Voluntary Action Center is a nonprofit social service agency funded by Columbia Area United Way, the City of Columbia, Boone County, the Interfaith Council of Churches FISH Fund, FEMA, Boone Electric Trust, Veterans groups, and business and individual donations.
Voluntary Action Center (VAC) has a heart for service, providing a wide variety of resources and assistance through unique programs designed to address unmet needs, giving low-income people the opportunity to gain independence, overcome crises, meet their basic needs, and improve their quality of life. VAC also connects local agencies and volunteers with opportunities to respond to serious social problems and community issues.
Volunteers who identified the need for a central volunteer coordination agency and an information bureau founded the Voluntary Action Center in Columbia, Missouri, in 1969. As the agency grew, emphasis shifted from volunteer-related services to information, referral and advocacy. The agency continued to identify gaps in service and as a result, began providing emergency assistance in areas of basic need such as food, shelter, clothing, transportation and prescriptions. Today, VAC is an established social service agency, essential to clients, agencies and the community as a whole.
1969 The Volunteer and Information Center (VIC) was formed by Hazel Riback, Gertrude Marshall and Helen Mitchell, who saw the need in our community for a central volunteer coordination agency and an information bureau. The agency was run by a dedicated group of volunteers for the first several years, with office hours in the morning only.
1971 This was a year of big changes. VIC became incorporated as a nonprofit agency, a paid director was hired and United Way funding was obtained for the first time.
1973 During this year the agency affiliated with the National Center for Voluntary Action, the name was changed to Voluntary Action Center (VAC), the office hours were expanded, and the Newsletter was published for the first time.
1974 The first Recognition Dinner was held during National Volunteer Week.
1977 The Interfaith Council of Churches and VAC formed a partnership which allowed VAC to administer the
FISH Fund.
1983 VAC was forced to evaluate its services and defend its funding proposals, a difficult process that strengthened the agency began to solidify its in the community. The Christmas Program began this year and VAC worked with the City's Office of Community Services to publish a Directory of Community Services.
1990-2000 VAC & J. C. Penney sponsored the Golden Rule Awards to honor outstanding community volunteers.
1993 This year, VAC moved from the downtown location of 111 S. 9th St. to its present location of 800 N. Providence. VAC connected with the youth community in Columbia in many ways, by coordinating the first MU Volunteer Fair, hiring the first CARE student as a summertime employee, and adding a high school student to its board. VAC also hosted its first
Christmas in July picnic.
1994 VAC became a Partner in Education at Hickman High School with service club, Trireme, and published the first Helping Hand Catalog of Volunteers.
1999 This was a commemorative year at VAC when it celebrated its 30th Anniversary and received a Missouri House of Representative Resolution Recognition plaque, presented by Vicky Riback Wilson, daughter of VAC's founder - Hazel Riback. VAC also established the
Youth Enrichment Fund.
2000 VAC received many honors: the Chamber of Commerce Not-for-Profit Business of the Year, the Social Work Agency of the Year award by the Missouri Chapter of National Association of Social Workers and Phoenix Programs' Local Agency of the Year.
2002 VAC worked hard to establish a host of new programs with other groups in the community: Project Bridge, with Phoenix Programs; the Hero Awards to honor outstanding community volunteers, with the Columbia Daily Tribune and the first annual Directory of Youth Volunteer Opportunities , with the City of Columbia Office of Volunteer Services. VAC also established their Endowment Fund and held the first
Spring Into Action fundraiser.
2005 VAC and Sheriff's Department partnered for a
Golf Tournament to benefit
Youth Enrichment Fund. VAC also provided emergency services for multiple evacuees from Hurricane Katrina and housed a case manager who worked specifically with these families.
2007 Over the past 35+ years, VAC has grown from a 15 hour a week agency run by volunteers to a full-time center. Today, we have 5 full-time employees, 2 part-time employees, 1-2 interns per semester and summer CARE students. We look forward to the future as we continue to serve the community.