Volunteer Spotlight: Nichole Pangle, Executive Director, The Arc of Northern Shenandoah Valley

The Arc of Northern Shenandoah Valley is part of The Arc, the world’s largest community based organization of and for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It provides an array of services and support for families and individuals and includes over 140,000 members affiliated through more than 730 state and local chapters across the nation. The Arc's mission is to work through education, advocacy and awareness to improve the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Today, our Volunteer Spotlight shines on Nichole Pangle, Executive Director, The Arc of Shenandoah Valley.

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Please tell us about your organization and your volunteer needs.

The Arc of Northern Shenandoah Valley is a local chapter of Virginia. We are a membership organization of people with developmental and intellectual disabilities, their families, friends, parents, professionals, community leaders and interested citizens. Our goal is to provide people with disabilities “A Life like Yours” by offering social and recreational activities, advocacy trips, community education and public awareness programs. We rely heavily on volunteers to assist us and to accomplish these goals.

What’s one piece of advice you have for volunteers or their leaders out there?

To all volunteers: You never know the depth of your service. Every minute you spend giving is a worthwhile endeavor and many organizations would not be able to function without your support.

To all leaders: Make sure you are using your volunteers in ways that suit their unique needs and talents. Get to know what your volunteers want out of the experience and match them to projects that will enable them to have that experience. This will keep your volunteers interested and feeling appreciated.

Why did you decide to use VolunteerSpot?

We decided to use VolunteerSpot because it is SO easy. Prior to VolunteerSpot, our organization had to send out e-mails. Information would slip through the cracks or we would be overwhelmed with all the e-mails back and forth. VolunteerSpot made it so easy for us—no more “reply all”. Just sign up for what you want to do, see who you will be working with and you are finished. What a great concept!

Anything else you’d like our readers to know about your organization or volunteering?

The Arc of Northern Shenandoah Valley would like to thank ALL volunteers for the selfless work you do on behalf of others. Your many gifts and talents truly do make a difference!

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To learn more about The Arc, please visit their website, http://thearcofnsv.org/default.aspx
And on Facebook!

We salute Nichole and all the volunteer heroes out there in the community. If you're using VolunteerSpot, write and tell us about what you're doing, and give us a chance to shine our Volunteer Spotlight on you!! Just email us at [email protected].