Names VCS’ Connelly as new director

Fired up and ready to roll more than 175 volunteers descended on the Parking lot at the Vicksburg Mall before heading out to participate in the 18th annual United Way of West Central Mississippi’s Day of Caring.

“The whole idea is to give a day of service back to the community, ” said Kristen Meehan, the director of marketing and community relations for the organization.

“The Day of Caring is when different companies go out and volunteer in teams for our participating agencies or other agencies,” she said.

Volunteer Tami Milazzo said she has been assigned to help cleanup flowerbeds, mulch and clean out a shed at the Central Mississippi Prevention Services. Milazzo is employed at Home Bank.

Milazzo said she has volunteered with the United Way Day of Caring in every state she has lived in.

“When I couldn’t financially donate I would donate with my time,” she said.

Milazzo said that helping out with gardening chores for the Central Mississippi Prevention Service is right up her alley.

“This will be perfect for me, she said, “ I just did this at my house last week.”

This year, volunteers will man 19 different service projects, which include the Cary Christian Center, Inc., Central Mississippi Prevention Services, Christian Volunteer Services, Community Council, Good Shepherd Community Center, Haven House, Jacob’s Ladder, Mississippi Cultural Crossroads, Boy Scouts, Mountain of Faith, Shadow Apartments, The Salvation Army, Triumphant Church, United Way West Central MS, Vicksburg Child Abuse Prevention Services, Vicksburg Family Development, Vicksburg Warren Humane Society, Warren County Children’s Shelter and the YMCA.

Volunteers represent Lady Luck Casino and Hotel, BancorpSouth, Ergon, May & Co Ameristar Casino, ATCO, PolyVulc & Power Transport Services, Boolos CPA Firm, Dillards, DiamondJacks Casino, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers District, River Region, Kroger, Alcorn University, Entergy Grand Gulf, RiverHills Bank, Claiborne Co. Board of Supervisors administrative office, Woodforest Bank, Vicksburg Police Department, Warren County Tax Assessor’s office, Home Bank and Walmart.

Service projects for the volunteers range from out door cleanup and painting to gardening and repair projects.

Meehan said, one of the projects involves entertaining residents at the Shadow Apartments.

“I have volunteered at the Shadow Apartments for more than five years,” said Michele McMahon.

“We play bingo with the men and women there and bring food and snacks to the group,” she said.

Residents at the Shadow Apartments are generally older and do not get out very often, McMahon said.

“It’s a great service project,” said McMahon, “ they all come and show up and we interact with them one on one. I just see how much they appreciate it and I just enjoy making a little bit of a difference for them.”

McMahon, who works at HMI Buying Group, said there are five or six volunteers who have gone with her to the Shadow Apartments and said, “we all love it. We’ve bonded with them.”

“Last year volunteers gave more than 1,500 hours to the community,” said Meehan, with some employers giving their employees time off to volunteer.

“Others will take the day off or use a vacation day,” Meehan said.

Along with coordinating the full day of volunteerism, the United Way of West Central Mississippi has selected Michele Connelly as their new executive director.

Connelly will join the United Way team when the organization’s current executive director, Barbara Tolliver, retires in May.

Connelly was selected by the West Central United Way committee, which was led by board chairman Christopher Chatham. Connelly has spent most of her career in education and is currently serving as the Chief Administrator of the Vicksburg Catholic School System.

“I would like to thank the United Way for giving me the opportunity to become a part of their family. I have been blessed with a chance to positively influence the lives of hundreds young men and women throughout their high school career as an administrator. As the future executive director of United Way of West Central Mississippi, I am now excited to have the opportunity to influence thousands of others in our community by helping reach the goals of the United Way. For those of you who have given your gifts and talents to support the United Way, I am ready to join each of you as we “Live United,” said Connelly.