Nearly 20 new “ambassadors” for Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry (Outreach) attended the first Outreach Ambassador training session in late March.
“Our Ambassador Program was developed to bring Outreach back to its historic roots as a true community-based organization,” said Carol Newton, Outreach’s executive director. “Our ambassadors will serve as liaisons between their organization and Outreach, carrying the message about our programs and our services to their fellow members.”
Newton continued, “Outreach was founded upon the idea of local churches pooling their resources to better serve the needy of this county, and we looked to the churches again as we launched this program.”
Very soon, the organization hopes to add to their roster of ambassadors by extending membership to service clubs, businesses and other local organizations.
Anna McClure serves as the Ambassador Program coordinator and as Outreach’s volunteer coordinator. McClure joined the organization in March, after spending 10 years with Community Health Connections, an affiliate of St. Luke’s Hospital. She is the wife of Pastor Charles McClure of Mountain Creek Baptist Church and a lifelong resident of Polk County.
“Anna’s skills, life experience and knowledge of the county and its residents made her a natural fit for this job,” said Newton.
Since joining Outreach, McClure has focused on getting to know individual volunteers, as well as volunteer recruitment.
“I believe there are many more people in Polk County who would find volunteering at Outreach a rewarding experience,” said McClure. “After all, when we volunteer our time, we serve as ‘our brother’s keeper,’” a role McClure believes offers mission opportunities on a day-to-day basis and a sense of satisfaction in knowing you have reached out to your neighbor.
To find out about Outreach’s many volunteer opportunities and how you can lend your talents to make a difference please call, McClure at 828-894-2988.