(RSVP of SW Minnesota) October, 2013

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1 REDWOOD COUNTY VOLUNTEERS (RSVP of SW Minnesota) October, National Day of Service and Remembrance HAPPY BIRTHDAY PROJECT CREATES CELEBRATION BAGS FOR LOCAL FOOD SHELF No one should have to go without on their birthday. Knowing there are children in the area who do not have a cake or other basics to celebrate their special day led a group of RSVP volunteers who live at Johnson Park Assisted Living to develop what is known as the Happy Birthday project. The project created special bags that include items, such as a cake mix, a container of frosting, candles, sprinkles, plates and napkins as well as a special gift. The bags were then given to the Redwood Area Food Shelf. Families are asked when they come in if anyone is having a birthday. If they are, they get a bag. Funding for the project was provided by a grant from the Good Samaritan Society which awards funds through its Social Accountability grant program. 50 bags were put together on September 11 as part of the Natio nal Day of Servi ce & Rem embr ance

2 Thank you to our volunteers Ruth Jacobsen, Sharon Petersen, Norma Hagert and Hazel Koll who answered the call to sew clothing protectors for Gil-Mor Manor in Morgan. Money for this project was provided by the Salvation Army Bell Ringer Project. Healthy Aging The Healthy Aging series is co-sponsored by Redwood Area Hospital Caring Connection Adult Day Health Program and Redwood County Volunteers COPD Lance Lothert October 2 from 2 3 PM If you re over 40 and have a history of smoking, you may have a life-threatening lung disease that will get worse if not treated. COPD is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Yet many people don t know they have COPD. An early diagnosis gives the best chance to stop the damage to your lungs, but treatments are available to help people at all stages of COPD feel better and live a more active life. It s not too late to get help for COPD. To register for the event or for more information, call the Redwood County Volunteer office at or Lynn Buckley at MATTER OF BALANCE CLASSES New classes begin in Belview on October 8 Have you, a friend or a family member fallen recently? Do you have a fear of falling? Have you cut down on a favorite activity because you might fall?? If so, A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns about Falls is a program for you. Fear of falling can be just as dangerous as falling itself. People who develop this fear often limit their activities, which can result in severe physical weakness, making the risk of falling even greater. Many older adults also experience increased isolation and depression when they limit their interactions with family and friends. Matter of Balance can help people improve their quality of life and remain independent. Matter of Balance is designed to reduce the fear of falling and increase activity levels among older adults. Participants learn to set realistic goals to increase activity, change their environment to reduce fall risk factors, and learn simple exercises to increase strength and balance.

3 The Matter of Balance class will be held at Parkwood Apartments, 505 South 2 nd St., Belview, MN. The classes will be held on Tuesdays - October 8, 15, 18, 22, 29, November 5, 12, 19, 26 from 1:00 2:30 pm. Karen Christensen and Annette Rohlik will facilitate the classes. Class size is limited. Please call Karen Christensen at the Redwood County Volunteer office to register for the classes at Medicare Open Enrollment October 15 th through December 7 th Do you have Medicare Part D drug coverage? Do you want to enroll in a Medicare Part D plan or switch to another Medicare Part D Plan? If so a trained counselor is available by appointment. Where: Redwood Falls Public Library Time: 10:00 am 3:00 pm Dates: Tuesday, October 22, 2013 Friday, November 15 th, 2013 Call to schedule an appointment Walk to End Alzheimer s Disease Robbins Island Park, N Hwy 71 Willmar, MN October 6, 2013 My family and I are participating in the Alzheimer s Walk on October 6 th 2013 in Willmar, MN. We are walking in honor of my Aunt Alice. Our Teams name is Alice s Allies. Our goal is to raise as much money as possible to help defeat this disease. The proceeds will go to research towards Alzheimer s in hopes to one day find a cure for this disease. We are walking for the loss of loved ones and those who today are suffering from this disease. Today we probably all know someone who has or has had Alzheimer s disease. If you would like to make a donation to help stamp out this disease there are two ways you can do so. To donate online, you can Google Walk to End Alzheimer s disease Willmar, MN. Click on the Donate icon on the right hand side. Put in my name Karen Christensen and follow the directions to make your donation or you can write out a check to the Alzheimer s Association and mail it to me at 1011 E. Elm St. #221, Redwood Falls, MN 56283

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5 Connecting Volunteers with Community Needs. Good Morning Telephone Reassurance caller is needed in Redwood Falls on Friday Morning. Do you enjoy visiting on the telephone? Caller is needed to make calls between 8 AM & 10 AM. These calls will be made from your home. Call the Redwood County Volunteer office at to volunteer RSVP of SW Minnesota Advisory Council Member Volunteer needed to attend and actively participate in the quarterly Advisory Council meetings. Duties will include evaluating community needs, advise and assist in evaluation of accomplishments and impact locally and in partnership with 6 counties of RSVP of SW Minnesota. Golden Living Center in Wabasso is in need of volunteers to call Bingo evenings (except Wednesday). If you could help, please call Chris at Golden Living Center or the volunteer office. Johnson Park Place Is in need of volunteers to plant tulips in their flower garden. Call the Redwood County Volunteer office at if you can help. Literacy Volunteers of Southwest Minnesota needs volunteer tutors to work with adult learners. We help adults with reading, writing, math, GED preparation, ESL, and basic computer literacy. If you are 18 or older and can speak, read, and write English well, we can train you to become a tutor. For more information and up-coming orientation dates please contact Charlotte: or literacy.swmn@gmail.com Western Community Action asks that you consider volunteering for this timelimited (just February mid-april) FUN opportunity. Tax preparer: Position involves learning the Tax Wise software used at the clinics in preparing fderal and state returns for customers. Don t worry about a lack of experience as training is held in two parts. Call the volunteer office at to volunteer. Friendly Visitors & Respite Volunteers Men & Women needed! Friendly Visitors & Respite volunteers are people who enjoy visiting with elderly people in their home. They enjoy listening and have the time to make regular visits. They can chat over coffee or tea, go for a walk, read aloud, play a game or card or write a letter. Call our office at to volunteer.

6 Welcome to the Quilts of Valor Foundation The mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation is to cover all combat service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor. DID YOU KNOW...Currently fewer than one percent of Americans serve in the military, though we are engaged in the longest protracted conflict since the Revolutionary War. DO YOU BELIEVE...In the past, Americans failed to support veterans returning from previous wars, such as Korea, the forgotten war, and Viet Nam, the unpopular war. ARE YOU AWARE...Armed service members undergo tremendous stress to leave family, friends, career, and country when they are deployed, stress that is beyond civilian capacity to comprehend. DO YOU QUILT? Then you know a comforting quilt can say Thank you for your service, your sacrifice, and valor, in a way nothing else can. Join Quilts of Valor or any service project that honors brave Americans. Take a nonquilter under your wings and serve your country. There is currently a project underway in the Litchfield area to honor the 97 soldiers who will return from Afghanistan in July of 2014 by presenting them with a Quilt of Valor when they return. Some of these soldiers have served several terms in Iraq and Iran and have never received a quilt they have been promised. If you are a quilter and would like more information, please call our office at Information about the project can be found at Big Buddies Brighten up a child s day. Volunteering with Big Buddies is fun. Being a Big Buddy is simple and rewarding. it is as easy as showing you new little Buddy how to play a computer game, bake an apple pie, reading the funnies together, walking through the park, shooting hoops, watching the Vikings or enjoying a pizza together. Once matched, Big Buddies develop friendships with Little Buddies. Being a Big Buddy is one of the most rewarding and enjoyable things you will ever do. Children need the friendship and guidance of someone like YOU! Call today to become a Big Buddy. Just one hour a week can make all the difference. Call Leslie Myrom Community Transit Program of Western Community Action is in need of volunteer drivers. Trip requests include rides for a variety of reasons such as medical appointments, jobs, day care, or helping people who need to shop or connect with programs or businesses in their community. You set your own schedules. Volunteers are reimbursed at the going IRS rate. Call Cathleen at ext to volunteer.

7 Reporting Your Hours Reporting your hours is important to us. Did you know you can report your hours several ways. If you are volunteering at a station that is registered with us you can record your hours on their Station Timesheet. We also welcome phone calls at , s at volunteer@co.redwood.mn.us or you can complete the timesheet below and mail and drop off at 1011 E. Elm St. #221, Redwood Falls, MN REDWOOD COUNTY VOLUNTEER TIME SHEET Month: Volunteer Signature Date Please submit your hours by the 5 th of the month. Thank you ahead of time for being so prompt, your hours mean a lot to our community