased food through approved agencies. 334-821-9006

Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama, Inc.

Helping girls develop leadership and social skills. 334-272-9164

Goodwater Head Start/TCR Child Care Corporation

Provides Early Head Start and Preschool Head Start. 256-362-1390

Habitat for Humanity of Alex City Area

Simple, decent and affordable houses are built and sold to deserving families in need at no profit and no interest. 256-749-0714

Head Start Chambers/Tallapoosa

Preschool training in reading and education. 256-825-4204

Meals on Wheels

Provides hot meals to the approved elderly and disabled. 256-329-7382

Palmer Place Child Advocacy Center

Helps physically abused children heal through therapy. 256-315-2662

Rape Counselors of East Alabama, Inc.

Direct services and advocacy for victims who have been sexually assaulted. 334-705-0510

Sav-A-Life

Provides assistance to women experiencing an untimely or crisis pregnancy. 256-329-2273

TallaCoosa Aid To People (TAP)

Provides emergency financial assistance (utilities, rent, etc.) to those in crisis. 256-329-3500

Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Girls Ranch

Providing a safe home and secure environment for abused, neglected and abandoned girls. 256-896-4113

The Learning Tree

Educational, residential and support services for children with developmental disabilities. 334-252-0025

The Lighthouse of Tallapoosa County

Residential substance abuse rehabilitation for men. 256-234-4894

The Salvation Army

Provides social services to those in need. 256-215-3730

Tri-County Children’s Advocacy Center

Helps physically abused children heal through therapy. 256-307-1118

Volunteer Connections of Central Alabama (VCCA)

Provides free tax assistance and volunteer opportunities. 256-234-0347

Keep your pet on a leash

Grab your pup, get outdoors and let your fourlegged friend stretch its legs while viewing the area’s beauty and serenity.

To find fellow pet lovers, look no further than the local dog park.

The dog park at the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex invites all to come and see the wonderful amenities the park has to offer.

The park features fencing, benches and structures for your four-legged friends to play on.

A group within the Leadership Lake Martin Class of 2014 took on the project of adding enhancements to make a dog park at the Sportplex that would be more inviting and draw dog owners to a fun yet safe environment for their beloved pets.

To help keep the park enjoyable for everyone, Alexander City Parks and Recreation staff asks for owners to supervise and maintain control of their dogs; ensure gates remain closed; maintain a maximum of two dogs per visitor and understand owners are responsible for their dogs’ actions.

The dog park is located behind the lower softball fields on the right. A map is available at www.alexandercityal.gov/ parks-rec.

Chaining or tethering of animals is strictly prohibited

An animal must be confined in a fenced-in area or kept within voice command distance. If an animal must be kept in a kennel outside of a home, a space of 100 square feet per animal is required.

Any enclosure that is being used to house an animal must comply with health regulations, and issues of sanitation coincide with requiring clean and sufficient food and water.

Noise must remain at a minimum

It is the responsibility of the owner to care for and control animals, ensuring they do not create a public nuisance and do not disturb the peace of others.

Vaccinations Required

Within 12 months after turning three months old, all pets must be tagged with a serial number indicating the year their rabies vaccinations were given.

Important Numbers The license should be worn at all times and renewed when Lake Martin Animal Shelter necessary based on the length of 2502 Sugar Creek Rd. vaccination. Alexander City Attaching dogs to a 256-234-5533 running line is allowed Lake Martin Animal Sanctuary 334-380-6250 A minimum of 10 feet of line is provided, and the line is mounted between 4 and 7 feet off the Alex City Animal Control Available 10 hours/day ground. Keep pets off others’ 24-hour emergency service properties Supervisor: Sgt. Ken Vernon It’s courteous to neighbors and 256-397-1023 lawful to ensure animals stay off the premises of others within city limits unless present with consent. Animals within the city limits must be kept under restraint at all times when in public.

Vicious dogs must be registered

Dogs considered vicious or known to be vicious from past incidences must register annually with the city. Associated fees are based on the age of the owner, type of animal and whether the animals are spayed or neutered.