Have you ever thought about how you can make someone's life a little easier? Or wondered if there is a place you can volunteer in your community to help others? Or maybe you know of someone who could use a bit of help with their living situation? Well, I just found out about a volunteer service in Dodge County that has been around since 2002 that does just that! It is called Faith in Action, and it is an interfaith service to help others stay at home as long as possible. Faith in Action provides a multitude of services tailored to our seniors in each community in Dodge County. It is a program under the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and helps older adults with tasks that aren't as easy as they used to be.
Their mission is to provide a variety of volunteer services to enrich their clients' lives in a safe atmosphere. Local Faith in Action programs bring interfaith volunteers in to care for neighbors who may be isolated, and living with chronic health issues or disabilities. With volunteer assistance, community members with long or short term health needs can maintain their independence for as long as possible.
Faith in Action Dodge County was selected as a grant recipient from Community Services/ Community Service Development, and the grant helped to enhance the services they provide in Claremont, Dodge Center, Hayfield, Kasson, Mantorville and West Concord. Currently there are no automatic funding programs in place, so all monetary needs are funded through individual donations and fundraisers. One of the popular fundraisers is the annual Soup and Pie Fundraiser. This year it will be held at the Kasson Methodist Church at 801 5th Avenue NW, across from Prairie Meadows. Come join them from 4:30 to 7 pm on Monday October 13th. Not only is this a chance to help the program financially, but you will be able to meet some of the volunteers and ask questions that you may have about their services, or for information on volunteering, which can also be found on their website below.
There are several local organizations that sponsor Faith In Action. Some of these benefactors are the Lions Club, Kasson/Mantorville Care and Share, Berne Pizza, KMTelecom, the United Way, and several area churches.
Anyone can volunteer to provide care for our elderly neighbors. No matter what skills you may have, you can put them to work! Are you a good listener? Do you have a car to transport people to appointments or shopping? Are you good at beauty services? Maybe you like to play cards, or do puzzles? You are invited to join our team of volunteers and see the difference you can make in the lives of others. When you sign up to volunteer, you choose how many hours you would like to donate, and what kinds of activities you would be most comfortable sharing with our clients. Some of the categories are Transportation, Respite Care for caregivers, Visiting with homebound clients, Housekeeping, Running Errands, Yard work or Handyman services. There are so many ways you can help those who are in need. One volunteer said, "This is the easiest program to volunteer for. If someone calls and asks if I can volunteer on a day or at a time that doesn't work for me, I just say I am not available at that time, and please call me next time." Most of the requests are for transportation, but you won't ever need to load or unload wheelchairs.
To learn more about this much needed program, you can call (507) 634-3654, check out their website at www.fiadodgecounty.org, their email at fiadodge@kmtel.com, or write a letter to FIA Box 246 Kasson MN 55944.
Just think how your own life will be enhanced by being of service to others.
