Community Christmas Shoppe 2018 is in the books! We had two back to back weekends of serving under-resourced children and families in Ventura County- and we could not have done it without you. We heard so many times from our volunteers, “we are blessed to be a blessing” and that cannot be more true. Thank you again for your willingness to share your time and resources with others.
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Yes, volunteering in your community is good for the soul- but did you know it is actually good for the heart? In a study conducted by UnitedHealthcare in efforts to “support and encourage volunteerism and understand its impact of health,” 76% of people who volunteered in the last year said that volunteering made them feel healthier!
94% said that volunteering improved their mood.
96% said that volunteering enhanced their sense of purpose.
78% said that volunteering helped lower their stress levels.
And a quarter of people said that volunteering helped them manage a chronic illness.
“Volunteering isn’t just something healthy people do. Everyone can reap benefits,” says Katie Rubin, Vice President of Social Responsibility at UnitedHealth Group. “Our study involved a representative sample of adults across the country: young, old, in good health and in poor health. Remarkably, we see older individuals and those who suffer from multiple chronic conditions taking on volunteering—and feeling better as a result.”
Are you ready to skip the gym this week? Sign up for a volunteering project in your area!
ACTION volunteers having a blast on Serve Day!
In case you missed it, summer is here! July in Ventura County has kicked off with a heat wave that is already reaching dangerous temps. Its times like these that the vulnerable in our communities are even more exposed to life-threating issues. Studies show that seniors are especially affected by summer heat; as the body gets older, it loses its ability to regulate heat. From 1999-2009, roughly 40 percent* of all heat-related deaths in the U.S. – nearly 3,000 – were adults over 65 years old.
But there are many ways in which we can prevent this as active members in our community. Read on to see how you can be a good neighbor for the elderly, disabled and low-income individuals around you!
Step One: Check on Your Neighbors! Even just to say hi. Taking the time to check on someone, even just for 5 minutes, goes a long way in preventing heat-related issues!
Step Two: Know the Signs! Heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heat stroke can show early warning signs. Be on the lookout for excessive sweating, tiredness, dizziness, headaches and muscle cramps. If the heat illness is more serious, vomiting, nausea, and fainting can occur.
Step Three: Prevent Dehydration! Feeling thirsty is a sign that your body is struggling to regulate heat. Make sure that your neighbors (and you) are drinking fluids often and eating water-rich fruits and veggies (cucumber, watermelon, celery, and strawberries are great choices) with every meal. Also limit alcohol and caffeine, consumption, since those dehydrate the body further.
Step Four: Cool Off! Make sure your neighbors are wearing clothing of light and airy materials, like linen and cotton. Lying down in a cool place with a fan or an ice pack lowers the body temperature too. If they can’t stay in the house, suggest taking a leisurely stroll around the mall or go to the library to read.
Step Five: Water is a Friend. Aside from drinking it throughout the day, water is an excellent way to cool the body down externally. Anything from splashing cold water on the face to taking a cool bath helps!
For more information on how to manage the heat, check out this helpful article from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention!
*See DripDrop.Com
After 13 years of engaging in the community through our annual Serve Day, we still are amazed by what happens when we serve our neighbors. On May 5th and 12th, over 1,500 individuals gathered throughout Ventura County to serve at homeless shelters, mobile home parks, local schools and foster homes. By venturing outside our walls, we met those in our communities who are often go unnoticed, those with amazing stories to tell. People like Maria.
Maria Sherman is a 92-year-old immigrant from Finland. In 1941, she enlisted in the Finnish Amy to fight alongside Allied Forces to liberate Europe from the Nazis. She was 15 at the time. Her sacrifices on the front line garnered recognition from her country after the war was over, but how do you truly honor a lifetime of sacrifice?
On Serve Day, Anthem Church in Thousand Oaks helped the residents at Vallecito Mobile Home Park with window washing, indoor cleaning, yard work and more. That is when volunteer Tanny Santamaria got to meet Maria and learn her incredible story. “[We] had the opportunity of serving her by doing some much-needed yard work around her house and just visiting with her,” he said. The volunteers from Anthem church spent a few hours cleaning up the bushes in Maria’s yard, but the impact of this act of service goes so much deeper. By caring for our neighbors in simple, tangible ways, we remind them that they are not forgotten. We remind them that they are cared for. We remind them that they are loved. And as Tanny told us after the project was completed, “Through acts like this, people around us are able to find their way back to God.”
We could not agree more.
Darcie is our NEW Serve Every Day Coordinator. She comes to us with over 10 years of ministry experience and a heart to serve. She will be overseeing volunteers and coordinating the daily projects that come in for our Serve Every Day program. We encourage you to get to know her and come serve along side of her.
Throughout the year, we meet the needs for under-resourced or disabled individuals and families daily through free volunteer services. Volunteers are able to serve their neighbors through projects in the community that fit their skills, resources, and schedule. Become a part of the movement to serve today. Learn how to sign up for a project! Or see a list of open projects!
This guide walks the end user through the process of signing up for Serve Every Day projects.
You can find your project on our website, ACTIONvc.org, on our Serve Every Day page.
You can select one of the following categories: painting, electrical, light yard work, household repairs, cleanging, plumbing, donate goods or give financially. Or you can click on the link at the bottom to see the full list.
By clicking the change button on the left hand side you can update the zip code and desired distance.
When you have found the project you want to sign up for, click on the the select button to the right of the description.
On this screen you can confirm that the correct project has been selected and add a group member if applicable. Then you will click on the submit button.
After filling in the fields you will need to accept the terms of use and liability waiver. And then click the confirmation button.
This is the confirmation page. You can click on the “View Commitment Information” link to cancel the commitment or mark it as complete. A member of ACTION will then get in touch with you to go over any questions and provide contact information for the beneficiary.