Greater Chenango Cares IRT seeks community volunteers
NORWICH – A familiar summer installation of military vehicles, service personnel dressed in fatigues and scores of many appreciative community members will soon take over the Norwich High School Campus for the welcomed return of the Greater Chenango Cares-Innovative Readiness Training (IRT).
Beginning today, June 1, the lead local agency – the Chenango United Way – is spearheading an army of community volunteers to pull off yet another successful event that in 2015 performed nearly 15,000 procedures to some 2,400 patients at no cost – a value of more than $1.3 million.
“This was a great opportunity for our entire community in 2015, and we're pleased that the United Way was able to negotiate a contract for this to happen for a second year, right here in Chenango County,” said Victoria Mitchell who works as an administrator for the Chenango United Way (CUW).
For those unfamiliar, the military IRT is a Department of Defense (DOD) training exercise which provides real world training scenarios to military personnel and service members, all while supporting the needs of rural, under-served and economically challenged communities.
According to Mitchell and CUW Executive Director Elizabeth Monaco, the IRT will bring roughly 160 board certified physicians and practitioners from across the county to a temporary clinic based at the Norwich High School campus.
“These are doctors and care providers who are also service members; many of them operate medical practices, work in hospitals or clinics by day and serve our country in their down time,” said Mitchell.
Mitchell went on to say that many of the IRT's medical professionals she worked with and met during last years' event were passionate about reaching out to those in undeserved communities.
“Not only does the training exercise fulfill some of their military requirements, but it's also a rewarding experience for them on a personal level as well,” said Mitchell.
Community members needing to schedule appointments for dental and vision procedures including fillings, simple extractions, cleanings and vision exams (including free glasses) should call 607-337-4320. Mitchell indicates that spay and neutering procedures for pets are being pulled from last years list that went unfulfilled due to the huge response and amount of requests. Rabies vaccinations will be assessed on a walk-in basis and no appointment are necessary.
A major component to the great success of the 2015's IRT was the organization and deployment of local volunteers.
“Without our volunteers, the IRT wouldn't have come to town,” said Mitchell.
Mitchell explained that for this years' installment, the CUW will manage upwards of 400 volunteer “time slots” that will dovetail into the efficiency of the operation.
Beginning today – June 1 – the CUW's exclusive online volunteer database will “go live,” enabling hundreds of locals looking to pitch-in a conduit to help serve.
“The majority of our volunteers are tasked with assisting patients by greeting and intake paperwork, parking, patient flow and escorting,” said Monaco. “There are many opportunities to volunteer at the event, volunteers will not only be assisting our nation's service personnel; but will also be helping those in our local community as well.”
To see what time slots and volunteer opportunities are available for the IRT, visit volunteer.chenangoUW.org/aem to sign up. Volunteers without computer access are encouraged to call the CUW office at 334-8815 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to sign up.
The IRT will operate for ten days straight; July 15 – 24 including the weekend of July 16 and 17.
Beginning today, June 1, the lead local agency – the Chenango United Way – is spearheading an army of community volunteers to pull off yet another successful event that in 2015 performed nearly 15,000 procedures to some 2,400 patients at no cost – a value of more than $1.3 million.
“This was a great opportunity for our entire community in 2015, and we're pleased that the United Way was able to negotiate a contract for this to happen for a second year, right here in Chenango County,” said Victoria Mitchell who works as an administrator for the Chenango United Way (CUW).
For those unfamiliar, the military IRT is a Department of Defense (DOD) training exercise which provides real world training scenarios to military personnel and service members, all while supporting the needs of rural, under-served and economically challenged communities.
According to Mitchell and CUW Executive Director Elizabeth Monaco, the IRT will bring roughly 160 board certified physicians and practitioners from across the county to a temporary clinic based at the Norwich High School campus.
“These are doctors and care providers who are also service members; many of them operate medical practices, work in hospitals or clinics by day and serve our country in their down time,” said Mitchell.
Mitchell went on to say that many of the IRT's medical professionals she worked with and met during last years' event were passionate about reaching out to those in undeserved communities.
“Not only does the training exercise fulfill some of their military requirements, but it's also a rewarding experience for them on a personal level as well,” said Mitchell.
Community members needing to schedule appointments for dental and vision procedures including fillings, simple extractions, cleanings and vision exams (including free glasses) should call 607-337-4320. Mitchell indicates that spay and neutering procedures for pets are being pulled from last years list that went unfulfilled due to the huge response and amount of requests. Rabies vaccinations will be assessed on a walk-in basis and no appointment are necessary.
A major component to the great success of the 2015's IRT was the organization and deployment of local volunteers.
“Without our volunteers, the IRT wouldn't have come to town,” said Mitchell.
Mitchell explained that for this years' installment, the CUW will manage upwards of 400 volunteer “time slots” that will dovetail into the efficiency of the operation.
Beginning today – June 1 – the CUW's exclusive online volunteer database will “go live,” enabling hundreds of locals looking to pitch-in a conduit to help serve.
“The majority of our volunteers are tasked with assisting patients by greeting and intake paperwork, parking, patient flow and escorting,” said Monaco. “There are many opportunities to volunteer at the event, volunteers will not only be assisting our nation's service personnel; but will also be helping those in our local community as well.”
To see what time slots and volunteer opportunities are available for the IRT, visit volunteer.chenangoUW.org/aem to sign up. Volunteers without computer access are encouraged to call the CUW office at 334-8815 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to sign up.
The IRT will operate for ten days straight; July 15 – 24 including the weekend of July 16 and 17.
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