"A neighbor's independence depends on you."
FAITH IN ACTION-FAIRFIELD COUNTY · 239 West Main Street · Lancaster, OH 43130 · 740-503-1824
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"A neighbor's independence depends on you." FAITH IN ACTION-FAIRFIELD COUNTY · 239 West Main Street · Lancaster, OH 43130 · 740-503-1824
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GETTING BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM HER FRIENDS When 92-year old Hildegarde Beyer was diagnosed with cancer, she began receiving daily care from Hospice. When she miraculously recovered from her illness, and she was released from the Hospice program, she no longer had anyone to provide assistance. With her only daughter living in Texas, Hilda needed help with chores and errands. That’s when Faith in Action—Fairfield County stepped in. Faith in Action is an interfaith program of volunteer caregivers who work together to care for neighbors who are frail, elderly, or who have long-term health care needs. Faith in Action—Fairfield County was established in 2003 as a network of religious and service organizations dedicated to providing volunteer assistance, thus allowing community members to maintain their independence, dignity, and quality of life. The volunteers with Faith in Action help people like Hilda with grocery shopping, transportation, housekeeping, yard work, home repairs and companionship. Since our start in December, Faith in Action—Fairfield County has provided more than 800 hours of service to nearly 90 older adults. Our goal for 2004 is to have 75 volunteers providing care to 150 individuals. If each care recipient received 4 hours of assistance each month, this could mean 7200 volunteer hours per year! Hildegarde is now doing well and continues to improve each day. In her own words, her recovery from cancer is a miracle. Her new friends from Faith in Action are happy to help her and to be a part of Hilda’s recovery.
VOLUNTEERS ARE THE HEART OF FAITH IN ACTION Welcome to our new volunteers! They come from all walks of life and offer a variety of talents. But there is one thing they all have in common—the willingness and desire to help others. Faith in Action volunteers are special because of their dedication and concern for their neighbors. Therese A. is a busy mother who is very involved in her children’s sports and other activities. Even with her busy schedule, she still finds time to clean house for a disabled neighbor. John B. and Kathy B. are an energetic couple who enjoy the outdoors, especially playing golf and riding their bicycles. John helps several care recipients by doing yardwork and home repairs. Kathy does housekeeping and also helps with the yardwork. Helen B. likes reading, gardening, and babysitting. She is a caring individual who shows her concern for others by assisting with housekeeping for a 95 year old woman in Pickerington. Don C. has agreed to mow grass and help with minor home repairs. Since he is a carpenter, his skills will come in handy. Don is a very willing volunteer, not only for Faith in Action, but for his church and community as well. Joy E. can be described by her name. She finds joy in helping others. By involving her children in volunteer work, Joy is setting a wonderful example of service to others. Rita H. learned about Faith in Action through the Faith-Based Summit in May. She has offered to help in many different ways, including housekeeping and assistance with financial concerns. Rita truly enjoys helping others. Jo Ellen H. has a friendly, welcoming personality that will be an asset in relating to elderly care recipients. By running errands and providing transportation, Jo Ellen will be serving a great need in our community. Pat L. has been doing housekeeping and grocery shopping for an elderly care recipient, who is truly grateful for the assistance. She describes Pat as very caring and friendly. Ann M. is active as a church, office, and school helper. She is a very giving individual who has volunteered to assist with transportation, friendly visits, shopping, housekeeping, meal preparation, and reading. Mary R. provides a valuable service by helping with mailings, clerical assistance, and other office work. She has excellent computer skills and will be assisting with upcoming newsletters. Linda S. is very enthusiastic and willing to help in any way. One care recipient praised Linda for being extremely helpful, efficient, and caring. Linda also wants to get her teenage daughters involved in volunteering. Mark S. is a skilled woodworker and handyman. He recently installed a ceiling fan for an elderly widow and has agreed to do home repairs whenever needed. Vickie S. takes an older friend to Bingo and has volunteered to help in many other ways. She is a good listener, a wonderful skill to have when caring for others. Pam U. serves by making friendly phone calls to an elderly widow who lives alone. By being a friend, Pam brightens her day and helps to relieve loneliness and feelings of isolation. Sam W. is involved in servant evangelism at Lancaster Community Church. He serves FIA care recipients by doing yardwork, home repairs, errands and transportation. His mechanical skills will be a valuable asset to Faith in Action. Thanks to all the Faith in Action volunteers who give of their time and themselves!
OU STUDENTS ASSIST FIA During her internship with Faith in Action—Fairfield County, Margaret Hutchins gained job experience while earning college credit. A senior,, majoring in communication, Margaret attended a volunteer training session, interviewed care recipients (see photo page 1), wrote press releases, and learned how social service organizations assist others. She used the communication skills she had developed in her classes at OU-L to help in the FIA office. The Small Group Communication class at OU-Pickerington assisted FIA with a fund-raising project. Under the direction of Professor Ernie Doling, the class developed a marketing plan, sold advertisements, and contacted a photographer to take photos of interesting sites around the county. The photo collage will be made into a Fairfield County jigsaw puzzle, which will be available for sale in August or September. Thanks to the students and faculty of Ohio University for offering their knowledge, skills, and creativity in partnering with Faith in Action.
FIA NATIONAL CONFERENCE In an effort to reach out to Fairfield County’s congressional representatives, Janet Stout, Project Director for Faith in Action—Fairfield County, attended the Faith in Action National Conference in Washington, D.C., on May 19-21. The conference offered an opportunity for Janet to meet with federal legislators on the Hill to discuss the needs of the local volunteer caregiving program. In addition, Janet met with other Faith in Action program leaders from across the country at the national conference, themed “Connecting Past, Present, and Future,” to talk about innovative ways to positively impact interfaith volunteer caregiving in the local community. Della Reese, nationally-known actress and singer, gave the keynote address at the conference. Best known for her starring role on Touched by an Angel, Reese has recently become the national spokeswoman for the Faith in Action program. In her address, Reese stressed how important it is for our elderly neighbors and people living with disabilities to be able to “remain in their own homes with their own stuff.” Janet had the opportunity to meet with Della Reese. “It is an honor to have Della Reese support the good works we do through Faith in Action,” said Janet. “She has a caring heart and truly understands the needs of our care recipients.”
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