Thank You Card Quotes

VOLUNTARY ACTION CENTER NEWSLETTER 800 N. Providence 65203 874-2273 www.vacmo.org United Way February – March 2008 Homes for Computers For this annual program, the City of Columbia donates their surplus used computers and peripheral equipment to eligible Voluntary Action Center clients. The Downtown Optimist Club also partners with VAC and the City for the distribution of the computers. Since this program began in 2004, 159 computers have been distributed to families in need in the community. Applications to receive a computer this year must be filled out at VAC with a caseworker between January 18 and February 8. Applicants must show ID for everyone in their household, proof of their address and proof of their income. Only current VAC clients with a child in the Columbia public schools (grades K-12) are eligible. VAC will hold a drawing to determine which applicants will receive computers, and then distribute them on February 16. This program is only able to distribute computers donated by the City of Columbia. VAC does not currently accept private computer donations. Voluntary Action Center and Columbia Daily Tribune are pleased to present the seventh annual HERO AWARDS Nominations for the 2008 Columbia Daily Tribune Hero Awards are now being accepted. Join us in recognizing all the outstanding volunteers in our community by nominating your heroes, those dedicated volunteers whose efforts in 2007 went above and beyond the norm. Volunteers may be nominated in one of three Hero Awards categories: Individual, Group (two or more people), and Youth (under 21 at the time of the nomination). A panel of community leaders will select the winners in each category, and all the nominees will be recognized at a reception on April 29 at Lela Raney Wood Hall on the Stephens College campus. Each firstplace winner will receive a commemorative award and a $500 grant for his or her not-for-profit organization. Nomination forms are available at the Voluntary Action Center or can be downloaded and printed from www.columbiatribune.com. All nomination forms must be returned to the Voluntary Action Center by Tuesday, February 19, 2008. If you have any questions, please call VAC at 449-6959. It’s time to update VAC’s Directory of Community Services for Boone County! When your agency receives an update request, please complete the form and return it to our office as soon as possible. Contact Julia Treece at 449-6959 or projdir@vacmo.org to include your agency in this essential resource. 1 Christmas Sponsor Statistics: 42 Churches sponsored 524 families ~ 214 Businesses and Groups sponsored 414 families 120 Individuals and Families sponsored 151 families ~ Generous Donors sponsored 141 families Thank You Sponsors! – because of you, 1230 families had a Merry Christmas! Thank You Card Quotes from Families Sponsored for Christmas... Thank you for being my elf God bless you! When I grow up, I want to be like you make people happy like I am right now! Have a happy Merry Christmas! Thank you for helping my family in a time of need. My children will have a smile on their faces for sure this Christmas. Nothing in the world makes me happier than to see my children happy. When they smile, I know all is well. Christmas is much more than the gifts you get and how much you have. So I want you to realize that what you gave is more than what was wrapped and set under the tree. It was a Christmas that I could share with my two kids where they were unaware of just how stressful the money (or lack of) has been this past year. They could just enjoy the day without worries. Because it is my belief that what we should celebrate is love, friends, and family and it is tough to do this if you are stressed over the feeling of having none. I am so grateful, and am moved to give this to a family as soon as we are back on our feet. You have showed my family just how much people care in our community and I am grateful for you. Thank you for your very kind gifts to my husband and me. Because of you, we will be able to purchase some things we need and want. My husband is brain injured and disabled and is quite childlike now. Christmas with presents for him is so delightful. I love to watch him enjoy it. I pray blessings on you and your family. Thank you for car caring for other people in need at the holiday season. Your light makes the world brighter! I wish you could see the smiles on their faces when they open their gifts. But I am sure that you will feel it in your hearts. Your donations this season mean so much to our family. With your kindness and gifts I will be able to pay my bills and still have a nice Christmas dinner and presents under the tree. I do plan to ‘pay it forward’ every chance I get. Generous people like yourself make the season brighter for people who are down on their luck (and funds) this year. 2 Volunteer Count We need your help! VAC is tabulating the number of volunteers who donated their time to any agency, church, school, group, or organization in Boone County in 2007. We would appreciate if you would help us by submitting the number of volunteers along with the total sum of hours donated to your group or agency by February 15, 2008. Please e-mail this information to Cindy Mustard at cindymustard@hotmail.com or call our office at 449-6959. VOLUNTEERS MAKE AN IMPACT! We know that volunteers make an impact in our community, whether by building homes, shoveling driveways, delivering meals, or simply lending a hand. However, we sometimes fail to recognize the economic value of these volunteers to our organizations. Calculating this value helps celebrate volunteerism, increases public appreciation of its financial benefits, and can help agencies justify their volunteer programs and volunteer coordinator positions. According to research by the Independent Sector, the average national “dollar value of a volunteer hour” is $18.77. This number is calculated based numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on average hourly earnings of all production and non-supervisory workers across the country. VAC finds this number impressive, because in a single weekend project, an agency might have a dozen volunteers who collectively donate 200 hours. This translates to over $3,700! Imagine what your agency could do with this kind of information. The Independent Sector website http://www.independentsector.org/ further explains how this figure was calculated, as well as how nonprofit organizations often utilize this kind of information. Thank You, Christmas Volunteers! Our Christmas Program could not exist without the collective muscle and heart of our amazing volunteers. Their joy is contagious and their impact cannot truly be measured. Special thanks go to Bob Duncan, David Finke, Lena Kiessling, Susan McQuilkin, Donna Murray, Annette Hayes, Jerry Mathis, Jane Ellen Ashley, Marie Scruggs, Joyce Anderson, Jeannie Kretzschmar and dozens more wonderful volunteers who worked with the staff to help make Christmas brighter for 1230 families. We also received outstanding assistance from groups of volunteers from Columbia Insurance Group, Boone Hospital Center, Southern Boone High School, Boone Landing, and Alpha School. With so many families sponsored, our office space is inadequate for running this program, so VAC would like to thank Trinity Presbyterian Church and the CARE office for generously donating use of their facilities for Christmas distribution and signup, respectively. The Christmas program finds sponsors not only for families with children, but also for elderly and/or disabled individuals that may be homebound, and unable to pick up their items at our distribution center. VAC would like to extend a special thanks to ACT, Boone County Council on Aging, Boone County Family Resources, CMAAA, Meals on Wheels, New Horizons, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, and Refugee and Immigration Services for delivering the Christmas presents and food to these homebound individuals. Thanks to ALL of our volunteers. We could not do it without you! The Voluntary Action Center Newsletter is published bimonthly by the Voluntary Action Center 800 N. Providence, Suite 220, Columbia, MO 65203. Vol. 11 Issue 1 February–March 2008 3 Agency of the Month MU Adult Day Connection (formerly the Eldercare Center) The MU Adult Day Connection is a state-licensed adult day health care program, serving adults who have experienced physical or cognitive changes and would benefit from a supportive environment, therapeutic activities, exercise, nursing care, and supervision. Participants can attend one to five days weekly. These services provide respite for caregivers, allowing them to work, complete necessary tasks, or rest. When caregivers have an agency like MU Adult Day Connection available, entry into long-term care placement can often be delayed. The agency was founded in 1989 by citizens for adult day-care and the School of Health Professions at the University of Missouri-Columbia, in acknowledgement of the crisis situation which faces this county’s aging population. The MU Adult Day Connection was, and continues to be, the only state-licensed adult day health care program serving families in mid-Missouri. In 2007, the MU Adult Day Connection opened a second facility in southeastern Columbia, and anticipate opening a third location in central Columbia in the Spring of 2008. Throughout its history, 381 participants and their families have benefited from the various services of the center. The learning mission of the center also has enabled students and faculty members from the School of Health Professions to spend thousands of volunteer hours with the participants at the center. MU Adult Day Connection currently has openings for new participants, and would welcome referrals. There is a fee for daily services; however, Medicaid does pay for adult day health care, as do many private insurance companies. Financial assistance is also available for families who qualify. The daily charge includes a hot noon meal and snacks for all participants. The MU Adult Day Connection is a United Way agency, and also receives funding from the City of Columbia and Boone County. MU Adult Day Connection Offers: Person-centered care 1:4 staff-to-participant ratio Nursing supervision Therapeutic exercise Social activities Physical, speech, or occupational therapy, as needed Participant Activities Include: Friendships Games Singing Cooking Crafts Gardening Guest Speakers Pet visits Intergenerational activities with area preschools and community groups. 4 MU Adult Day Connection Tish Thomas, Director 137 Clark Hall Columbia, MO 65211 (Phone) 573-882-7070 — (Fax) 573-884-4797 Hours: Monday – Friday: 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. 2400 Bluff Creek Drive Columbia, MO 65201 (Phone) 573-882-2464 — (Fax) 573-884-1310 Hours: Monday – Friday 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Email) umcshpadc@health.missouri.edu (Website) shp.missouri.edu/eldercare Community Calendar Town Hall Meeting with State Legislators: Jan. 31, 7 p.m., Columbia Public Library. More information is available at 443-3161 or www.dbrl.org. Black History Month (February) activities include: Black History Exhibit, for organizations, schools, agencies, etc. Call 874-6379, and ARC staff will bring the exhibit to you and give a presentation. Feb. 3-7, Men’s 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, Douglass High School. Call 874-6378. Fee: $25 per team. Feb. 12, 6:30 p.m., African American Film: “Pride” at the Armory Sports Center, free. Feb. 24, Gospel Explosion & Soul Food Dinner Musical Celebration, St. Luke United Methodist Church, 3 p.m., free. Meals on Wheels Big Wheels fundraiser: Feb. 6-8 & 11-13. Box lunches will be prepared by Jack’s Gourmet Restaurant and delivered if you order 3 or more lunches. Orders must be placed at least two days in advance, and can be by fax: 814-6363, e-mail: mowheels@gmail.com or telephone: 886-7554. Half of the $10.00 price is a tax-deductible donation. Boone County Related Agencies Meeting: Feb. 12, 11:30, Friends Room at the Columbia Public Library. The mission of BCRAA is to enhance human services in and around Boone County by providing opportunities for networking, collaboration, and professional development. Anyone interested in the future of this group should attend this meeting! The discussion will focus on whether to dissolve the group or revive it. For more information, visit bcraa.missouri.org. Train Show: Feb. 16, 10a.m.-3p.m., Paquin Tower, free. Third Annual Rootin’ Tootin’ Chili Cookoff benefitting the Boys and Girls Club of Columbia. Feb. 16, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Columbia Expo Center. Visit rtchilicookoff.com or call 819-4722 for information. True/False Film Festival: Feb. 28-March 2. Visit www.truefalse.org for details. Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kids Sake fundraising event: Feb. 29-March 2, AMF Town & Country Lanes. For more information call 874-3677. Women’s History Month (March) activities include: Women’s History Exhibit, for organizations, schools, agencies, etc. Call 874-6379, and ARC staff will bring the exhibit to you and give a presentation. March 9-13, Women’s 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, Douglass High School. Call 874-6378. Fee: $25 per team. March 12, 6:30 p.m., Black Women in Film: “Daddy’s Little Girls,” at the Armory Sports Center, free March 19, Precious Moments/Women’s Award Recognition, Armory Sports Center, 6:30 p.m., free. Annual United Way Meeting: Mar. 6, 11:30-1:00 p.m., Stoney Creek Inn. Call 443-4523. Easter Egg Hunt: March 19, 9 a.m. at Paquin Tower. Preschool children are invited to come see the Easter Bunny and hunt for candy. Call 874-7473 for reservations (required), free. Easter EGGstravaganza: March 22, 12-2 p.m. at Douglass Park, kids ages 12 and under. Activities include an egg hunt throughout the park, sack races, face painting, sidewalk-chalk art, toss games, and more, free. Don’t forget the City of Columbia/United Way Proposal Dates Social Service Funding Information Session January 29, 3:30 p.m. United Way Proposals Due – March 21 City of Columbia Proposals Due – March 21 5 United Way ATTENTION ALL VOLUNTEERS!! TreeKeepers: participate in a six week class on tree ID, pruning soils, planting and other issues related to tree maintenance. Participants are then asked to give 36 hours of service on city tree projects. The class will be held on Thursdays Jan 24-Feb 28 at the ARC. Contact the Office of Volunteer Services at 874-7499. Stand By Me needs adult volunteer mentors for 45 minutes a week to help kids succeed. Kool Kit activities, training and support are provided. Call Zona Burk at 214-3670 or zburk@columbia.k12.mo.us. Adapted Sports/Special Olympics Aquatics volunteer training begins Tuesday, January 29. Classes are held Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8-8:30p.m. at the Hickman Pool. Contact the Office of Volunteer Services at 874-7499. Mid-Missouri Crisis Line needs volunteers 18 or older for the 24-hour telephone hotline, to listen to callers, help callers develop a work plan and provide resources. Training will be Feb. 4-7: mornings 9-12 or evenings 6-9. Contact 445-5035 or email Teresa at teresabris@yahoo.com. The Columbia/Boone County Health Department is looking for childcare and general assistance during their Bienestar Familiar classes on Feb. 11, March 10, and April 14. Contact the Office of Volunteer Services at 874-7499. Make-A-Wish Foundation needs volunteers to serve as speakers, event staff, committee members and fundraising help. Contact Katie Enger at 816-889-9474 or kenger@kc.wish.org American Red Cross needs volunteers for their Donor Center to provide a warm, friendly greeting to all donors and offer refreshments after their blood donation. Contact Kelly at 314-658-2079 or loepkerkj@usa.redcross.org. The Arbors at Bluff Creek Terrace is looking for pet owners who enjoy working with the elderly for their pet therapy program. Contact Michelle Hatton at brownsugar3233@aol.com or 256-5565. Boone County Council on Aging needs volunteers to assist seniors with shoveling snow and clearing sidewalks at their homes. Call Sonya at 443-1111. Columbia Art League is looking for volunteers to staff the sales gallery, assist with customer inquiries and perform light clerical work. Contact Diana Moxon at artleague@centurytel.net or 443-8838. Literacy Action Corps needs volunteers to tutor adult students in basic literacy skills and the English language. Training will be held on Feb 1 and 23. Contact 442-4280 or email LACColumbia@yahoo.com. Boone County Offenders Transition Network needs mentors to help people released from the Department of Corrections become productive citizens. Training and support provided. Contact Joseph Carr at 256-1890, ext. 263. Preferred Hospice Needs You! Make a difference in someone’s life by providing companionship to a hospice patient. Call Lydia for more information: 1-866-852-3310. Rainbow House Emergency Shelter needs volunteers to help with daily activities and general care of the children, light office work, outreach, special yard/home projects and home and general maintenance. Training and orientation are provided. Contact Lori Stoll at lstoll@rainbowhousecolumbia.org or at 474-6600. Ronald McDonald House needs volunteers to help in their guest rooms and common areas. Groups interested in hosting snack drives are also needed. Contact Jennifer at jennifermiller@socket.net or 443-7666. SHARE needs volunteers to pack food boxes and carry them to cars for the elderly and disabled. Contact Sharon at 882-0235. The Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault needs volunteers to assist the agency in empowering women, men and children on their 24-hour hotline, in court, at local hospitals and at The Shelter. Training for these programs will be in mid February. Contact 875-1369 or email rachael_kibble@hotmail.com. The Wardrobe needs individual or group volunteers to help sort items and hang the clothing. Call 442-3260. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! 6 FEBRUARY 2008 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thurs Fri 1 Sat 2 American Heart Assoc. “Heart Ball” Groundhog Day 3 4 5 6 Big Wheels Ash Wednesday 7 Big Wheels 8 Big Wheels Last Day to Apply for Homes for Computers 9 10 11 Big Wheels 12 Big Wheels BCRAA Mtg. 13 Big Wheels VAC Board Mtg. 14 Valentine’s Day 15 16 Homes for Computers Distribution Rootin’ Tootin’ Chili Cookoff 17 18 Presidents’ Day VAC Closed Schools Closed 19 Deadline for Hero Award Nominations 20 21 22 Let’s Talk Columbia 23 Washington’s Birthday Let’s Talk Columbia 24 25 26 Mayor’s Breakfast 27 Interfaith Council Basic Needs Mtg. 28 True/False Film Festival 29 True/False Film Festival Leap Year MARCH 2008 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thurs Fri Sat 1 True/False Film Festival 2 True/False Film Festival 3 4 5 6 United Way Annual Mtg. 7 8 9 Daylight Savings 10 11 United Way Executive Directors Council 12 VAC Board Mtg. 13 14 15 16 17 St. Patrick’s Day 18 Chamber QMB Athena Awards Business Showcase 19 20 Spring Begins 21 United Way & City Proposals Due 22 23 Easter 24 MU Spring Break 25 26 Interfaith Council 27 28 29 30 31 7 VOLUNTARY ACTION CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS Cathy Scroggs, Pres. John Dean, Vice Pres. Lynn Cole, Sec. Robert Duncan, Treas. Susan Gowin, Past Pres. Kate Boyd Dwayne Carey Brian Cottle Charles “CJ” Dykhouse Kim England Lisa Fischer Mary Grupe Jan Hartman Gwen Jones Rev. Raymond I. Massey Suzanne McDavid Susan Duckworth McQuilkin Steve Meyerhardt Krista Myer Ed Orr Rick Ravenhill Molly Read Anne Schauwecker Jolene Schulz Andrea Shelton Jackie Walters Elizabeth Wilson The Helping Hand Catalog of Volunteer Opportunities (free) and the Fall 2005 Directory of Social Services in Boone County ($20.00) are available at VAC! If you are looking for a way to volunteer or need information about social service agencies, call 449-6959 or stop by the office for a catalog or directory. Looking Ahead: Columbia Volunteer Network Meeting, April 2 Cleanup Columbia, April 12 HERO Awards Reception, April 29 Speaking of Women’s Health – April 26 Global Youth Service Day April 25-27 Earth Day and Volunteer Fair April 20 National Volunteer Week April 27-May 3 Join Hands Day May 3 VAC Staff Changes VAC is very happy to welcome Caira Bolen back on staff as an Information and Referral Specialist. She previously held this position from 2001-2004, and returned to us in January after a few years with the state Attorney General’s office. Caira has a bachelors degree in Human Development and Family Studies, and is engaged to be married on July 26 of this year. Welcome back Caira! Also in January, we regretfully said goodbye to our Project Director, Monica Bailey. She and her husband will soon be moving to Maine, where he will attend graduate school in forestry. We wish her the best of luck in the future! Her replacement is Julia Treece, who has served as an Information and Referral Specialist here for two and a half years. Julia has a bachelors degree in Social Work, and has so far enjoyed her new role. STAFF Cindy Mustard – Exec. Director Julia Treece – Project Director & Newsletter Editor Nancy Duncan – Financial Officer Caira Bolen – I&R Specialist Christina Montgomery – I&R Specialist Jenn O’Laughlin – Admin. Assistant 8 Voluntary Action Center 800 North Providence, Suite 220 Columbia, MO 65203 Nonprofit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Columbia, MO. 65201 Permit No. 141