Faith In Action Of The Greater Kanawha Valley Inc

TO SUPPORT THE INDEPENDENT LIVING OF OLDER ADULTS IN THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE BY LENDING A HELPING HAND NEIGBOR TO NEIGHBOR

OUR VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM IS THE BACKBONE OF OUR ORGANIZATION. WE INVEST A GREAT DEAL OF TIME AND RESOURCES IN RECRUITING, TRAINING AND RETAINING OUR VOLUNTEERS. IT IS BECAUSE OF THOSE VOLUNTEERS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO OFFER FREE SERVICES TO OUR OLDER NEIGBORS WHO NEED A LITTLE ASSISTANCE NOW AND THEN. AT PRESENT WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER BASE OF APPROXIMATLEY 250 PEOPLE IN SERVICE TO ANYWHERE FROM 400-500 SENIOR CITIZENS IN A TWO-COUNTY AREA (KANAWHA AND PUTNAM). IN FY2023, WE IMPLENENTED SEVERAL NEW RESOURCES TO HELP US BE BOTH MORE EFFECTIVE IN RECRUITMENT AND MORE EFFICIENT IN SUSTAINING AND MANAGING A FORCE OF THIS SIZE. SINCE OURINCEPTION, OUR VOLUNTEERS HAVE PERFORMED 29,180 HOURS AT A VALUE BENEFIT OF VOLUNTEER HOUR TO OUR COMMUNITY OF $699,439 (CALCULATION SOURCE:INDEPENDENTSECTOR.ORG FOR WV).

OUR TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM IS OUR SINGLE MOST POPULAR SERVICE. WE OFFER THIS PROGRAM AT NO COST TO THOSE WE SERVE. WE DO INCUR COSTSOF MIEAGE REIMBURSEMENT IN SOME CASES FOR ADMINISTRATION. OUR VOLUNTEERS, AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE, HAVE PROVIDED MORE THAN 5700 ROUND TRIPS TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS. THIS PROGRAM IS ESSENTIAL TO AID OUR OLDER NEIGHBORS IN TAKING CARE OF THEIR HEALTH- WHETHER THROUGH PREVENTIVE MEASURES OR THROUGH TREATMENT AND FOLLOW UP. TRANSPORTAITON IS THE SINGLE BIGGEST OBSTACLE FACING OUR SENIORS ASTHEY STRIVE TO AGE IN THEIR OWN PLACE. HAVING RELIABLE, CONSISTENTACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, COURTESY OF THE MANY VOLUNTEERS WHO DRIVE THEMTO AND FROM APPOINTMENTS, CAN BE LIFE CHANGING FOR MANY. IT ALSO SERVES, SECONDARILY, AS AN AVENUE OF CONNECTION TO THEIR COMMUNITY, LESSENING THE IMPACTS OF SOCIAL ISOLATION.

OUR GROCERY SHOPPING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AFFORDS OUR OLDER NEIGHBORS WHO FACE TRANSPORTATIONAND/OR MOBILITY OBSTACLES ACCESS TO NEEDED FOOD AND SUPPLIES. THE PROGRAM WORKS IN A MULTIPLE OF WAYS, DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THOSE WE SERVE. AMONG THE MOST POPULAR AND MOST REQUESTED SERVICE IS OUT SHOP AND DROP INITIATIVE WHERE WE PLACE GROCERY ORDERS ONLINEFOR OUR CLIENT, DELIVER THE ITEMS TO THEIR HOME, AND ARE THEN REIMBURSED FOR THE COST BY THECLIENT. THIS CONTINUES TO BE OUR FASTEST GROWING PROGRAM. IN MANY CASES, WE PRE-PAY THE THE GROCERY ORDERS AND THE CARE RECEIVER REIMBURSES THE PROGRAM WITH A CHECK FOR THE TOTALSPENT. WE OFFER THIS SERVICE BECAUSE OUR OLDER CLIENTS ARE OFTEN UNABLE TO GET TO THE STORE THEMSELVES AND ARE WARY OF USING THEIR CREDIT CARDS ONLINE, HAVE NO ACCESS TO A COMPUTER TO PLACE ORDERS THEMSELVES, OR PAY WITH EBT BENEFIT CARDS.