V-LINC - Providing Independence through Technology -

Robbie can swing in his wheelchair now, thanks to a group of volunteers.

This scooter was modified by a volunteer so that a six-year-old boy who cannot walk for long distances could use it. Now, he no longer has to ride in a stroller when the family goes out on the weekends.

Volunteers built William, a man with quadriplegia, a pill dispenser so he could take his medication without asking for assistance

We've Merged!

Hugh Evans Kicks off Volunteer Event

My name is Hugh Evans and my day job is portfolio manager at T Rowe Price, but my night job is serving as the President of the Board of V-LINC...  Read more
 







Among the volunteers recognized was Greg Dunn who made significant adaptations to a scooter for Isaiah, who was born with multiple birth defect.  A very heart warming story.  Here is Isaiah with his parents with volunteer Greg Dunn (shown with his award for Project of the Year)...  Read more

Happy Holidays from V-LINC
It’s the holiday season again and I want to thank you all on such a fantastic year at V-LINC.  There have been quite a few things that have happened over the past year and I’d just like to list a few:

• What I Wish campaign approved 10 projects for Maryland families
• Volunteers have worked on 29 projects this year, 15 are still in progress
• Brett Wolf takes the reins as Volunteer Coordinator

There are 75 active and registered volunteers with V-LINC with many different areas of specialty:

Required Background Checks

I'd like to thank Ted Gifford and John Haug for being the first two to complete the background check process.  You both were quick and timely in getting this taken care of and on behalf of myself and V-LINC we thank you!

For those who haven't yet done so, I'd like to remind everyone that background checks are required to be completed by all volunteers by January 1!  The background checks are being conducted through the company Pre-Employ.com.  The process is very simple: go to the website https://www.pre-employ.com/eap and enter the package code: OI022 (that would be the capital letters "O" and "I" then numerals Zero Two Two)

For those who still haven’t seen it!
Here is a link to the video that was filmed last spring with the help of students at Stevenson University and Breanne Reynolds terrific direction.  It is on the new V-LINC website via a link to YouTube which you can find on any page, except the home page, in the column on the right.  Thanks to the many volunteers who were interviewed to make this video a great tool to promote our volunteer program.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnYksrf-4_A

Hours
It’s coming to that time again.  Hours are due again December 31^st.  Make sure your keeping a running tab of your hours, and submit them soon!

V-LINC Video Unveiled

Here is a link to the video that was filmed last spring with the help of students at Stevenson University and Breanne Reynolds terrific direction.  It is on the new V-LINC website via a link to YouTube which you can find on any page, except the home page, in the column on the right.  Thanks to the many volunteers who were interviewed to make this video a great tool to promote our volunteer program.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnYksrf-4_A
 
New Volunteer Coordinator:
Hello everybody!  My name is Brett Wolf; I am the new volunteer coordinator for V-LINC.  I, like the previous Coordinator Breanne, am joining V-LINC through the Americorps program Volunteer Maryland.  I will be working to expand the volunteer program and do my best to get to know all of you.  I will also be working with John Walker on coordinating efforts on completing projects and finding new projects for you all to do!
 
As for some background on myself, I am actually new to the East Coast/Baltimore area, I just recently graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in Life Science, and came to the DC area looking for work.  After many months of looking I came upon the great program that brought me here today!  I am currently living in Hyattsville, MD with my fiancé.  We are both happy to be here and I look forward to working with all of you.
 

Christine’s Helmet

JHU & V-LINC Volunteers Stan Ollendorf and Mark Schlein Help Young Woman in Canada

V-LINC’s Project Coordinator (and volunteer) John Walker has his hands full with a project to help Christine in Alberta, Canada. Here is the request we received from Christine:

"I was told about your organization by … a biomedical engineer from the Georgia Institute of Technology. I have a severe nerve condition (brainstem mediated polyneuropathy) which prohibits me from having the right side of my face exposed to direct sunlight (due to its heat), wind/air currents, air temperatures below 84 F, strong odors, rain, and a number of other things. I live in Canada (where I live it gets down to -62 in the winter) a two bedroom suite (shared with my 19 year old brother and 16 year old sister) 24/7, with all the windows and doors shut, no fans running, the blinds turned to block out the sun, and the heat turned up to 84-86 F. Since I can\'t leave the house, I cannot access medical care (and thus cannot even get treatment for my condition), work (although I'm trying to start a home based business so I can help provide for the household, my future, and my sister's education), have a social life, do the most basic things like go to the grocery store (I'm completely dependent on my brother and sister for everything), or pursue my career goals (cinematographer/documentary filmmaker).I believe, however, I have come up with a solution, and I need your help to make it a reality. I need a modified and customized helmet, similar to a NASA space helmet, which will completely encase my head, protecting it from cold, wind, and sunlight. The helmet is my key to life - the first and most important thing is that it will allow me to leave the house, thereby allowing me access to medical care, and it will also allow me to work, and pursue higher education, a career, and accomplish my life goals. It will enable me to travel, be involved in the community, have friends, live a normal life... I have drawn up drafts and researched a lot about the materials that would be needed and I have a fairly thorough idea of how the helmet would work. I just need someone who will be my go-to person in helping turn it from sketches on a page into a reality that will give me my life back. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this."

Learn more about Christine by following her on YouTube. Click here and scroll to the last video on our list. She is an amazing young woman.

Farewell!

As most of you know, I came to VME (and now V-LINC) through Volunteer Maryland, which is an AmeriCorps program. My service year has come to an end, and graduate school awaits. I have really enjoyed the time I have spent here and am constantly inspired by all of you. As I told the Board recently, I used to work at a company that had a lot of people running around thinking that they were doing really important work. But I’d argue that what you all do is loads more important. It’s not every day that the average person can change someone else’s life. But you do! And even if that change seems small to you or me, it can be huge to our clients and their families.

I’ll be getting my Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from Loyola and plan to work in rehab when I’m done. There’s a good chance, I’ll be back – this time as a volunteer! Between now and then, you can reach me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Best,
Breanne

New Website Launched!