Faith in Action Newberg

Faith in Action supports family caregivers in area

Providence's community outreach program brings caregivers together for support group meetings

By David SaleDavid Sale

Caring for an elderly relative can be a difficult task. That's why Faith In Action, a community outreach program of Providence Newberg Medical Center, is bringing caregivers together through a support group.

"Sometimes it's nice to talk with others about the challenges you face, and do some problem-solving," said organizer Janet Irish, who added that the group was founded in 1996, growing out of Faith In Action's volunteer efforts.

"We started providing companionship and assistance to seniors, and soon discovered that their families also needed support of their own," she said.

Such has been the case for Carol Nims, who moved to Newberg from Seattle three and a half years ago to care for her mother-in-law, who passed away Tuesday from Alzheimer's disease.

"We knew it was coming - she'd been bedridden for the last 10 days," she said. "For my father-in-law, it was almost a relief. It's been hard for him. Throughout the difficult process, she said, it was a comfort to turn to others facing the same situation. "I joined the group almost as soon as I moved to town," she said. "It's really been my one social outlet, something I make time for no matter what."

"Alzheimer's is a lot more than just forgetfulness," agreed Lucille Harris, who lost her husband to the disease last March. "This group was a godsend when I was struggling - everyone takes their turn having a cry."

At their most recent meeting, the members of the group discussed the challenges of caring for relatives with Alzheimer's and related dementia, as is the case for the majority of the group at present.

"It varies," Irish said. "Depending on the needs of the group, we may focus more on physical disabilities."

As Harris noted, Alzheimer's disease produces a range of symptoms beyond forgetfulness. The group discussed their own experiences with those like inappropriate swearing and mood swings, or easily getting lost - one member recounted a relative who, while unattended, headed to Washington Square to do some window-shopping at the Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealership there.

"I have to walk into the other room sometimes, so he doesn't see I'm upset," said LaVerne Yauck of her Alzheimer's-diagnosed husband. "I have to learn to be patient and to start making the decisions myself."

"That's one of the things you miss most, having someone around to bounce your ideas off of," Harris agreed.

This year, the White House has proclaimed November to be National Family Caregivers Month, in recognition of the efforts put forth by these men and women.

Faith In Action's Family Caregiver Support Group meets from 1:30-3 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at Providence Newberg Medical Center.

The Graphic, September 17, 2008

By Amanda NewmanA

A volunteer’s spirit

Ellen Hansen has logged more than 1,300 hours of service to Faith in Action

Photo: news

Photo by Gary Allen/Newberg Graphic

Ellen Hansen began volunteering for Faith in Action soon after she arrived in Newberg in 1999.

manda Newman

   Ellen Hansen was new to Newberg when, in 1999, she heard Faith in Action was holding a training session for volunteers.
   Faith in Action, an outreach of Providence Newberg Medical Center that coordinates with faith groups and organizations throughout the community, provides assistance to people facing challenges related to health or aging.
   "I thought, that's something I'd like to do," she said. More than 1,300 hours of service later, she's still going strong.
   Hansen, a retired dietitian who also worked in food service, has participated in most of the services Faith in Action offers the community: yard work, vacuuming, laundry, shopping, respite care, mail retrieval, clothing alterations, visiting and more. But her favorite thing is driving.
   "I like to drive," she said. She transports locals to Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, Legacy Meridian Park Hospital in Tualatin, and hospitals in downtown Portland, Keizer and Clackamas. She has transported more than 100 people - a log book she keeps with names, dates, times, destinations, and detailed travel distances is almost full.
   "It's a two-way street: they need help and I like to help them," she said, explaining why she enjoys her trips. "People start talking and ask questions and you find out that you have something common - and there are a lot of talents around here!"
   She said her "customers" can play the organ and draw, among other things. Some are new to the area and know little beyond what lies on Highway 99W ... so she gives them a tour of the town.
   They often ask about her accent; she tells them she's from Denmark, and "they usually know somebody, a grandfather or an uncle (from there)."
   "I might need a ride sometime too," Hansen said, explaining one reason she volunteers. "I think it's a good thing when you don't work and you're retired and you can still do things, it's a good thing to give back to the community."
   Plus, "it's fulfilling a need - I've tried myself to get a cab to get up to Sherwood to get to the airport, and it's not easy."
   Still, she said, "I've been volunteering so long, if I had been real smart, I should've taken another job and get paid for it!"
   Jill Smith, Faith in Action Newberg program coordinator, said Hansen is among the organization's most dedicated volunteers.
   "She is willing to drive just about anywhere," she said. "Although FIA is usually not able to provide services on short notice, Ellen is the one we turn to when we have an emergency request. She is confident in taking frail elderly adults to their appointments or taking them shopping, helping them with their wheelchairs and walkers ... her reliability, willingness and generous nature make her a wonderful volunteer."

From Partners to Friends to Family
Family Friends pairs volunteers with special needs children

The Graphic, September 17, 2008

By Amanda Newman

   Heather Carlson has a special friend. Every Tuesday afternoon, Sue Chambers comes and hangs out with Heather. She plays card games with her. She talks to her. She takes Heather to her house to make cards or visit with her two dogs. She takes her shopping.
   She gives Heather's mother a much-needed break.
   Chambers is a Family Friends volunteer. She has committed to spend time each week with Heather, a 16-year-old with autism and a learning disability. But Chambers and the Carlson family have much more than a working (or volunteering) relationship.
   "It's more like family," Chambers said. "I'm getting a lot out of it - I've got new friends, three new friends."
   "I think she's a godsend, and we're friends," Ruth Carlson, Heather's mother and a single parent, said. "I am blessed and thankful."
   Chambers heard about Family Friends, a Faith in Action program that matches older adult volunteers with children with disabilities or chronic health conditions, in 2006 at Faith in Action's first annual Sing-Along Messiah. A retired special education teacher, she joined the program and asked to be paired with an adolescent.
   "I knew immediately who she could be matched with," said Kathy Watson, Faith in Action program coordinator. "I knew her years in special ed would be a very valuable resource to Ruth, who handles every parent's challenges of navigating education and services for children with special needs alone."
   Ruth and Sue were matched in February 2007 and connected immediately, they said. They talk on the phone regularly, and Sue, a Portland Trail Blazer season ticket holder, has taken Ruth to a basketball game.
   "We try to match (teams) based on what they both like to do," Watson explained.
   And it appears to be working. "When they try to put people together, they really do a match," Sue said.
   In their weekly meetings, Sue and Heather spend most of their time playing Skip-Bo. They also talk about school, and Sue has taken Heather and her brother, 12-year-old Philip, shopping for Mother's Day and Christmas presents. Sue often attends school meetings with Ruth and has helped her navigate Heather's individual education plan (IEP).
   "Sometimes when Heather and I are here, Ruth has a chance to go upstairs and rest or go out with Philip," Sue said.
   "It's nice to have someone who has patience and consideration and doesn't say `OK, I'm done," Ruth said. She said some families may be hesitant to let a stranger into their homes and personal lives, but that it's really a non-issue. "Once they walk in ... if you have somebody that comes in and just loves you as you are, it takes a burden off."
   It isn't always easy. Heather's mood in the afternoons depends on how her day at school went, Ruth explained, and can vary significantly from day to day. She sometimes has trouble maintaining focus and her unflagging love for SkipBo could be a deterrent for some. But Sue's background in special education helps her cope.
   "It's interesting to see the total other side of the picture from what I saw for 26 years, and it's so rewarding," Sue said. "And I love playing cards with Heather, because she's so unique."
   Sue explained that Heather deals from the bottom of the deck and reasons through her moves in an unusual way. Heather said playing cards is her favorite part of meeting with Sue, because "I could play cards 24/7." She also enjoys playing with Sue's dogs and said, "Shopping for my mom, that's okay."
   There are about 20 children in the Family Friends program, with another dozen on a waiting list, Watson said. Volunteers sign up for a nine-month commitment, but many stay on with their "partners" for longer than that.
   "I don't think there's ever been any question about us not continuing," Sue said, adding that they will work around each other's schedules and be flexible when necessary.
   Family Friends is currently accepting registration for its next volunteer training session, and Watson said the program hopes to attract a whole new crew of volunteers.
   "We're hoping that people will see how much fun Sue and Heather are having (and want to participate)," she said.
   The training session will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 1-2 at the Faith in Action office, 310 Villa Road, Suite 110. The registration deadline is Sept. 22. For more information or to register, call 503-537-1546.

Family Friends seeks volunteers

The Graphic, September 13, 2008

Faith in Action's Family Friends program is accepting registration for its next session training volunteers to spend time with children with special needs.

The training will be held from 9:30am to 3pm October 1-2 at the Faith in Action office, 310 Villa Road, Suite 110. Registration deadline is Sept. 22. For more information or to register, call 503-537-1546.

Family Support Group Slated

The Graphic, September 13, 2008

Faith in Action will host family support group this fall. The group will meet the second Friday of each month 10:15 to 11:45 am in the Family Life Church, 503 St. Paul Highway.

Caregiver Support Group Scheduled

The Graphic, September 13, 2008

Faith in Action will soon convene a support group for caregivers of older adults. The group will meet the second and fourth Thursday of each month from 1:30 to 3:00pm in the Providence Newberg Medical Center conference room.

FiA will soon register new volunteers

The Graphic, September 6, 2008

Faith in Action's Family Friends program is registering people for the next volunteer training. The training is scheduled for Oct. 1 and 2 in Newberg. Call 503-537-1546 by September 22 to register.

Creating Caring Community Connections

The Graphic, September 6, 2008
Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce Business News / September 2008

Address: 310 Villa Road, Suite 110, Newberg, OR 97132
Phone: 503-537-1549
Email: NewbergFaithinAction@providence.org
Hours: 8:30-4pm

Faith in Action began in the Newberg area 13 years ago. A group of eldercare professionals recognized that many frail elderly adults and people with disabilities often had needs that made it difficult for them to remain living independently in their own homes. So Providence Newberg Medical Center pulled together a coalition of faith communities and other organizations to start an Interfaith Volunteer Caregiving (IVC) program which would recruit volunteers to help older adults with things like household chores, minor home repairs, transportation, and yardwork. Other volunteers made visits to older adults who were lonely and isolated, or provided short breaks for family caregivers. Later, IVC changed its name to Faith in Action, recognizing that people of all backgrounds and beliefs are motivated by their own personal faith. Other programs in which neighbors help neighbors have been added over the years to meet specific needs in the community.

First came a caregiver support group which meets the second and forth Thursday of the month, 1:30-3pm at Providence Newberg Medical Center. This is a time for family members caring for an older adult to come together with others who are in the same role for sharing and problem solving. There is no charge and registration is not required.

Next came a partnership with the Post Office and local letter carriers. If individuals would like their letter carrier to watch their mailbox for un-picked up mail or other signs of distress, they can sign up for CarrierLink at the Faith in Action office.

In 2004 Faith in Action was asked to be a pilot program for Strong for Life, an exercise program for older adults. Participants exercise together three times a week to maintain strength and flexibility. This program has been so successful that there are now six groups meeting around town.

Later that year Faith in Action was one of seven programs in the country to receive funding to start a Family Friends program. This program matches older adult volunteers with children with special needs. They meet with the child once a week and become a special friend. Volunteers also provide wonderful support to parents. There is a family support group which meets monthly. Caregivers of children with special needs are invited.

Community members who would like to engage their minds, their hearts and their skills will find fun, flexible and inspiring opportunities to build relationships with people in need at Faith in Action. Somewhere in your neighborhood, an older adult or child with special needs is looking for you! Leadership volunteers with professional experience, to help ensure Chehalem Valley remains the vibrant community that it is, are also needed. For more information, see www.faithinactionnewberg.org or stop by or call the Faith in Action office.

Faith in Action is supported by grants and individual donations. Business sponsorships also ensure that people receive needed services. A Faith in Action event which will highlight generous sponsors and provide an enriching cultural event for the entire community is coming December 7, 2008, at 4pm. The public is invited to Faith in Action’s Sing-Along Messiah. The event will be held at the First United Methodist Church on Deborah Road, in Newberg. The audience will be entertained by soloists singing Handel’s Messiah. They will also have an opportunity to join in singing, under the direction of Loren Wenz, many selections from the Messiah. Admission is free. A reception following the event will be hosted by the Chehalem Cultural Center. For information about sponsoring or helping with the event, please call 503-537-1549.

Walking program celebrates milestone
FIA recognizes completion of a 10-week walking program for seniors

The Graphic, July 26, 2008
By Laurent Bonczijk

Faith In Action celebrated the completion of its walking program Wednesday morning at Jaquith Park.

The 10-week program was a complement to the nonprofit Strong For Life exercise series. Deana VandenHoek, who spearheads the exercise program for seniors, said walking helps build and retain muscle while adding a cardiovascular dimension to the seniors' fitness plans.

She added that 55 people signed up for the walking program, about half of which were already participants in Strong For Life. The group met weekly and she facilitated discussions about the benefits of walking.

At the completion party she reminded participants that the national fitness goal is for people to take 10,000 steps daily, the equivalent of walking five miles.

One of the walkers, Pam Olberding, said she became so accustomed to wearing her pedometer, "I felt naked if it wasn't at my waist." Like many other participants, she kept track of her walking, which topped out at 26,000 steps.

Olberding said that she lives in the country and made it a point to walk to the end of her driveway to pick up the mail, take a long walk with her dog and walk to her son's house down the street. She remembers walking to her barn once, realizing she didn't have her pedometer on and returning to her house to strap it on.

VandenHoek invited retired Dr. Stan Kern as a motivational speaker. He arrived on his bicycle and congratulated the women (only women showed up Wednesday) for taking care of their health.

The walking program was a partnership between Strong for Life and AARP and was designed to encourage exercise for those over 50. Providence Newberg Medical Center, Chehalem Park and Recreation, Excel Fitness and Dormer's Screen Printing also supported the event.

Strong for Life is an exercise program for those 55 and older. There are six classes now going in the Newberg and Dundee area. All exercises are done either sitting in a chair or standing beside it with the use of a rubber band for resistance. For more information about the program call Deana VandenHoek at 503-537-1471, e-mail her at deana.vandenhoek@providence.org or visit www.faithinactionnewberg.org.

Faith in Action slates cell phone fundraiser
The value of the phones will help fund organization’s Strong for Life program

By Laurent Bonczijk
The Graphic, March 8, 2008

Faith in Action has teamed up with Wireless Fundraiser to collect old cell phones. In return, Wireless Fundraiser will donate the value of the cell phones to Faith in Action to help fund the organization's mission to help people who face challenges related to health and aging.
Specifically the funds will go to run three programs: Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers, Family Friends, and Strong for Life. The Interfaith Volunteer Caregiver program provides services to older adults such as transportation, light housekeeping, minor home repairs, yard work, respite, and friendly visiting so that they may remain independent in their own homes. The Family Friends program supports children with special needs and their families by matching older adult volunteers with the child becoming a special friend. Their Strong for Life program promotes health and well being for older adults with a weekly exercise program instructed by volunteer coaches.
Recycling cell phones can keep harmful chemicals from reaching groundwater and polluting the air, reduces the amount of resources extracted from the earth, helps ensure a healthy environment for future generations, prolongs the life of a cell phone, and introduces cell phones into new markets with limited communication capability
To donate, drop off cell phones at the Faith in Action office, 310 Villa Road, Suite 110. All cell phones will be mailed to Wireless Fundraiser to be dismantled and upon receipt will be cleared of all stored memory. If any donors are still worried, they can have their carrier remove all of the stored information.
For more information, visit www.WirelessFundraiser.com or call the Faith in Action office at 503-537-1549.

Faith in Action Moves to New Offices
The ministry’s floor plan quadruples.

by Laurent Bonczijk
The Graphic, Jan12, 2008

Faith In Action relocated its offices Jan. 3, and in the process quadrupled the size of its quarters. Now, they want to increase the number of people volunteering for them as well as the number of people receiving their services.
“It’s huge in comparison,” says program coordinator Jill Smith. For the past five years Faith In Action had been utilizing space donated by Chehalem Park and Recreation District in the Chehalem Adult Enrichment Center (formerly the Chehalem Senior Center).
On busy days there would be up to eight people sharing the space behind the reception desk, making it hard to retain recipients’ privacy, Smith said. The new office at 310 Villa Road Suite 110 has several offices (including one for the program’s intern), a conference room, a kitchenette and a lobby for people to wait in.
Another plus is the location near Providence Outpatient Care, which enables Smith and her colleagues to meet with other Providence employees more easily.
Hired last November, Smith said the ministry plans to expand on its core program of helping older adults and the families of special need children. They currently serve about 350 recipients with a force of 150 volunteers. Their goal is to increase both numbers, Smith said.
Faith in Action will celebrate its new locale with an open house from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Feb. 22. For more information about volunteering, services and donations, call Smith at 503-537-1549.

Sing along with Handel’s “Messiah”
Faith in Action slates Sing-Along Messiah
Saturday at First United Methodist Church

By Amanda Newman
The Graphic, November 28, 2007

Faith in action is inviting members of the community to join in performing Handel’s “Messiah” Saturday at the second annual Sing-Along Messiah.
Attendees will sing along with Christmas selections from the oratorio, concluding with the well-known Hallelujah Chorus. There will also be performances by Deborah Cornick, soprano; George Fox University alumna Kristen Buhler, alto; Cahen Taylor, tenor; and James Rose baritone.
“I think (the event will be fun) for people that love to sing and want a chance to do some of those famous songs, like the Hallelujah Chorus. With a lot of people there, the sound is great, it makes you feel like you’re in a big choir,” said Jan Irish, program manager for Faith in Action. “And for people who don’t sing, the performers are really topnotch.”
She said the sing-along is also fun because it helps kick off the holiday season.
The performance will be directed by Daniel Burnett, director of the Portland Christian High School Concert Choir. Burnett has performed with the Portland Opera, the Oregon Symphony, the Portland Symphony Choir, Choral Crossties, the Portland Youth Philharmonic and the Portland State University Chamber Choir.
Local musicians Dick Elliott, Kathy Ganske and Jane Smith will accompany on trumpet, piano and organ, respectively.
The free event will begin at 3 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church. Musical scores will be $10. A limited number of scores will be available to borrow.
A reception will follow, hosted by the Chehalem Cultural Association. Organized in 2005, the association is working to renovate the former Central Elementary School, now the Chehalem Cultural Center. In the future, the group hopes to host community events such as the Sing-Along Messiah in the building.
About 300 people attended the event last year, and “we’re hoping for more,” Irish said. “We’re hoping to make this a tradition in Newberg.”
For more information, call Faith in Action at 503-537-1549, or visit www.faithinactionnewberg.org.

Faith in Action volunteer award winner from state.
by Amanda Newman
The Graphic, Sept 15, 2007

Faith in Action is one of seven individuals and groups across the state recently selected for recognition through the 2007 Oregon Governor's Volunteer Awards.
The organization will be lauded as the Outstanding Volunteer Program.
Faith in Action, a coalition of 14 faith-based agencies and organizations, addresses specific community needs in the Newberg area. The organization supplies in-home care and transportation to elderly people and provides companionship and mentoring for children with special needs, as well as support for their families.
In 2006, approximately 300 volunteers donated a total of 3,750 hours of service through Faith in Action. Of the elderly served during that time, 89 percent reported feeling that the assistance helped increase their ability to remain in their own homes and 93 percent said volunteer services reduced their stress level.
"To me, (Faith in Action) exemplifies a community engaged in solving its own problems." said Kathleen Joy, Oregon Volunteers executive director. "Our whole motto is Strengthening Oregon Communities Through Volunteerism. and they really exemplify that."
Individuals and organizations are nominated for the awards, then reviewed on a regional basis. Each of Oregon's six regions submits an entry for each of the seven categories. The nominations are then reviewed at the state level by a group of commissioners appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. One recipient is selected in each category.
Other honorees include: Diane Garrett of Nursing Mothers Counsel in Portland; Stephanie Risner of the Girl Scouts Winema Council in Central Point; James Gunn of Central Oregon Veterans Outreach in Crooked River Ranch; Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance, a program of the Oregon Department of Human Services in Salem; Starbucks Coffee Company in Portland, and the Benton County Commission on Children and Families Youth Commission in Corvallis.
Fourteen individuals and programs will also be honored with the 2007 Regional Oregon Governor's Volunteer Awards.

Faith in Action lauded for its transportation program
Beverly Foundation gives Newberg group commendation and $500;
FIA one of 10 recognized in the U.S.
The Graphic, August 18, 2007

Newberg's Faith in Action program recently received special recognition from the Beverly Foundation for its senior transportation program.
Faith in Action was commended for its dedication and contribution to the community, receiving a $500 award. The program was one of 10 recognized across the country.
In 2006, Faith in Action volunteers provided 717 rides to older adults, usually to physicians' offices, hospitals, or grocery stores.
Faith in Action recruits and trains volunteer drivers of all ages, many seniors themselves. The organization collaborates with AARP to provide a free driver safety course to volunteers over the age of 55 and loans its handicap parking permit to volunteers transporting seniors.
Faith in Action provides transportation to seniors who are unable to use services such as Dial-a-Rid, Town Flyer or Red Cross transportation. The program sends a staff member to visit the home of first-time transportation users to help them become familiar with the situation. Patrons must then call Faith in Action at least three days prior to their transportation need. Requests depend on availability of volunteers.
Faith in Action's transportation services are free, but donations may be made to the organization.
To request transportation, contact Faith in Action at 503-537-1549. For more information, visit the web site www.faithinactionnewberg.org.

Grant will help Family Friends expand services
The $4,000 Spirit Mountain Community Fund grant will allow group to recruit volunteers and start support group
by Laurent Bonczijk
The Graphic, August 18, 2007

Family Friends, a branch of Faith in Action, received a $4000 grant from Spirit Mountain Community Fund. Kathy Watson, the program director for Family Friends said the money would help them recruit volunteers to visit their clients and start a caregiver support group.
Watson added that the program provides support to the parents of children who need at-home physical therapy.
She now manages nearly two dozen volunteers who are matched with 21 children. What the volunteers do is perform with the children the exercises their therapist has recommended for in between office visits instead of the parents. This helps parents, who have other children that need their attention and time.
"It's the kind of follow up thing that a therapist would have a parent do, " she said of her volunteers.
Watson describes the activities performed by her volunteers as "play with a purpose." They are designed to improve motor and communication development.
"Anybody can do it, " she says. The volunteers hare screened and trained before being sent out to families who request the extra assistance.
The support group serves parents or guardians of children with a disability or chronic health condition enrolled in the Family Friends program. Volunteers are asked to make at least a nine-month commitment to Family Friends.
Anyone needing help of this type, those interested in joining the support group or in volunteering with the Family Friends program, may call Watson at 503-537-1546.

Faith in Action drivers run through their paces
Organization enrolls its volunteers in AARP driver safety class
The Graphic, July 4, 2007

Last week 16 Faith in Action volunteers honed their driving skills by spending eight hours in AARP's Driver Safety class. The class is aimed at refreshing students' memories on driving rules. It also teaches about the most frequent causes of accidents for older drivers.
The class was offered to Faith in Action volunteers at no charge as part of a partnership with AARP to increase civic engagement of older adults. "Whether volunteers are taking an elderly person shopping or to a medical appointment, or just driving to their volunteer assignment, we feel better knowing that they are safe on the roads," said Jan Irish, Faith in Action program manager.
To find out more about Faith in Action or to volunteer, call 503-537-1549.

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Builder makes Faith in Action its partner
The Graphic, by Amanda Newman

Faith in Action's Family Friends program was recently selected by Buena Vista Custom Homes founder and president Roger Pollock to be a "charity partner" in the company's Profit Partners Program.
Effective July 1, Family Friends will receive a monthly check based on Buena Vista home sales over the previous month.
Profit Partners donates a portion of every Buena Vista home sale to each of its charity partners. The partners include Oregon Partnership, Friends of the Children and Big Brothers/Big Sisters NW.
Family Friends recruits, screens and trains volunteers to partner with special needs children and their families. The volunteers form friendships with the children, who suffer from disabilities or chronic health conditions.
Upon learning of Profit Partners at a meeting in March, Family Friends Program Coordinator Kathy Watson contacted Pollock and described her program. Pollock responded by adding Family friends to his list of charity partners.
"After he talked about his program, I thought he might be interested in (ours), " Watson said.
"I think what (Family Friends) does is special, " Pollock said. "It's a really outstanding group of people and they're doing a lot of good."
Although the amount Family Friends will receive each month will vary, Watson said, "It will be a stable, consistent funding, which we haven't had u to now. We've mostly relied on grants and individual giving."
Pollock, who founded the Lake Oswego-based Buena Vista Custom Homes in 2002, is the driving force behind Profit Partners.
"Our primary focus is on addiction and recovery and at-risk youth," he said. "It's a very personal issue for me because I struggle with alcohol abuse myself. I want to help as many people as possible and educate them on the dangers."
Profit Partners, founded in 2002, raised more than $500,000 for its charity partners last year, according to Pollock's Website.

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Family Friends: Connecting Generations to Strengthen Children and Families
The Graphic, May 12, 2007
(Click on title to view advertisement)

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Faith in Action commends volunteer

Faith in Action volunteers like to call Esther Mae Hinshaw an angel for her work
with children. And on Jan. 25 at a dessert and award event at Friendsview
Retirement Community, Hinshaw was

recognized for the more than 165 hours she volunteered this past year to Family Friends, an organization that pairs children with special needs. Hinshaw helped two families with children who
need assistance.
   At the event, coalition members, volunteers,
care recipients and friends of the program came
together to celebrate the past year’s services.
   Larry Bowe, chief executive of Providence
Newberg Medical Center, thanked volunteers for improving the lives of those who face challenges
related to health or aging.
   Faith in Action programs include informal caregiving to older adults such as
providing transportation, help with chores and friendly visiting, a Strong for Life
exercise program for older adults; and Family Friends.
   Family Friends officials told the story of the mother of one special needs child
Hinshaw volunteers to share her time with. When her daughter was born the
woman and her husband prayed for an angel in their life. She said Hinshaw,
matched with their family in November 2004, has been that angel for them.
   For more information, call 503-537-1548 or visit the Web site at www.faithinactionnewberg.org.

From Feb. 3, 2007, Newberg Graphic

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Invitation to FIA Meeting
The Newberg Graphic, Saturday, January 20, 2007

Faith in Action invites the public to attend its annual award meeting from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at Friendsview Retirement Community, 1301 E. Fulton St. The meeting will include the volunteer of the year award, election of the advisory board and recognition of coalition members and volunteers. Dessert will be served. For more information, call 503-537-1549.

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Sing-Along Messiah kicks off the Season
The Newberg Graphic, Wednesday, November 22, 2006

   Handel's Messiah had its first performance on April 13, 1742, but became a traditional Christmas performance in American by the Handel and Haydn Society of Boston in 1819.
   Families are invited to attend a sing-along performance of the Messiah at 4pm Dec. 2 at the First Untied Methodist Church, 1205 Deborah Road. The community will have the opportunity to create a Messiah performance, singing some Christmas selections of Messiah and ending with the Hallelujah chorus.
   Daniel Burnett, director of the Christian High School Concert Choir, will direct. Soloists will perform, including Deborah Cornick, soprano; Elizabeth Madsen, mezzo soprano; Zachary Hoyt, tenor; and James Rose, baritone. Local musicians Dick Elliott, trumpeter; Kathy Ganske, pianist; and Jane Smith, organist, will be featured.
   During intermission and at the post-concert reception, the public may also bid on decorated tabletop holiday trees. For those who do not want a tree, a tree may be purchased to brighten the holidays for an elder in the community. The tree may be delivered to them as well. Anyone interested in donating a decorated tabletop tree for the silent auction, can find guidelines on the Faith in Action website, www.faithinactionnewberg.org, or call the office at 503-537-1549.
   Donations are accepted and will support the Faith in Action mission to coordinate volunteers to help people who face challenges related to health or aging. Musical scores will be available for purchase at the door - $1- for the G. Schirmer complete edition. A limited number of scores will be available to borrow, or the public is invited to bring their own copies.

Faith in Action teams with AARP to help the aging
The Newberg agency is partnering with the national organization to recruit more volunteers
By Schellene Clendenin
The Newberg Graphic, Saturday, August 19, 2006

Combining the services provided by Faith in Action with volunteers from the American Association for Retired Persons may be a match made in heaven.

It's a natural partnership, said Jan Irish, program manager for Faith in Action, a program that pairs volunteers with the elderly and disabled to provide assistance for everything from drives to the grocery store to picking up and dropping off library books.

With already more than 130 volunteers providing services to Faith in Action, Irish hopes AARP's plan to recruit volunteers form the more than 8,000 AARP members living in the area will bring in as many as 10 new volunteers. Although she's heard of cases in larger towns where 50 to 60 AARP members volunteered with service programs in their area. "They were inundated with offers," she said.

While the volunteers to the organization Irish runs range in age from 12-90, the most active are ages 55-70. Irish said that many young families also provide hundreds of volunteer hours as well.

Recent volunteer surveys and reports demonstrate that nearly one-third of all baby boomers volunteer and they and senior citizens volunteer more hours than any other age group, according to information provided by AARP. The group has also recently completed a study that quotes 50 percent of baby boomers turning 60 in 2006 that say they have a desire to volunteer more.

"People who volunteer are more likely to live happier, healthier and longer lives," said Kathy Watson, coordinator of Family Friends, which pairs volunteers with children with special needs. "And, older adults bring a wealth of life experience into their volunteer work, benefiting everyone who is touched by what they do."

Faith in Action and AARP cemented their plans for a partnership at an Aug. 16 meeting held at Providence Newberg Medical Center. They will collaborate on their first project in November. Called the Grab Bar Installation Project, the idea is to install safety grab bars in the bathrooms of elderly folks in Newberg, Dundee, and St. Paul.

Irish said the group will purchase some of the bars through AARP at a reduced price and hopes to have bars available for individuals who can't afford them.

She contacted the Newberg Fire Department to ask how often it responds to ground level falls, events that might be prevented by the use of grab bars. She was stunned to hear that the agency is called to one to three falls per day, some of which are life threatening.

"Then you think of all the people who fall and get up on their own," she said. "It's our hope that if they have that to hold onto when they step into the shower, it will prevent some falls."

The local partnership extends a national initiative between AARP and the Faith in Action National Program Office. The Faith in Action program in Newberg is the first of three programs in Oregon to formally launch the program. Nationwide, there are about 90 local Faith in Action partners cooperating with AARP, according to information provided by the organization.

"It's all about neighbors helping neighbors to promote independence and enhance quality of life," said Sarah Cheney, manager of community partnerships for the Faith in Action's national office.

The volunteers will provide companionship and service through three Faith in Action programs: Volunteer Caregivers, who help provide companionship and services to the elderly; Family friends; and the Strong for Life exercise program for the elderly.

Faith in Action in Newberg, an outreach of the medical center, coordinates a network of local faith communities, agencies, individuals and business who came together to address the unmet needs of the elderly, reported AARP.

Making a Difference
Woman finds purpose in helping older people
By Cheston Knapp
The Oregonian, Southwest Weekly, Thursday, May 18, 2006

After her husband died in 1991, Gean Bullock of Newberg began looking for ways to get involved in the community.

"We had a volunteer driver when my husband was sick, and he was just fabulous, " she said. "I felt I had the time to volunteer and that it was my time to give back."

In 1996, Bullock stumbled upon an organization called Faith in Action, which helps pair volunteers with elderly people who need assistance. "I knew all along that I wanted to get into helping with older people, " she says. "It's just what I feel called to."

Since joining the organization, Bullock has helped care for more than 40 people and has logged more than 2,500 hours of service. Many of the people she works with are long-term matches, people who need continuous help. Through these pairings, Bullock has gained a number of friends.

Her responsibilities include setting up appointments for people, driving them to the doctor's office or a pharmacy, and taking them shopping. But she says her main responsibility is to be there for them, to be a friend.

"A lot of times when a person gets older and older, their friends start to pass away, " she says. "And their families sometimes don't live in the area, and they just enjoy having people to look forward to seeing. I think that's what my job is about."

For Bullock, the relationships are founded on storytelling. "The stories they tell are just fantastic," she says. "I'm always learning so much about the history of Newberg and about these people."

A simple question sometimes brings a long story about the person's life. "I just love that," she says.

"I'm so blessed that I have the time and ability to help these people out," she says. "And who knows, maybe I'll need it one day and someone will be there to help me out. I feel like I get 10 times more than I give."

Mayor's Prayer Breakfast: Praising Volunteers
Hundreds turn out Saturday at university to recognize volunteers' efforts in the community.
By Schelene Clendenin
The Newberg Graphic, May 17, 2006

Jan Irish, program manager for Faith in Action, said once she had a volunteer call and offer her lunch hour to help out. Her time was limited, but she wanted to help in some way.

Her chance arose when an elderly lady called and asked if someone could change her light bulb. She was afraid of falling and injuring herself in the dark.

Stories like this were told and re-told during the 20th annual Mayors' Prayer Breakfast Saturday in Klages Dining Hall at George Fox University....

Sherwood Faith in Action gears up for 3rd Annual Oregon’s Run for the Roses
4/18/06

This June, runners and walkers from as far as Denver, Co., will participate in the 3rd annual Oregon’s Run for the Roses. Oregon’s Run for the Roses, an officially sanctioned Portland Rose Festival event, is a fundraiser for Sherwood Faith in Action and the Sherwood Senior Center.

Sherwood Faith in Action is a non-profit organization that assists senior citizens in the Sherwood, King City and Tualatin area. Volunteers assist seniors with a variety of services, helping them continue an independent lifestyle. Part of a national program, Sherwood Faith in Action alone helps more than 100 people annually.

The Oregon Run for the Roses this year is June 4th, beginning at Sherwood High School. The route takes participants along the Cedar Creek Trail, followed with festivities and entertainment at the end. Runners are professionally timed and results will be posted on the internet along with photos of winners.
Mark and Peggi Federspeil, event coordinators, hope to continue the annual increase of participants. Peggi also represents “Spirit Walkers,” contributors unable to attend the event.

The Graphic, September 17, 2008

By Amanda NewmanA

From Partners to Friends to Family Family Friends pairs volunteers with special needs children

The Graphic, September 17, 2008

Family Friends seeks volunteers

FiA will soon register new volunteers

Creating Caring Community Connections The Graphic, September 6, 2008 Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce Business News / September 2008

From Partners to Friends to Family
Family Friends pairs volunteers with special needs children

Creating Caring Community Connections

The Graphic, September 6, 2008
Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce Business News / September 2008