Volunteer
PACT is volunteer driven. Community engagement, development, and unity are at the forefront of all of the events and programs PACT develops. We can’t do that without volunteers! Volunteering gives people the opportunity to invest into our community in ways that work for them, and all it takes is to show up & take action!
Volunteer Enrollment Form (All Ages)
Silver Cord Program Documents (9th-12th Grade)
Appanoose Activists Program Documents (Adult Volunteers)
The Volunteer Incentive Program’s goal is to record, recruit and encourage involvement from community members, throughout Appanoose County and of all ages, willing to take time to lend a helping hand at PACT sponsored events & other community activities. Volunteer service will be recorded for 6-8th grades (Ripple Effect), 9-12th grades (Silver Cords), & Adults 18+ (Appanoose Activists). Hours will be recorded by the volunteer through our digital submission form. Paper forms are available upon request. Tiered levels of rewards will begin once the volunteer has reached various hours of service, as listed at the bottom of the page.
Getting Started
- ALL volunteers complete the digital enrollment form.
- Students (grades 6-12) must submit a completed parent consent form to the PACT office in person or by email ([email protected]) Prior to submitting hours.
- Students & Adult Volunteers can reference the Volunteer Opportunities document to find pre-approved organizations and events to volunteer for or they can find outside opportunities. Volunteers can reach out if they have questions about whether or not a volunteer opportunity meets the requirements for the Ripple Effect, Silver Cord, or Volunteer Program by emailing [email protected].
- Once a volunteer is enrolled in the program, they can begin submitting their hours using the Google Form specific to their enrolled program listed below.
- Volunteers will receive an updated log of the hours once they have reached tier levels of rewards.
This program is based on the honor system, so no verification documentation needs to be submitted after each volunteer activity is completed. However, we do require that students include a contact name and phone number for the organization they volunteer with. This will only be used if the validity of the submitted hours comes into question.
Program Specifics
Ripple Effect (6th-8th Grade Students)
The Ripple Effect Program was created to help middle school students discover the value of giving back at an early age. Through hands-on volunteer experiences, students build leadership skills, connect with their community, and learn how even small acts of service can create a lasting impact.
- Open to all 6th–8th grade students in the Centerville, Moravia, and Moulton-Udell school districts. Students can begin earning hours during the summer before their 6th grade year.
- Earn rewards for volunteering:
- 8 volunteer hours = $25 reward
- 20 volunteer hours = additional $50 reward
- These financial incentives are made possible by C1st Credit Union in Centerville!
- The 8th grade student with the most cumulative volunteer hours throughout middle school receives a $250 grand prize. Volunteer hours reset each school year, but cumulative totals are tracked for the grand prize. Students are encouraged to volunteer with multiple organizations to explore different interests and causes.
- Program designed to help students develop lifelong volunteer habits before entering high school programs like Silver Cords.
Silver Cords (9th-12th Grade Students)
Silver Cords encourages high school students to become active leaders in their community through meaningful volunteer service. The program helps students build leadership skills, explore career interests, strengthen college and scholarship applications, and develop a lifelong understanding of the impact community involvement can make.
- Open to students in grades 9–12 in the Centerville, Moravia, and Moulton-Udell school districts.
- Students who complete 80 volunteer hours throughout high school earn:
- A Silver Cord to wear at graduation
- Special recognition in the commencement program
- Eligibility to apply for additional PACT scholarship opportunities
- Students can begin earning hours during the summer before their freshman year.
- Students must volunteer with at least four different organizations throughout high school to encourage a wide variety of service experiences (Beginning with the Class of 2027, at least 30% of required hours must be completed with PACT)
- Students may count up to six job shadowing hours per year toward their Silver Cord requirement.
Appanoose Activists (Adult Volunteers)
The Appanoose Activist Program is designed to encourage lifelong community involvement by giving adults a meaningful way to stay engaged, connected, and invested in Appanoose County. Whether someone is continuing the volunteer habits they developed through Ripple Effect or Silver Cords, or getting involved for the very first time, this program celebrates the impact that giving back can have on both individuals and the community as a whole.
- Open to adults ages 18+ who live, work, or volunteer in Appanoose County.
- The Appanoose Activists program year runs from April through March each year, allowing participants and incentive winners to be recognized publicly at the annual PACT Banquet each spring
- Participants track volunteer hours completed throughout the calendar year with local nonprofits, community organizations, schools, civic groups, and events
- Participants earn recognition and incentives as they reach volunteer milestones:
- 25 Hours — Community Connector
- 50 Hours — Community Champion
- 100 Hours — Appanoose Activist
- To encourage continued involvement in county-wide initiatives and events, at least 50% of volunteer hours submitted toward incentive levels must be completed through PACT-led volunteer opportunities.
- The program is designed to fit a wide variety of schedules, interests, and abilities — whether you volunteer once a month or every week.
“Volunteering is at the very core of being a human. No one has made it through life without someone else’s help.”
– Heather French Henry