New Organization Brings Affton Schools, Volunteers Together

There’s a new sheriff in town…for volunteers.

The Affton Community Volunteer Organization, or ACVO, has recently been formed to help local do-gooders find needed service opportunities with the .

“People want to volunteer, but they want a purpose to volunteer, and they don’t to get there and stand around,” said Pam Knox, director and founder of ACVO. “I felt that the community would benefit from having a coordinator.”

The goal of ACVO is to sign up and vet volunteers and communicate clearly what is needed and what volunteers can expect at the schools.

Interested volunteers of all ages can sign up on the ACVO website. Just put down your contact information, interests and available days, and ACVO will contact you with appropriate volunteer opportunities.

Knox said that after kicking off ACVO’s activities last week with a 50-plus coffee gathering at , the website has already received a dozen applications.

ACVO also worked last week with Webster University through the Webster Works program. According to Affton High secretary Maria McDermott, faculty
and student volunteers from Webster visited Affton to weed and plant around the campus, hold vision screenings for all freshman and juniors, install computer software for the Project Lead the Way class and sort supplies for the new
Biomed class.

Knox said 16 Webster University volunteers turned out to help.

The volunteering can go both ways, however, with ACVO finding ways for the school district to serve the Affton community. ACVO has organized a weekly water fitness class using the Affton High School pool, taught by certified instructor Margie Ker. Classes cost $40 for the eight-week session for district residents. An Affton High student volunteers one of her study periods to act as lifeguard for the class.

For more information about ACVO’s activities, or to work with ACVO, call 314-638-8770 or visit their Facebook page.