Pathways for the Future 
 
Mailing Address: 525 Mineral Springs Drive
Sylva, NC 28779

Phone: 828-631-1167 

Website: http://www.pathwayscil.org

Location: From Cullowhee, take Highway 107 to Sylva. Turn right onto the Asheville Highway; go past McDonald's and the BP service station towards Waynesville on Highway 74. You will soon pass an upholstery shop/beauty shop on your right. After you will see Freeman Gas Company on your left, and a sign for a staffed recycling center on Mineral Springs Drive. Turn left across the four lane onto Mineral Springs. About half of a mile on your left is 525 Mineral Springs Drive. Pathways and the SRC share the same access
road. 

Agency description: A nonprofit organization, Pathways advocates for people with cross-disabilities. We offer four core services: (1) Information and Referral, (2) Peer Counseling, (3) Independent Living Skills Classes,  (4) Advocacy. Volunteers in the CyberPals program are needed to assist in recycling of donated computers. Also needed are people to help train in the use of computers. Volunteers in the Kids on the Block will perform rehearsed skits at local schools and health fairs in the seven western counties. Assistance is also needed in the office.  Other programs, such as the DOAD (Disabilities Outdoor Awareness Day) are held once a year and would require only a brief donation of volunteer time.

Projects:CyberPals is a program where donated computers are recycled, refurbished, and placed into homes of persons with disabilities, thereby allowing them to communicate with others and access the internet at no cost. Kids on the Block is a puppet show for children, which heightens awareness and understanding of various disabilities. Super Kids Awareness Today (SKAT) is an outdoor recreational and educational event designed to accommodate children with special needs.  Disability Outdoor Awareness Day (DOAD) is a day of festivities and adaptive recreational activities geared toward equal access for persons with cross-disabilities.

Training: 6-8 hours of training are required for both CyberPals and Kids on the Block. 

Time commitment: For the puppet shows, Pathways needs volunteers who are available one to two hours a month during the school day, 9 am to 3 p.m. Volunteers for the CyberPals are needed 2-3 hours a week. Other commitments vary according to the task.

Skills, experiences, and special requirements: Individuals with computer repair or computer knowledge to train consumers on Internet basics are needed for CyberPals. Kids on the Block needs people with communication and some theater arts skills. Therapeutic recreation and related skills are beneficial in working with disabled persons. 

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