While attending an AARP conference at the age of 85, John Meares, Sr., a member of the FUMC of Cary heard about a Faith in Action program and brought the idea back to his community. Local churches organized, wrote a grant and were awarded a $25,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Wake Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers was established in 1992 with a goal to unite the faith community and other volunteers in a concerted effort to offer neighborly assistance to older adults, adults with disabilities and family caregivers.

In 2000, the name was officially changed to The Center for Volunteer Caregiving. The Center will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2017 and has a proud history of consistency to its mission. From its inception, the organization has provided volunteer service to provide escorted transportation for basic needs, help with chores around the house and respite for caregivers. The original program model, still relevant, focused on a systematic approach to volunteer service that included training and support for volunteers, coordinators to help organize efforts, established process and procedures with professional guidance and liability insurance coverage. This approach bridged the formal and informal systems of caring and has been a vital solution to helping people remain at home as long as possible in the Wake County community.

The Center for Volunteer Caregiving is governed by a Board of Directors with fourteen members and an Honorary Board. Board composition includes representation from the geographic areas served with corporate and community members representing legal, human resources, financial, information technology and social services. Funding is diversified and includes federal, state, local grants, foundation funding, and the faith community and individual donors.

Staff includes an Executive Director, Administrative/Financial Coordinator, Program Manager, Community Engagement Coordinator and three Services Coordinators. Client referrals come from the medical community, other nonprofit organizations and self -referral. Priority is given to those of greatest social and economic need without the support of family and friends. Direct service clients average approximately 500 with significant more reached through educational workshops and phone support.

Active volunteers typically number from 400-600 and vary in time commitment from 2-4 hours weekly to a few hours a month. Volunteers are recruited from the faith community and community at large with increasingly more finding The Center through an internet search. Staff capacity and number of volunteers serving is at a historical high.

The Center for Volunteer Caregiving is now affiliated with the National Volunteer Caregiving Network, is a Certified Community Impact Partner with United Way of the Greater Triangle, a member of the NC Center for Nonprofits and a 2013 GSK Community Impact Award winner. No longer simply a grassroots organization, but a fully aligned partner with the nonprofit community serving older adults and adults with disabilities in Wake County.