28 • UPBEAT TIMES • August 2015
Random Acts of Kindness A Good Life Made Better: Volunteering for
Yourself and Others in Sonoma County by Dr. Anne Cowden •
drannecowden@aol.com
Santa Rosa CA. ~ “I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or ne- glect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” Mahatma Gandhi Throughout our lives we
volunteer in all man- ners from coaching little league when our kids played, working with the school assisting teachers or cleaning up its out- side, spent afternoons and weekends as assis- tants at a local hospital or continuing care facility or helping a neighbor paint a house or move. There are countless ways we have all been volunteers throughout our lives and continue to be when we know of opportunities or places that can use our help. At this juncture in our lives,
abilities, skills and knowledge that can help others, whether it is helping in the literacy pro- gram in our library system to constructing homes with Habi- tat for Humanity. However much we might wish to help, we need to know where our assistance would be wel-
vide us with a new family, a family of the heart, where we can be accepted for what we do without all the trappings of family dynamics. There is one agency I will
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the
service of others.” Mahatma Gandhi
whatever your age, there is much that you can do to help yourself and others by volun- teering. The reason I decided to write this column is that many of us wish to be of service, es- pecially those who are retired from careers and jobs. Over a lifetime we have developed
come. I have heard this refrain a good deal lately as men and women become empty nesters, left alone due to the death of a partner or have always been single but now have the time to devote to other pursuits than job or career. Hence, this col- umn. Every month I will present and discuss places that would welcome volunteers with open minds, hearts and hands. For some of us, this work can pro-
mention in this regard. I wrote a short piece in May’s Upbeat Times on Voices. Voices is an organization managed by foster young adults, who help other foster youth, ages 16-24. They provide a va- riety of services from job hunting advice, how to dress for a job interview and help provide the proper attire, and education counseling. There are also a number of life skill workshops. Voices also feeds people. At Voices, you can help in a number of
active ways as well as passive ones such as donating food or money. You will be welcomed and learn from these young adults, and perhaps, learn more than you might teach them. That is my experience. These are survivors at a young age who are neither jaded nor giv- ing up; they are our tomorrow writ large. The agency is locat- ed at 714 Mendocino Avenue and the number is 707-579- 4327.
Direct Support Professional
California MENTOR and T e MENTOR Network are making life better for thousands of people in California and in communities across the country. T e heart of what we do is support and serve adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in daily living activities and we’re looking for
extraordinary people to help us with that mission in the Santa Rosa area. Do you enjoy helping others while having fun? California MENTOR is looking for people to help the individuals engage in activities such as fi tness, music, cooking, computers and art projects. No experience is necessary. To learn more about our agency or apply please visit
www.ca-mentor.com/careers. Salary: $11.00/hour. Medical benefi ts and paid time off and holiday pay available for full time employees. Send resume to:
Kelley.Kaminski@T
eMentorNetwork.com or call 408-279-4520 ext. 15.
Must pass a criminal background clearance, physical, TB test and have valid California driver’s license, registration and clean DMV record.
28 • August 2015 • UPBEAT TIMES
An easy way to begin your search is to use the Internet and log on to the following: https://
vcsc.volunteereasy.com/. The organization, The Volunteer Center of Sonoma County, is located at 153 Stony Circle, Santa Rosa, CA 95401 and the number is 707-573-3399. On this site you will find a great deal about the volunteering process and specific organiza- tions that have asked for help. These opportunities range from Forgotten Felines to Food for Thought Sonoma County AIDS Food Bank to the Lagu-
... continued on page 31
Randon Acts of Kindness page collaborated by talent Brent Farris of KZST & Paul Doyle, publisher of Upbeat Times. Donated by Upbeat Times to organizations that make a difference in the world & around Sonoma County!
Redwood Empire Food Bank Receives Additional Morgan Stanley Grant To Expand Program Delivering Nutritious Meals To Children And Families
Weird Facts & Fun Trivia -6
random@upbeattimes.com
Some Eskimos have been known to use refrigerators to keep their food from freezing.
The original name of Bank of America was Bank of Italy.
The Slave-Maker ant is so named because it raids the nest of other ants and steals their pupae. Once the pupae hatch, they are made to work as slaves.
Ants began farming about 50 million years before humans thought to raise their own crops.
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN AN ELDER’S LIFE! BECOME AN OMBUDSMAN VOLUNTEER!
Petaluma, CA. ~ The Om- budsman Program, an advoca- cy program for residents living in long-term care facilities is looking for a few good volun- teers! This important program utilizes trained volunteers to make unannounced visits
to
long-term care facilities in Sonoma County to identify and problem-solve issues our seniors may be experiencing. Most of our volunteers are se- niors themselves, living inde- pendently and willing to help those less fortunate. Our mission is to ensure
Santa Rosa, CA. ~ The Red- wood Empire Food Bank (REFB) today
announced a
$50,000 grant from Morgan Stanley to fund its Farm to Family School Pantry Pro- gram, a child hunger initiative that helps to make sure low- income families have a readily accessible source of healthy and nutritious food to prepare at home. This is the fourth gift the REFB has received from Morgan Stanley through their grant funding program, for a total of $175,000.
dignity, quality of life and care for the over 4,000 residents in Sonoma County’s skilled nurs- ing facilities, residential care homes, and assisted living fa- cilities by empowering resi- dents and advocating on behalf of those unable to advocate for themselves. A new 36 hour certifica- tion class starts on Septem- ber 22, 2015. Please contact us today! Call Kathy Baldas- sari or Crista Chelemedos at 707-526-4108 or email us at
volunteer@sasnb.org.
I make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes. ~Sara Teasdale
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