LOV's Executive Director Responds to Dispute With School District

The following is a letter to the editor from Shirley Sisk, executive director for the League of Volunteers. The nonprofit , according to officials.

I am responding to [Patch’s] article and [LOV’s] need to find space as a result of the future sale of Ruschin School. 

We do owe the Newark Unified School District some back rent. We intend to pay it back. We have been at Ruschin with our offices and MacGregor with our weekly bingos, which provide us our only monthly income, since October 2005.

In that time we have paid the District over $300,000.

This is new money for them. Extra money that they have used to add to their income and help them provide services to the children of Newark. We have had a great working relationship with the District and are grateful for them for giving us the opportunity to use their empty space and providing a way for us to operate our many programs that also serve – not only the children, but senior citizens and those in need.

About our services: - we recently had our annual fundraiser for the Arts In Schools program. Last school year we provided assemblies for 15,816 children with 45 assemblies in 16 schools. We are now gearing up for the 33rd annual free summer recreation in 2 parks in Newark.

We will provide 6 weeks of games, sports, arts & crafts, daily exercise, breakfast snack and lunch for 250-300 children ages 5-12 a day.

We are the official U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots agency for the Tri-Cities. Last year our volunteers collected – counted – bagged 5,406 toys to give to agencies with children in need such as: Second Chance, The Salvation Army, the Viola Blythe Center and  25 others in the Tri-Cities.

Our 24th annual Thanksgiving Day Meal program provided 4,483 meals at the Pavilion and to the homebound. This included distributing nearly 800 bags of groceries to guests, a children’s craft room and entertainment. It also provided a wonderful opportunity for 242 volunteers to share the joy of making this holiday special for those less fortunate. 

Our free children’s holiday party & bingo saw over 350 enjoy an evening with Santa & Mrs Claus and play bingo for toys where everyone was a winner.

Our free October – May monthly concerts at MacGregor are special to senior citizens and there is nothing more delightful than seeing a senior in a wheel chair –“dancing” with one of our Arts Council members.

Adopt-a-Family – 197 children & 112 adults were provided gifts and food baskets for Christmas. 

There is more – a five day a week food pantry – scholarships in music, fine art and photography for graduating seniors and many opportunities for volunteer service for all ages.

Last year 1,084 volunteers provided 25,570 hours of service to help bring these programs to the community. We couldn’t do it without them as our staff consists of only 2 full time and 2 part time dedicated personnel.

We also couldn’t do it without the support of the community as we have never received any government money. It is the generosity of individuals, companies, grants, fundraising events and our weekly bingos that make this happen.

On April 1st – we will be 34 years old.  We are working with the school district and others and we hope we can look forward to many years serving the community,

Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to bring this information to your many viewers.

Shirley Sisk, LOV Executive Director