A Force of Passion – Trina Cason

Trina Cason – AmeriCorps*VISTA, Georgetown County United Way AmeriCorps*VISTA Collaborative Georgetown, South Carolina Healthy Futures

Trina Cason is living proof that a door closed is a window opened. She came in to Georgetown County United Way AmeriCorps*VISTA Collaborative three weeks later than the other members as a replacement for a member who dropped out. Since coming in to the Collaborative, Trina has blown away her four fellow VISTA members and the Collaborative’s agency partners with her enthusiasm and dedication. Trina has rotated among three agencies: Smith Medical Clinic, Friendship Place, and Neighbor to Neighbor.

Trina revitalized Smith Medical Clinic’s volunteer infrastructure. At Friendship Place she has created a program to increase the number of days their van transports clients to Smith Medical Clinic. Trina is also running a successful campaign for Friendship Place’s volunteer “Rome” Washington, to win the Collaborative’s 2012 Distinguished Volunteer of the Year Award. She has created a YouTube video “VOTE FOR JEROME ‘ROME’ WASHINGTON – HE DESERVES YOUR VOTE” to encourage the public in Georgetown County to vote for Rome. Her efforts have encouraged 45 people and counting to register on the United Way’s Get Connected virtual volunteer center to vote for Rome. These 45 people are now a part of the Get Connected volunteer database and will continue to be updated about the needs of the Collaborative’s partner agencies after Trina’s service year is over.

Although Trina is a force of passion at all three of her organizations, Trina’s heart and soul undoubtedly belong with Neighbor to Neighbor. Neighbor to Neighbor is a volunteer based organization in Georgetown and Horry Counties that provides transportation for the elderly and home-bound adults to doctor’s appointments and other errands. It is no exaggeration to say that Trina single-handedly established Neighbor to Neighbor’s presence in Georgetown County. She has recruited and trained over 30 volunteers who use their own time and gas money to drive their neighbors where they are unable to take themselves. Neighbor to Neighbor’s nominee for the Distinguished Volunteer of the Year Award spent over 100 hours driving 1380 miles to provide 48 rides for his neighbors. None of those rides would have happened without Trina.

Trina is so dedicated to Neighbor to Neighbor that she has joined their board and continues to volunteer in her own time with them, long after her rotation has given her cause. She is passionate about her service and has no problem imparting that passion to others. It is all but impossible not to be excited about service after talking to her! For the passion and joy she has brought to me and her fellow VISTA members, it is my honor to nominate Trina Cason for the 2012 National Service Impact Awards. Please help me to repay and encourage that passion by giving Trina the opportunity to attend the National Conference on Volunteering and Service. Thank you for your time.