Volunteers enrich lives, reach out for help

The Rockwell Collins Retiree Volunteers provides more than 30,000 volunteer hours each year to support the needs in our community and beyond while enriching the lives of our volunteers and those who are served.

Typical programs include building wheelchair accessibility ramps; supporting STEM projects, Four Oaks Bridge, Habitat for Humanity, 6th Judicial District, Linn County Trails, Grant Wood Area, food pantries, Eastern Iowa schools, Science Station and Eastern Iowa Observatory programs, and provide counselors for the Senior Health Insurance Information Program and for SCORE. The Rockwell Collins Retiree Volunteers are represented on numerous local non-profit boards.

Two important partners are the United Way of Eastern Central Iowa and Retired Senior Volunteer Program. They help coordinate some of the Rockwell Collins retirees' volunteering efforts and our interface with more than 40 other non-profit organizations. This has been a boon to ensure that the help provided by volunteers is as timely and effective as possible.

There has been considerable publicity from many sources in the community about how individuals can make contact with volunteers when they need help. Many individuals miss opportunities that could make great difference in their situations and lives.

United Way has a program in place that can provide a way for individuals to get information and coordination for their specific needs. Just dial 211 on your telephone to get this service. I also would invite those with email to look at the websites at unitedwayofeastcentraliowa.org and rcrv.org.

Terry Lamb

Cedar Rapids