Volunteers Needed for 2024-2025 Pulaski Program
CAP is once again seeking community volunteers to help teach its 2024-2025 Too Good for Drugs Prevention Program to fifth and sixth-grade students at Pulaski Street Intermediate School.
The Too Good for Drugs curriculum is an evidence-based life skills program. It is designed to reduce risk factors and enhance protective factors related to alcohol, nicotine/vape, and cannabis use. The lessons introduce and develop social and emotional skills for making healthy choices, building positive friendships, developing self-efficacy, communicating effectively, and resisting peer pressure. Research has linked these skills with healthy development and academic success.
“By committing just a few hours a month to teach Pulaski students about the importance of making healthy choices, CAP volunteers send a clear message to our youth that this is a community that cares about preventing and reducing youth substance use,” said Cynthia Redmond, prevention supervisor at Riverhead CAP. Ms. Redmond added, “Many of our volunteers can fit volunteering for the CAP program into their work lunch hour once a month. Some volunteers are parents, retirees, or college students looking for community service experience. CAP volunteers are a diverse group of volunteers who have a genuine interest in improving the lives of young people.”
Between training and the monthly lesson, the total commitment is only about 2-3 hours per month during the school year. No experience is necessary. CAP ensures that volunteers are fully trained and prepared each month. Each lesson is scripted, and CAP provides a flexible training schedule. Both English and Spanish-speaking volunteers are needed.
A small investment with A tremendous payoff
Dawn Vogel, controller at Apple Honda, is a longtime CAP volunteer. She started volunteering when her children were in school because, “I needed to provide good, solid information to my children so that they could make good choices in life.”
Ms. Vogel added, “The program is light and fun, and it takes just a few hours a month out of my personal life to learn the program and then present it to the children at Pulaski. It is great to see how the kids grow throughout the year and how they begin to embrace and look forward to having CAP come for their monthly visit.”
“We’re grateful for the community members who donate their time to support this program,” said Felicia Scocozza, CAP executive director. “This is our longest-running program, supported by community volunteers for over 40 years. When other organizations ask us how to replicate this, I don’t have any easy answers because Riverhead is unique in its community support.”
Additional benefits of Volunteering
According to a 2020 study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies, people who volunteered in the past year were more satisfied with their lives and rated their overall health as better. This was in comparison to people who didn’t. Additionally, the researchers found that people who volunteered at least once a month reported better mental health than participants who volunteered infrequently or not at all.
The study suggested three key factors related to volunteering. First, it appears to be “intrinsically rewarding.” Second, volunteering helps boost a sense of social connection. Finally, volunteering helps build professional skills and provides leadership opportunities.
apply online
Apply online by clicking here. You can also download a flyer to share here.
for more information
For more information, contact Cynthia Redmond, CAP prevention supervisor, at (631) 727-3722 or Volunteer@RiverheadCAP.org.
