Volunteer Solutions

 Take this quiz to test your knowledge of issues of the elderly facing hunger and this month’s spotlight organization, Volunteer Solutions!  Answers can be found at the end of the post.

1.      How many individuals live below the poverty line in Fairfax County?

a.      86,000

b.      39,000

c.       44,000

d.      65,000

2.      What percentage of individuals living below the poverty line in Fairfax County is above the age of 55?

a.      5%

b.      14%

c.       17%

d.      22%

3.      Nationally, the rate of poverty in the older population is significantly less than the general population due to economic support programs such as Social Security and Medicare. This is true among the older population in Fairfax County.

a.      True

b.      False

4.      Between 2004 and 2008, economic insecurity among older households increased by how much?

a.      2%

b.      9%

c.       12%

d.      7%

5.      What area in Fairfax County has the highest percentage of older households (55 and older) below the poverty line?

a.      Arlington

b.      Alexandria

c.       Centreville

d.      Fairfax City

6.      What county has the lowest percentage of older households below the poverty level?

a.      Fairfax County

b.      Loudoun County

c.       Prince Williams County

d.      Arlington County

7.      When is JMCAP (James Mott Community Program) offered?

a.      Once a year

b.      Every other month

c.       Once a month

d.      Every week

8.      The food pantry staff:

a.      Helps define eligible participants

b.      Help participants complete required enrollment forms/assessments for the Congregate Meals Program

c.       Help collect participant meal orders

d.      All of the above

9.      By 2030 what is the projected number of elderly northern Virginians living in poverty?

a.      50,000

b.      2,500

c.       300,000

d.      None of the above

10.   What food is not good to donate?

a.      Canned meat

b.      Twinkies

c.       Oil

d.      Juice

Volunteer Solutions & Elderly and Hunger

This month we focused on hunger issues for older adults.

Volunteer Solutions details the struggle for older adults to find adequate food requirements while drifting around the poverty line. Older individuals often find themselves without adequate nutritional needs and without the support networks that are around to help younger people who fall below the poverty line. Volunteer Solutions and its affiliates help to combat this problem in the NOVA area by creating a network of services for older adults ranging from volunteer opportunities in their communities to nutritional assistance and guidance in their own lives.  They connect volunteers with opportunities to assist with senior services including grocery shopping, counseling, social services, and transportation.

Volunteer Solutions offers a Meals on Wheels program to provides meals and supplements to older adults who live in Fairfax County and the cities of Falls Church and Fairfax. 5 days a week, volunteers deliver two meals to Fairfax area residents over 60 and over and adults with disabilities who cannot shop for or prepare their own meals or have no one available to provide meals.

 Volunteer Solutions engages in partnerships with successful nonprofits such as food pantries, faith based religious organizations, and community based secular organizations. These include the organizations of WFCM (Western Fairfax Christian Ministries), Food for Others, and the Capital Area Food Bank, as well as Stuff the Bus.

We would like to thank Maria Loh from Volunteer Solutions for speaking with us and providing up with the information about hunger and elderly in our community.  Thanks, Maria!

Consider volunteering at one (or all!) of these organizations to make an impact for tackling hunger in our community.  For even more youth and family volunteer opportunities, visit www.volunteerfairfax.org.

Fairfax Area Meals on Wheels and Nutritional Supplement Program

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/olderadultservices/meals-on-wheels.htm

Goal:  Provides meals and supplements to older adults who live in Fairfax County and the cities of Falls Church and Fairfax. Meals on Wheels delivers two nutritional meals five days a week to Fairfax area residents over the age of 60 and adults with disabilities who cannot shop for or prepare their own meals. This program promotes independent living for older individuals, delays placement in an institutionalized placement, and allows adults that need to stay at home to recover from medical problems.  

Volunteer Opportunities:

·         Vietnamese Meals on Wheels needs drivers in Falls Church to deliver meals between the hours of 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. (Speaking Vietnamese not required.)

·         Korean Meals on Wheels needs Korean-speaking volunteers to deliver meals midday on Monday, Wednesday and Friday in Centreville, Reston, Fairfax, Annandale and Falls Church.

·         Meals on Wheels needs drivers in Chantilly and McLean between the hours of 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Substitute drivers needed throughout the county.

James Mott Community Assistance Program

 Goal: To provide families with goals to focus on self-sufficiency that will create greater individual and family independence. The agency advocates prevention and early crisis intervention to nurture the safety, health, and well-being of low-income youth, adults and the elderly in at risk communities.

Volunteer Opportunities: JMCAP welcomes volunteers for all seasons. Middle and high school students are welcome to apply for volunteer opportunities.

Volunteers can provide assistance in the following programs:

*Food pantries

*Fundraising

*Grocery Program which serves 2 senior community centers by distributing groceries.

Application link: http://jamesmottcommunityassistanceprogram.vpweb.com/upload/Volunteer%20Application%20Form%20pdf.pdf

Applications can be sent via email to jmcapinfo@jmcap.org

-Capital Area Food Bank

http://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/volunteer/

Goal:The Capital Area Food Bank distributes 42 million pounds of food, equivalent to 35 million meals, yearly to the greater Washington, DC community through its network of 500 partner agencies and its direct food distribution programs. A food and education hub, the food bank specializes in providing food and training services uniquely matched to meet community needs.

 Volunteer Opportunities:

-DC Warehouse - packing, sorting, loading, administrative tasks

-Shuttle Service - drivers

-Senior Brown Bag Program

quiz answers:

1. D// 2. C// 3. false// 4. B// 5. A// 6. B// 7. C// 8. D// 9. A// 10. B

PRS Crisis Link

PRS Crisis Link and Suicide Prevention

This month’s topic was suicide prevention and bullying. Although it may be difficult to talk about, suicide is a serious issue that affects the lives of many. Nearly 40,000 Americans took their lives in 2014, and suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States. Many people who experience suicidal thoughts or feelings often struggle to obtain help and support.

One organization based in Northern Virginia that aims to provide help, support and empowerment to people feeling depressed, suicidal, bullied or lonely is Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (PRS) CrisisLink. This 24 hour, 7 day a week call and text service is composed primarily of trained volunteers who are available to provide support for anyone who is experiencing or knows someone experiencing any form of emotional distress with any cause. In 1969, CrisisLink was founded for Arlington teens seeking help, and in the years since, has expanded to cater to all age groups in Northern Virginia, and even outside of the region. The resource center is largely composed of trained volunteers who come from a wide variety of ages, ethnicities, cultures, lifestyles and backgrounds.

We would like to thank Mr. Brill for coming to talk with us about this issue, and all the volunteers at PRS CrisisLink for the fantastic work they do every day.

How You Can Help

You can volunteer at a crisis hotline, create awareness, or fundraise. To create awareness you can post stickers for a crisis text hotline in school bathrooms. Crisis Text Line (CTL), a 24/7 crisis text-messaging service, provides real-time, anonymous counseling specifically to young people. Students can text anything to 741-741 if they ever need someone to listen.

Another advocacy idea is to ask permission from your school to read anti-bullying tactics and relevant inspirational quotes over the school loudspeaker for a week.

For example:

Tactic: If you feel comfortable in the situation, step in and stop the bullying face-to-face.

“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” --Winston Churchill

You can also spread positivity by posting notes on school mirrors to improve people’s self-esteem. Use sticky notes to write encouragement and inspiration. 

 

You can run bake sales or yard sales with your friends to raise money for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or other non-profit suicide call centers.

If you or a friend are thinking about suicide or self-harm, consider these options. There are many reasons to enjoy life, and we want to help you rediscover them.

-By calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255) you’ll be connected to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area, anytime 24/7.

-Calling (703) 527-4077 will put you in touch with a local-Virginia area help center.

-Texting can sometimes be an easier way to reach out. Text the PRS crisis hotline at 703.940.0888 to talk to someone who cares

-Talk to a friend, family member, counselor, or teacher. Although they may not express it on a daily basis, there are many people in this world who care deeply about you.

-Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter all have suicide prevention methods built in. Simply click on the help buttons to learn more.

-Visit http://www.stopbullying.gov/ to learn how to stop bullying.

-LGBTQ individuals are often at a higher risk for suicide and bullying. Visit http://www.glbtnationalhelpcenter.org/ to find information and call lines.

Take a pledge against bullying!

http://www.pacer.org/bullying/digitalpetition/

How to Help a Suicidal Friend

1: Be on the lookout for “invitations”. Suicidal individuals may show that they want someone to help them through their behavior. Signs may include abnormal impulsiveness, moodiness, or mentions of suicide.

2: Ask openly and directly: “Are you thinking about suicide?” This may be scary, but it shows that you care and are a supportive resource for someone whether they are considering suicide or not.

3: Be a non-judgemental, considerate listener. Let your friend talk about their thoughts and feelings. Don’t be dismissive. Don’t rush them off to find treatment. Show that you care.

4: Help your friend connect to other support resources. Check out PRS Crisis Link and Suicide Prevention and the other resources mentioned in this post!

5: Continue to care and check on your friend even if they seem to be doing better. PRS Crisis Link and Suicide Prevention will also support and advise you as a caregiver to your friend.

6: Attend a two-day Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) program if you are 16 or older. Go to livingworks.net to find sessions in your area.

Here’s a video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAMAnPRLMH8

*Remember, if someone you know is in serious danger of suicide, call 911 immediately.*