Home Business Ascendium employees lend a hand at East Madison Community Center

Ascendium employees lend a hand at East Madison Community Center

0
Ascendium employees lend a hand at East Madison Community Center
Ascendium employees pose for a photo after a volunteer shift at EMCC. Pictured are Kathleen Flint, Kayla Rodger, Tiffany Hastings, Samuel Rosenberry, Arielle Endres and Nicole Anderson. Photo by Michelle Meyer

By Dana Spychalla
Ascendium Education Group

The East Madison Community Center (EMCC), located just off Wright Street near Madison College’s Truax campus, provides programming to more than 7,000 individuals each year. With a lean staff of three full-time employees and eight part-timers, the center relies heavily on support from volunteers and local businesses.

“The EMCC must have support from Northside businesses and the more than 300 volunteers that come through our doors each year,” said De’Kendrea Stamps, EMCC’s assistant director. “Without their help, we would not be able to provide such comprehensive programming.”

EMCC has been a staple in the community for more than 50 years and is a vital resource for many Northside families. The center provides afterschool programs and a weekly food pantry open to the public on Tuesdays. EMCC also provides job skills training and access to a computer lab for adults looking to further their careers. 

Ascendium Education Group has a strong tradition of supporting Northside nonprofits, so when EMCC reached out to Ascendium asking for help, the company answered the call. Throughout the year, Ascendium employees have been volunteering at EMCC as part of the Ascendium Cares Volunteer Time Off (VTO) program. Employees receive eight hours of VTO each year to volunteer at local nonprofits of their choice. So far this year, Ascendium employees have used more than 110 VTO hours helping EMCC achieve its mission.

Ascendium volunteers have pitched in at EMCC in a variety of ways, including tutoring, staffing the food pantry and performing data entry. 

“I personally wanted to help out at EMCC because I had been there before and had positive experiences,” said Tiffany Hastings, an Ascendium loan counselor who recently volunteered at the center with a group of seven co-workers. “They always keep you busy and you feel like it really benefits people in your community.”

Stamps said EMCC’s greatest volunteer need is for the food pantry, which is particularly suitable for larger groups of volunteers from area companies. The center also needs help each week preparing snacks for students attending afterschool programming and to staff their monthly adult/senior bingo game.

“EMCC is the perfect place to get to know your neighbors, build up our community and strengthen connections,” said Stamps.

A list of volunteer opportunities is available at eastmadisoncc.org/volunteer.