"Be a Volunteer - Supporting Individuals with Developmental Disabilities in the Community."

Volunteers are a very important asset at SCARC.  Volunteers formed our organization in 1957 and volunteers made the organization run for many years prior to the employment of paid staff.  Even now, volunteers are utilized to supplement and enrich human resources in many SCARC programs and services.

Volunteers assist staff in meeting the goals of individuals served by SCARC.  Volunteers add that special touch and bring that important talent to SCARC services so that our programs can be further enhanced.  The SCARC, Inc. board of trustees and its committees are composed of volunteers who commit themselves to governing the SCARC organization in Sussex County. In so doing, volunteer board members represent the greater Sussex County community and bring expertise and experience to our organization to accentuate our quality services.

Volunteers also work in residential programs, day programs, recreation programs and in fund-raising events in order to create a rich organization involving parents and families in our overall mission.  Volunteers assist in making community connections and developing partnerships for the benefit of SCARC and the people we serve.

Individual volunteers are utilized in residential programs to teach reading and to develop life and language skills.  Individual volunteers are used in SCARC recreation programs to coach sporting teams, Special Olympics competitions, and to assist with bowling and weight training.  Special Olympics volunteers are a key part of sports competitions in area, region, and state Special Olympics events.

Organizations of volunteers also contribute to the SCARC mission.  Boy Scout troops, 4-H clubs, service clubs, church youth, and student groups can volunteer to assist SCARC in recreation activities, camping activities, or sprucing up a group home.  Volunteers have provided companionship to children and adults with developmental disabilities for many years.

SCARC’s Volunteer of the Year award is given to an outstanding volunteer each year who has committed time and resources to SCARC activities.  Key Volunteers of the Year in the recent past have coached Special Olympics sports, been active in tutoring and teaching reading, provided transportation for group home residents to attend church, provided assistance in fund-raising, and provided guidance and assistance at the bowling alley.  SCARC’s Volunteer of the Year is recognized at our annual awards dinner and is also recognized by Sussex County United Way at its Distinguished Community Service Award event.

SCARC is proud of its volunteer heritage, and we are very appreciative to each person who volunteers on behalf of the individuals and families served by SCARC.

For more information on volunteer opportunities at SCARC, email us or contact the SCARC office in Augusta at 973-383-7442 for a volunteer application and to discuss the possibilities of volunteering.