Needs From: Waverly-Shell Rock Area United Way

Need help with our newsletter-We have the template, just need a writer or someone with desktop publishing skills, to write summaries based on our past events (2024 and 2025) and add pictures. We will supply the summary, press releases, facebook posts and google drive picture folder, but this person will need to summarize, shorten to fit the template spaces, and choose pictures. Final product can be pdf or word doc. 

Need help designing and building shelving/storage for program totes of various sizes and heights in the upstairs bedroom/attic or garage.

Help make poured candles and laundry soap and put into containers to sell in gift shop OR help make lotion bars.

This will be done in conjunction with our Board members.

Install drywall, insulation in walls/gift shop and bathroom/Tyvek. Then maybe mud, tape and paint drywall.

Scrape and repaint the horse hitch post and cleaning

Paint trim white around garage attic exterior window. Need 8ft ladder.

Help "strip" and maybe sand (steel wool or light grade sandpaper) small antique wood stove.

Fence repair- NEED two pickets replaced. Stain provided.

Lifting, Carrying, Organizing

May involve getting into the garage attic on a step ladder Inventory and organization of salvaged materials in the garage and garage attic (woodwork, trim, boards) Help move program totes into the garage or upstairs from inside the back room. Lifting and maybe going up stairs.

Square POS

Assisting with new Square POS system setup and optimization

Creating online registration and donation systems

Developing QR code resources RSVPs for activities and fundraising

Exploring online gift shop opportunities

Providing basic technology training for board members and volunteers

Help with spreadsheet creation and projections

Inventory system creation    

Marketing, Public Relations, and Communications

·       Social media content creation and campaign development

·       Website updates and digital storytelling

·       Press release writing and media outreach

·       Newsletter writing, design, and publication

·       Community engagement and audience development

·       Branding and promotional materials-Sturdevant logos, Waverly promotional materials

Graphic Design and Media Production

·       Poster, brochure, and signage design

·       Creation of self-guided tour materials and QR code resources

·       Photography and videography projects

·       Editing promotional videos and oral history interviews

·       Development of educational and interpretive displays

History, Museum Studies, and Education

·       Historical research related to the Sturdevant family and Waverly history

·       Curriculum and lesson development for school and homeschool programs

·       Design of hands-on educational activities and exhibits

·       Program planning and implementation for museum visitors

·       Research and development of living history experiences-research, steps, how-to and props/supplies needed

·       Teaching hands-on or programming if schedule allows

English and Writing

·       Writing and editing press releases

·       Developing newsletter content and donor communications

·       Creating educational scripts and interpretive materials

·       Producing promotional copy for events and fundraising campaigns

·       Mock up of possible Facebook/social media posts

Business, Nonprofit Management, and Fundraising

·       Grant research and grant-writing assistance

·       Donor database organization and stewardship projects

·       Fundraising campaign planning and implementation

·       Sponsorship outreach and development

·       Event planning and volunteer coordination

Sturdevant House volunteers have the opportunity to:

·       Gain practical experience in a nonprofit and museum environment.

·       Build professional portfolios through meaningful projects.

·       Develop leadership, communication, and project management skills.

·       Work closely with community members, volunteers, and local historians.

·       Make a lasting impact on preserving and sharing Waverly's heritage.

 BOLD=Urgent Need

1. Help with yard repair, adding top soil and maybe grass seed to low spots due to construction equipment and trucks and workers from a construction project to replace the south house wall. 

2.Re-lay a brick path with Polymer/Polymeric sand and tamping. 

3. Raking the yard, spreading fertilizer and weed killer (10/10/10) and putting down grass seed and mulching or germination cover (potting soil/compost/straw).

4. Planting flowers that will be provided or heirloom plants.
5. Pulling weeds, cutting out saplings or volunteer trees (mulberry and walnut shrub trees)

OR THESE:

 Inventory and organization of salvaged materials in the garage and garage attic
Small-scale repair and maintenance initiatives; construction projects for storage needs

 Scrape and repaint the horse hitch post and cleaning an antique wood stove.

Helping stain siding (or put up siding) if we go with Cedar sheets.

Fence repair- NEED two pickets replaced. Spahn and Rose? Need measurements and style done first.

Paint trim around garage attic window exterior

  Install insulation in walls/gift shop and bathroom/Tyvek

  Help move program totes in garage or upstairs.  Need help designing and building shelving/storage for such in the upstairs or garage.

Landscaping

Fix brick path in heirloom garden

 
·Get rock and help spread landscape said landscape rock around north foundation and possible on south side-NEED TO create the landscape barrier and edginge.

Dig trench for drainage on east side of the garage. The back yard is low and fills in with rain water flooding the garage foundation. We have a plan and would like to consult with volunteers to do this. Simple job, even though it sounds difficult.

Ongoing needs: Planting flowers, light weeding, small-scale repair and maintenance initiatives

ON UNITED WAY DAY OF CARING 2026: LANDSCAPING:

Construction, Trades, and Landscape Projects
● Preservation projects under guidance from experienced volunteers

 Landscaping

1. Apply weed control -May need to skid loader scrape the existing “grass” and start over.

Round up the yard and start over

Grass seed with fertilizer and cover with compost or peat moss so birds don’t eat seed and it doesn’t wash away.

2. Fix brick path in heirloom garden-reset base material and use Polymer sand

  3. Dig trench for drainage on east side of the garage. The back yard is low and fills in with rain water flooding the garage foundation. We have a plan and would like to consult with volunteers to do this. Simple job, even though it sounds difficult.

4. Get rock and help spread landscape said landscape rock around north foundation and possibly on south side-NEED TO create the landscape barrier and edging on South side first. Possibly on west side of garage to prevent washing out where downspout comes out onto the driveway.

Ongoing needs: Planting flowers, light weeding, trimming, small-scale repair and maintenance initiatives

1. The exterior siding needs to be removed and replaced on the back portion of the house. We will provide the sheets of cedar siding. Need volunteers to help remove it and put new back on, with Tyvek or moisture barrier, may need help staining the siding beforehand. Need construction minded people with the know how to guide us and our volunteers,  or someone with this knowledge to help direct us.

Also, small sidewalk repair task a possibility in the backyard. If we can find a good used one; Install a new screen door on the walk in door of the garage is another possibility.  

Our new wall construction will be concluding in the next couple of weeks/late April and we will need help with heavy duty cleaning, now and after. For this post construction clean up: Shop vac available with hepa filter or change filter frequently, air purifiers, dust rags and spray, step ladder, stool, cleaning vents, setting gift shop back up by placing items out on tables and racks, and more. 
After May, we will be having events in July, September, October, November/December.  We need help prior to these events: cleaning, vacuuming floors/walls with shop vac, dusting and cleaning interior windows and help setting up tables, chairs, demonstration areas, and more. All supplies are furnished.