UNITY HEALTH HOSPICE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

In her present position as Associate State Coordinator for Community Operations (ASCCO) for West Los Angeles County, Nita Jones has consistently demonstrated the skills, sensitivity, creativity and insight AARP California seeks in its community leaders.

Jones worked for many years in the private sector as an accountant. She spent 10 years with Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS) employed as an Administrative Assistant and Director. Since retiring in 1992, Jones has become a full time volunteer. Her energies are divided between Vermont Square United Methodist Church where she has been an active member for more than 20 years and AARP where she has been past president and Membership Chairperson of the Carson Chapter #3320. In addition to her current assignment as ASSCO for AARP, Jones along with her husband, Henderson, is involved with the California Congress of Seniors and the Retired Teamsters Association.

In her leadership role, Jones helps organize and recruit AARP volunteers for major events such as the Martin King Luther Day Parade, Fiesta Broadway, Tournament of Roses Float Viewing, and Modern Maturity Mall shows, to name a few. She continuously manages numerous community activities. Her resourcefulness resulted in successful partnerships with the Children’s Defense Fund and L.A. County for Public Benefits Outreach projects in East Los Angeles and with the National Association of Black Nurses during their national convention & health fair in South Central Los Angeles. She mobilizes large groups of volunteers who repeatedly provide the services and deliver the information needed to improve the quality of life for persons 50+, their families and caretakers. Examples include the L.A. Mayor’s Forum where volunteers from various AARP entities, such as 55 Alive, Tax Aide, and Chapters, including non-English speaking individuals dressed in their traditional cultural garbs, worked side by side and sent a message of integration, inclusion and acceptance.

During the past year, Jones interacted with 1) grassroots, political and religious leaders in the community, 2) city, county and state government officials, 3) local neighborhood groups, 4) service organizations and social change agencies. She has built a network of persons and groups that work in concert to make a difference for persons who live in the multi-cultured communities of her West Los Angeles County discipline. Her high work standards, strong people skills and sense of fairness are reasons she is well respected by volunteers, community partners and the staffs with whom she frequently participates.

Jones is a trusted and respected community volunteer because she is a good listener and keeps her promises. Her personal and timely communication helps volunteers, particularly multi-cultured groups of African Americans, Latinos, Chinese, Japanese, Koreans and other ethnicities that make up the diverse communities of West Los Angeles County focus on a common vision, eagerly participate and have fun together. Bottom line, individuals in the community benefit because of Nita’s caring and accomplished leadership.

STEVE CURTIS

Steve Curtis is a fixture in Layton, Utah. He looks for opportunities to make Layton greater daily. In addition to the many hours he typically gives in service to the community, last year he went the extra mile in his efforts towards creating a Veterans Memorial Park. Curtis has served as a member of the Layton Community Action Council (LCAC) for 3 1/2 years as city council representative. He has been the liaison with the city council and the mayor's office. He has also been very helpful in providing information and connections with the city and the police department when help was needed for the neighborhood watch program, the youth court program, and the literacy program. He was also instrumental in the special service project we had last year providing rescue bags for foster children to be carried in he police cars.

Over and above his normal responsibilities of home, family, work and church service Curtis added becoming a member of the Layton City Council. Along with his many responsibilities involved with that elected position he also has been involved at E.G. King Elementary School for the past six years as "Merlin the Magician" who comes to the school to promote reading.

Curtis has been very supportive of the Youth Court program by being at the city offices every Wednesday night during their sessions to be available for any problems or special needs. He also filled in as a city council representative with the Youth Council Program when another assigned member failed to be involved.

In addition to the above, Curtis began an enormous undertaking in November of 1999 when a veteran approached him and asked him why there wasn't a special place or tribute for Veterans in Layton City. He took it as a personal quest to see that there was something more than a small neglected park with five trees in Layton City to honor Veterans. With the support of the LCAC, Layton City and Wal-Mart, he began this project by sponsoring a contest among the drafting classes of Layton High and Northridge High School to design a statue or monument honoring our Veterans. Following the competition many students commented on how much they had learned about their country, and its armed services, during this project.

After a winning design was chosen, then came the huge task of raising $20,000 to have the monument built and erected. Curtis spearheaded the fund raising events. Many businesses and organizations were contacted for donations. Money was collected at various city events and through a donation program that was mailed out with the city utility bills. He then worked though the Parks Department to have the Veterans Park improved and a special base prepared for the monument. Curtis also sponsored an essay contest for all the 4th, 5th, and 6th graders at the nine local elementary schools. The essay was to be on patriotism with the winners receiving cash prize and the opportunity to read their essays at a special ceremony at the park. Curtis planned the unveiling of the monument, which included city officials, Hill Air Force Base officials, and many veterans. The highlight of the event was the beautiful essays read by the winning students.

JOHNATHAN PAOLETTI

Jonathan Paoletti has organized community projects since he was in grade school, long before it became a recognizable event. All fall he would collect blankets, shoes, and coats and then deliver them on Christmas Eve to the homeless, along with food. He then started to become involved in other’s service events. As he continued to mature, Jonathan became concerned with the plight of Veterans. He saw that they fought for our freedom, but they were being forgotten and unappreciated.

Jonathan began writing letters of remembrance. He started locally initially, but it has become a national campaign. Jonathan presented letters to posts in his community, local and major papers, state and government officials and the National Veteran’s Headquarters. He reads his speeches and letters at Memorial Day events to honor the men and women and let them know they have not been forgotten. Moreover, Jonathan has provided the VA hospital residents with personal visits and items that they need. His task has taken many hours of letter writing, meeting with people and businesses in the community and soliciting companies to help with donations. This program has provided many veterans with personal hygiene items and other things we look at as necessities.

Jonathan has also organized and completed the restoration of a Veteran’s Memorial. He cleaned the bricks, base, and plaque and eagle figure above it. He also repaired the cracks in the base, repainted the Memorial and replaced the flags and flowers surrounding it. Jonathan took the time to receive donations for the supplies and help he needed to conclude this task.

Jonathan created a library of new books, videos and audio books for St. Christopher’s Hospital for children in 1999 and added additional books the following year. This involved many hours of meetings, collections, stamping, and cataloging and the help of others. He received books from local and national government officials, a diversity of cultural organizations, sports teams as well as fellow scouters, students, family, community and friends. He made it, as a real library would be, so the children confined to the hospital could experience the fun of “going” to the library. He used initiative by having books donated in honor or remembrance of people, this helped donations considerably. This was above and over the requirements he needed for making Eagle Scout, simply having collected some books and donating them would have been sufficient, but he wanted to do more knowing it would make a difference to the children. Jonathan did not just want to provide then with books, but with an experience many of us take for granted.

His projects have not stopped there. He has been helping a local shelter for women and children with school supplies, backpacks, and what he calls “hugs”- stuffed animals. He is currently gathering winter items for them and is continuing to look for additional opportunities to serve.

ALLEN BACA

Allen Baca was born in Orange Grove, Texas. He is a World War II Veteran, married in 1945, lived in Corpus Christi, Texas and had three daughters and two sons. He worked as a cabinet wood worker about 10 years. During that same time, he also published a newspaper for the Catholic Diocese of Corpus Christi and went back to school and received a degree in Criminology and Corrections. He then worked with the Probation Departments of Corpus Christi, Karnes City, Houston, and Austin.

After working with the Probation Department, Baca realized that one of the reasons people had so much trouble with the law was their literacy problems. He realized this and while working as a District Supervisor, he worked with probationers encouraging them to earn the GED. Baca volunteered weekends for 16 years with the Bell County Jail’s GED Program.

From 1980 to 1993, Baca also worked with the Department of Aging. The Public Information Director said that Baca wanted to serve his fellow man, and he was always looking for ways to do a job better. One enhancement that was suggested by Baca was using a bar code as opposed to a lot of paper for tracking. That was thought to be unworkable in the 1980’s, but it did.

Baca started a GED Program for seniors, which in turn birthed a senior literacy program. With grants from private foundations, nearly 100 senior centers had programs. This provided the people with the means for a better job or to gain their citizenship after living in the United States for years. As a result of this literacy program, several senior centers around the state participated in the first Senior Spelling Bee.

While he worked with the Department of Community Affairs, he was appointed to find ways to expand the resources of senior programs. He developed a manual “Project Bootstrap” which provided information on setting up fundraising activities and foundations. He is aware that foundations offer people an incentive to give because they can see what their money is doing.

Moreover, Baca was responsible for starting Grandparent’s Day in Texas. He convinced former Governor Mark White to declare a special day to honor the mature residents who had helped to make Texas what it is today. He also helped begin “Project Daffodil.” This program attracts sightseers in Texas to the Round Rock area during the spring when the flowers are in bloom.

Though Allen Baca is retired, he is still volunteering his time. Currently he is working with House Bill 514 that will allow the Tiguas and two other tribes to have gaming operations on existing reservations. He is still living by his motto,” all it really takes is a little imagination and a lot of determination.”

STEVEN BURDA

The Jewish Relief Agency (JRA) is a nonprofit grassroots organization whose aim is to identify and feed needy Jewish families throughout the Philadelphia area. Steven Burda has been volunteering for JRA since its inception. He was surprised to find out there are approximately 57,000 Jews in greater Philadelphia area who live in poor and low-income households. However, Burda works to make all of their lives better.

Some of the families served by the JRA receive support from established Jewish agencies, but many do not. Most of the hungry and needy are recent immigrants from Russia whose language barrier and lack of familiarity with the established agency structures have left them outside of the existing net of Jewish aid. Others have been in the area for a while, but have fallen through the cracks.

JRA was able to identify 20 families in need for their first distribution in September of 2000. After their first distribution, the word spread about JRA and their clients grew to 48 for the month of October. By November, the number of families had increased to 92; and in four months they had received more than 1,500 calls requesting their service. From September to January, JRA had compiled one of the largest databases of Jewish persons requesting food assistance in the greater Philadelphia region.

JRA’s aggressive approach includes a monthly door-to-door distribution of food that includes rice, pasta, potatoes, canned vegetables, tuna and other products. Their delivery strategy has proven particularly helpful to those who are restricted in their homes or have limited means of transportation. Most importantly, JRA could not reach their goals or be such a viable resource to those in need without the efforts of their 119 volunteers.

Burda has been a consistent part of the work of JRA. He balances his work and study schedule to find time to work at the monthly distributions. He also has translated the JRA flyers from English to Russian and takes the time to communicate and translate for the JRA clients who speak very little English. Not only has Burda been a constant servant to JRA, but he has also taken the time to recruit his peers. Because of his encouragement, there have been numerous additions to the monthly distribution volunteer staff, and the actual volunteer base for JRA has grown. Burda receives no stipend or salary for his work. He believes it is his duty to give back and help where help is needed.

PROJECT HOPE FOR THE HOMELESS

Project Hope for the Homeless, sponsored by The Ecumenical Shelter Network of Lake County, is an effort on the part of churches in Lake County to serve men, women, and children who find themselves homeless. Temporary emergency shelter is provided from November through April from 8.00 p.m. until 8.00 a.m.

The mission statement of Project Hope reads: "To serve the human hurts and hopes of persons in Lake County who are homeless by providing emergency shelter, in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christ." The shelter is the only emergency overnight shelter for homeless persons in Lake County. Project Hope is more than a temporary emergency shelter, however.

Through its eight-year history it has evolved into providing several important services to the shelter guests, including individualized goal-setting programs. Mental health groups offer counseling to guests who are dealing with mental health issues. Other services such as substance abuse prevention, survival skills workshops, Bible study, assistance with job interviews and transportation to work are offered. Shelter guests are helped to find housing once they are "back on their feet."

The backbone of Project Hope is its volunteers. From spending overnights at the shelter to providing food and other services, the shelter could not exist without its volunteers. Several of our former guests return as volunteers because they realize the support they received at the shelter from the volunteers turned their lives around for the better.

The shelter is an effort on the part of the entire community working together to make a difference in the lives of others. Groups of all ages, races, and economic backgrounds have devoted time, effort, and money to provide the necessary funding to keep the shelter open. Local businesses offer food vouchers, public transportation and laundry services. The shelter brings together all members of the community in an effort to help those men, women, and children less fortunate than themselves.

MARK AND LINDA STALEY

Compassion In Action, Inc. (CIA) is an outreach ministry and educational program for women who are incarcerated. Their families are also welcomed to the programs and services offered by CIA. One of their many services is to interact with the children of the participants during their incarceration to build the foundation for the reconciliation of the family when the client is able to come home. CIA recruits and train families for this special service; one of their volunteer families was Mark and Linda Staley.

A CIA participant gave birth to her child while incarcerated at Douglas County Corrections Center. In order to keep the infant from being lost in the system, the Staley’s volunteered to care for her until her mother was released. Once Machaela came into the Staley’s home, they noticed several abnormalities that needed medical attention. Machaela was shortly diagnosed with severe Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Because of this, she had to undergo several surgeries for her respiratory and digestive system. The Staley’s home was turned into a hospice care unit for little Machaela. She needed constant room temperature controls, a dust free environment, around-the-clock monitoring and constant care. The Staley children welcomed Machaela and thought of various ways they could help their parents that were suited to their own personal abilities.

The family did not take on Machaela as a “project”, but they loved her, as she was their own child. She was showered with constant love an attention daily. The Staley’s knew how important the developmental years are in infants so they worked hard to give her the special attention she deserved. Machaela was surrounded in an environment of love.

Special skills were needed for Machaela’s care. The Staley’s learned how to change the Trachea tube in her neck that was necessary for her to breath. They also helped her play and develop her mobile skills to the best of her ability. Initially, The Staley’s were childcare providers through CIA, but they had to do more to be able to give her the care she needed. So the Staley’s got legal custody of Machaela. Machaela’s mother agreed the care for her daughter was far beyond her ability, and she felt blessed that a loving family was willing to love her so unconditionally. Machaela continued to be an integral part of the family as well as the Staley’s church home.

On Tuesday, January 5, 1999, Machaela passed in her sleep. The Staleys and their children experienced much sorrow. There was a deep void in their home with all Machaela’s medical equipment and toys. Their hearts were broken, but they had to remember Machaela was a blessing to them. Though she had challenges, she was a strong and determined little lady. Though she did not make it so see her second birthday on January 23rd, she showed strength of character and lived against the monumental odds when was born with. There was a joy for the life and love she experienced because of the Staley’s in what many may have looked at as an “unfortunate situation”. Machaela was fortunate to have a loving life, though it was short, because the Staleys dared to care.

RANDY POVEY

In May 2000, Randy Povey was chosen as the Central Oregon Volunteer of the Year in Deschutes County. He was picked out of a field of 22 nominees from various volunteer agencies in the area.

Redmond is a small Central Oregon city of about 12,500 citizens. It is in the process of transition from a small, farming and logging community to a larger, multi-use area and is facing many of the issues that accompany growth, but does not yet have the extreme poverty and crime that many large cities face.

Randy Povey has lived in Redmond for more than 30 years and has volunteered in one way or another for all of that time. Some of his activities include 23 years as a volunteer firefighter and EMT, city councilor (volunteer position) for 12 years, and founder and organizer of the Redmond Flag Committee, a volunteer group which has collected close to 600 flags that have been flown over the Capitol Building in Washington, DC and displays them throughout Redmond every 4th of July, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Flag Day, Fair Parade Day and Labor Day.

Randy Povey feels that “the strength of a community can be measured by its interest and commitment to youth activities.” One of the problems common to small communities is a lack of things for young people to do. For many years, the only playing fields for youth sports were at the high school and middle school and, as the population grew, they became more crowded. Povey gathered community members and contractors and over a period of several years the group of volunteers built two large sports complexes, both of which include several fields for baseball and soccer.

As a city councilor, Povey recently helped a group of youth and parents realize a long-term goal of building a permanent facility for skateboarding in one of the city parks. The project faced several years of opposition from community members and businesses, but with Povey’s help the group was able to answer questions and solve the problems.

Several community members have said that if you need something done in Redmond, get Randy Povey involved and it will be done. This statement was proven when he organized a group of volunteers to build a large parking lot at the new county fair and expo center in order to be ready for the annual fair.

Although he is no longer a city councilor, he continues to be a volunteer in Redmond to help the community move through the growth process and remain a livable city.

LISA YOUNG

Lisa Young has been involved with the Pleasant Grove Youth City Council and Youth Court for over five years. She serves in this capacity as a volunteer and puts in over 25 hours per week on the average. Some weeks her service is over 60 hours. Lisa does this along with being a wife to her husband, Russ, and mother to four boys.

As the city advisor to the Youth City Council, she gives the young men and women the opportunity to see how their local government works. Lisa offers them the chance to have hands-on activities to experience what it takes to be a leader. Many of these young people would never have been able to participate in leadership roles because they are unable to get elected or named to positions of leadership in school or church. Lisa comes up with innovative types of service and leadership activities for these young people to do for the community. This includes organizing and inviting parade entries into the annual city celebration, Strawberry Days. This involves over 40 young people who send out letters to prospective entries, follow up with letters and phone calls, and line up the entries on parade day. They also clean up the parade route after the event is over.

Each spring as the high water comes out of the canyons above town, people are needed to fill and place sandbags. The town can always depend on Lisa. They make one call to her and she puts the youth to work. They call and organize groups and the town has all the sandbags needed in a matter of hours. Lisa is helps teach the people, and then she stands back and lets them use the knowledge they have gained. She knows that in some cases they will make mistakes, but she always turns these mistakes into a positive learning experience.

The Youth Court is handled by this same group of youth. They serve as judges and juries for minor legal infractions involving other young people. Many times when there is a certain problem in the city that involves youth, this Youth Court will step in and hear the cases and give out the punishment. The cases run from under age smoking to vandalism, trespassing, etc. As these young lawbreakers come to court with their parents, they are given a trial and if found guilty they are assigned community work hours. If they fail to do the work they go to Juvenile Court. There are very few repeat offenders. In fact, Lisa and her group have many of these former lawbreakers who want to become part of the Youth Court program. Again, Lisa stays in the background and watches and teaches these future leaders of our community.

Lisa is teaching these young people, who would most likely never get a leadership opportunity. She works to inspire them and show them how to make themselves better leaders for our future. She has helped more than 500 young people since she has begun to serve her community.

WAYCROSS KIWANIS CLUB

The Waycross Kiwanis Club is a civic organization that provides service to the community. They are also a networking system for business and professional community members. The club has 60 active members, and the Board of Directors and Committee Chairpersons provide leadership for the community projects that they select.

One of the highly successful programs is the Bring A Book/ Read To A Kid Program. For the past four years, The Young Children: Priority One Committee members have worked with the local Head Start Program in three areas: Bring A Book, Donation of Money and Read Aloud To A Child. Last year, the Club also participated in Christmas in April, they collected trash along their adopted mile of the South Georgia Parkway, and they delivered ice cream and carnations to the local nursing home residents.

The Club has partnered in the Bring A Book Program. The club members have donated more than 823 books for children. The Club has also donated more than $1,500 to the Head Start Reading Is Fundamental Program. This aided the program in meeting its 25% local match required by the federal criteria. This match has allowed 1,144 low-income children to receive three free books to take home. It is intended for the initial three books to become the foundation of what one-day will be the children’s home library. For many of the children, these were their very first books.

In addition to this, The Club partners with the Head Start center and read to the children. Approximately 12 to 15 members schedule volunteer time to donate 20 minutes to read to a child. The Kiwanis Club also partners with Head Start last year, and they participated in the National TV-Turnoff Week from April 24th through the 30th. This effort works to encourage reading and other past-times. Many children now focus on TV as a hobby and lose opportunities to participate in sports, talk, think about other things, and be creative. The purpose of the week is to take an extended break from a medium, which consumes so much of our time.

The Waycross Kiwanis Club has been recognized throughout the State for their work in the community. They serve many groups in the community but particularly work to improve the needs of hundreds of children in the Ware County area. The community is very supportive of the Kiwanis. Many non-profits may have concerns about volunteers; however, they are fortunate in that they get an abundance of volunteer support. They are planning to have a workshop to allow other programs to duplicate this effort.