Helping Hands

STORY BY LONNA UPTON

AAs the quintessential, small Southern town, Alexander City is a vibrant community with unique opportunities to step up, lend a hand and give from the heart. Whether working together while making new friends or giving back to the community, volunteers are always welcome in the Lake Martin area. And if a volunteer is ready and willing to help but not sure where to start, the Lake Martin Area

United Way matches volunteers and the skills they have to offer to an agency.

Volunteers may serve as little or as much time as they like. Calendars in the

Alexander City Outlook, and Lake and

Lake Martin Living magazines are great sources for up-to-date information.

Lake Martin Area United Way

The Lake Martin Area United Way, with the support of Alexander City residents and businesses, raises approximately a half-million dollars each year to assist 27 partner organizations. Besides needing volunteers to help in the office by answering phones and sorting donations, the organization needs help with its annual fashion show and silent auction fundraiser. This popular event has become part of the city’s social scene each fall and includes the participation of downtown Alexander City businesses.

LMAUW also coordinates an annual Day of Action for Coosa and Tallapoosa counties, where community members volunteer in an all-hands-on-deck approach to repair, clean up and improve local schools and other locations.

In the spring of 2023, LMAUW will launch an exciting new fundraising event. Visit unitedwaylakemartin.org to learn more. Call LMAUW at 256-329-3600 or email them at uw211@unitedwaylakemartin.org.

Volunteer Connection of Central Alabama

Volunteer Connections of Central Alabama offers services and volunteer opportunities throughout the year. June is their major fundraiser, a bazaar featuring a flea market, baked goods, plant sale and book sale, which really kicks off the fall and winter season.

Beginning in September, the VCCA offers Lunch and Learn for interested community members to bring a sack lunch and hear speakers on a wide range of topics. Volunteers are needed to serve complementary tea and dessert.

Also in September, the agency trains volunteers to aid residents with the complex Medicare Part D program. VCCA also trains volunteers to earn IRS certification to prepare taxes for the elderly and low-income individuals, to help with intake forms and file preparation. In 2022, VCCA e-filed more than 1,200 returns at no cost to seniors and low to moderate income earners.

Contact VCCA at 256-234-0347 or email vcca.al@gmail.com.

Renew Our Rivers

Opportunities abound for the Lake Martin community to work together in keeping roadsides and lake shorelines clean and litter free. Lake Martin Resource Association maintains partnerships with Wind Creek State Park, Lake Martin Dock Company, Alabama Power, Russell Lands, Green for Life, TowBoatUS, and Lake and Lake Martin Living magazines for the annual Renew Our Rivers cleanup. Volunteers have removed more than 160 tons of trash from the lake and surrounding roadsides since 2003. Items removed include tires, household items, abandoned boats and trash. This annual cleanup effort takes place on the first weekend of November. For more information, visit lmra.info or the LMRA Facebook page.

Treasured Mile

With sponsorship by Russell Lands and Alabama Power, LMRA established the Treasured Mile program to encourage the public to clean up along the shores of Lake Martin. To participate, volunteer groups, such as churches and businesses, individuals and families, adopt a segment of shoreline or an Alabama Powerowned island to monitor for trash that has washed up or been left behind by careless individuals.

The program takes little time; and yet, it presents a grand opportunity for recreational teamwork among community and family members and offers an invaluable sense of pride in helping to maintain the natural beauty of Lake Martin. Island and roadside areas are available for adoption, and applications can be found at lmra. info.

Clean Community Partnership

With coordination among volunteers and LMRA, Lake Martin area tourism boards, county commissioners, chambers of commerce and Russell Lands, roadside cleanups are conducted monthly to maintain a regular routine of community awareness and pride around the lake. The first Saturday is dedicated to roadside cleanup in Dadeville and on the east side of Lake Martin. The third Saturday is dedication to cleaning up Alexander City roadsides and those of state Route 63. For more information, visit alexcitychamber.com or find them on Facebook.

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

Alexander City Theatre II

216 Tallapoosa St. actheatre2.com

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 life-long skills and educational programs to girls. 256-749-0768

Coosa County Sheriff’s Reserve

Places a certified uniformed officer at 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 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 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 donated and purchased food to the hungry 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

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

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