South Hadley Council on Aging

Event: August 16th, Summer Picnic (rain date August 17th)

Need: Help set up in the morning and serve at lunch, must be at least 12 years old

Mission: South Hadley Concil on Aging is a full service senior center. It provides meals at the senior center and home delivered; transportation to and from the center; educational and recreational programs; volunteer opportunities; social service assistance and referrals; fuel assistance and health insurance information; exercise classes and health information; outreach and a monthly newsletter.

Contact: Deb Thumith at 538-5042 or at deborahcoa@hotmail.com

AIDS CARE/ HampshireCounty – CommunityGarden

Mission: To provide confidential & comprehensive support services to people living with HIV/AIDS in Hampshire County using a harm reduction philosophy.

The HIV/AIDS Community Garden project is a social & educational activity for people living with HIV/AIDS & other volunteers. The garden project is also a way to provide fresh organic vegetables, herbs & flowers to our friends & neighbors living with HIV/AIDS in Hampshire County. If you are a fan of cooperative gardening and/or working with the soil, this is a perfect way to help out. Work parties are held during the spring, summer & fall & no experience is ever necessary to help in the garden project.

Contact:  Court Cline at 586-8288, x2 for more information.

Project Linus - Blankets

Mission: 100% volunteer non-profit organization; to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer "blanketeers." Second, it is our mission to provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit of children.

We need crafters to make blankets for traumatized children ranging from infants to teenagers. If you quilt, knit, crochet, or sew and would like to help local children in need this is a great organization to get volunteer for.    

The Food Bank of Western, Mass.

Mission: work behind the scenes of nearly every charitable organization that provides food to people in need in western Massachusetts.

Our 400 member agency programs include soup kitchens, food pantries, homeless shelters, childcare centers, and elder programs throughout Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties.  Each year we distribute more than 6 million pounds of food to these agencies to help feed people in need.
Get close to the earth by volunteering at The Food Bank Farm! We need help from May through November, weekdays and weekends.  Groups are welcome.  They close at 4:00pm.

Contact: Kate Albrecht, Salvage Coordinator at 413-582-0013 or 413-247-9738, katea@foodbankwma.org, or check out their website http://www.foodbankwma.org/

Working with our community to reduce hunger and increase food security

HighlandValley Elder Services

Mission: People Taking Charge of Their Lives and Their Communities for Quality Long Living

Website: highlandvalley.org 
The ombudsman work our team does involves confidentiality regarding issues of concern for residents in long-term care; however, one of the most cutting edge approaches in facilities is to create multi-generational opportunities.  For example, a friend/colleague of mine set up a mutual mentoring system with Hampshire Care in Leeds and the Charter School 8th graders.  Much has been shared and gained in the activities they participate in together.

If someone from Big Brothers/Big Sisters would like to contact me, I could provide some leads/guidance for facilities that would be open to this.  It strikes me as win-win for elders to engage with young ones, for mentors to work both ends, and for children to learn about long-lived lives, resilience, etc.

Thanks for sending out this email.  I can be reached at:  jmsorrell@highlandvalley.org or (413) 586-2000, x133

J.M. Sorrell, Ombudsman Program Director