Volunteer Efforts
Pets on Wheels is a group of dedicated volunteers who team up with their own pet to enhance the days of residents in long-term care facilities by helping loneliness to disappear. Volunteers are pet lovers who are willing to share their obedient pets, and their love of animals with those who need an extra bit of unrestricted love. Volunteers are asked to commit to a minimum of one hour per week visiting the facility of their choice. Friendships are established and the very strong human-animal bond results in happiness for everyone. Residents, families, nurses and doctors, as well as the volunteers appreciate the power of PFT (Pet Facilitated Therapy), and the unconditional love pets bring.
One of the benefits of volunteering for Pets on Wheels is that you are provided insurance protection while performing your volunteer duties.
Love licks loneliness. To get you and your pet involved or to find out more information about this valuable program, their website is http://www.powlemm.org/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stephanie reading to 3rd graders at Murch Elementary School in Washington, DC. This was through the BookPALS organization in partnership with Lionsgate Films to promote "Happly N'Ever After" their new animated film, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. More information on the premier http://happilyneverafterthefilm.com/ In theaters January 5, 2007!
Stephanie at the New Orleans YMCA, visiting with students. - August 2006
BookPALS (Performing Artists for Literacy in Schools) is an all volunteer program that consists exclusively of professional performing artists who donate their time and talent to read aloud to classrooms of children attending public schools in at risk neighborhoods.
Our volunteers go into classrooms an hour a week, for the entire school year, to read and discuss a story with the children. Who better to make the magic of books come alive than actors, whose art is the art of storytelling?
Central Special School, Edgewater, MD-“On our way to Old Navy, our job site with student Chris Schrader.”
These kids are a testament that no disability, large or small can keep you from working toward your goals! I urge people to volunteer and/or work with students who are mentally and physically disabled-they need our support!
Stephanie with Mrs. Lory's Fourth Grade class at Pasadena Elementary
BookPALS believe that every child should get the same chance for success and that "language is the basic ingredient of school and community success. Nothing nurtures language skills as well as reading aloud to a child . . ." (Jim Trelease, Read Aloud Handbook)
Adults say BookPALS nurture language skills and increase literacy. But kids say we offer them something fun--- being read to by a professional performing artist who can make the stories come alive!
I encourage any actor interested in this program to contact their local BookPALS branch. See the website link for more info: