Double Your Impact!  Did you know that on average, one in 10 companies match employee contributions of volunteer time? If you volunteer with us, your employer may provide us with a grant as a way to recognize your ongoing support. We encourage you to check with your employer and take advantage of this opportunity to Double Your Impact!

In this issue:

Program Spotlight: Lambert House
VOA Oregon's Lambert House is an adult day center that features structured programs to meet the needs of adults with dementia and disabilities. Services include individually planned social and support services, supervision, and health monitoring in a protective setting during the day. The focus is on increased well-being of the entire family/community where caregivers are able to maintain individual-based care.

Volunteers are essential for engaging our seniors and encouraging active participation.. Volunteers help with activities like art, music therapy, gardening and more. Our clients love getting to know our volunteers and staff have expressed how meaningful volunteer engagement can be for the clients. New faces of volunteers unlock positive memories and help develop deeper relationships between staff and clients.

Lambert House also hosts the largest number of volunteers in VOA Oregon: over 37% of our annual volunteers. The majority of these volunteers come from one-time group projects. Corporate groups, churches, families and friends, all join Lambert House in days of service where they share a meal and participate in activities with our clients. It's a wonderful way to build camaraderie with a group and give back at the same time. Volunteer Coordinator, Crissy Kibbons-Lindahl, is always excited to welcome new volunteers and has really grown the capacity of their volunteer program.

What are volunteers saying about Lambert House? 

"I had so much fun at the Lambert House! The staff is utterly amazing. I come from the assisted living setting and they were on it! I was super impressed and truly enjoyed myself."

"This staff is amazing - the level of concern and caring is so evident. I have stated to friends and family that if I am in need of services, I hope to be in a placement like this."

One of the most fun volunteer opportunities at Lambert House is our intergenerational project. Each month, preschoolers from our Family Relief Nursery visit Lambert House for activities with the seniors and volunteers. Providing the space for different generations to come together is powerful and brightens everyone's day. And this is a great project for a volunteer who wants to drop in just every now and then. Email volunteer@voaor.org if you'd like to sign up for an intergenerational project. 
Sundance Program
In addition to Lambert House, VOA Oregon has an innovative program for individuals with moderate to late stage dementia. The Sundance program is intentionally designed to capture the time of day when individuals with dementia may experience an increase in challenging behaviors known as "sundowning." These behaviors can include wandering, resistance to care, confusion, and agitation. We focus on two primary evidence-based interventions for this population: music therapy and a multi-sensory environment. This has been proven to improve mood, decrease negative behaviors, and facilitate interaction with others by providing stimulating and interactive engagement without making intellectual demands.
 
To learn more, watch this short video and see how Sundance is changing lives.
Happy National Volunteer Month!
Did you know April 10-16 is National Volunteer Week? This week (and month) is all about you! We are so grateful for the work you do and that you choose to spend your time with us. 

Each month, we're highlighting one stand out volunteer. With over 1,000 volunteers annually, it's hard to choose just one volunteer, but we want to show the community how you're making a difference. Check out the links below to read the past three months' stories. We can't wait to share yours, too.
 
Volunteer Survey 2016
Each year, we take the time to evaluate our volunteer program and make plans for improvements. As a volunteer, you help us ensure our clients and program participants receive the highest quality care, and we want to be sure you're having a great experience working with us. With your help, we can improve the volunteer experience and enhance client services. 

If you haven't already, please take a few minutes to complete our Volunteer Survey 2016. Your responses are anonymous and will help us strengthen our volunteer program. 

Thank you for your time!
Volunteer Organizations and Groups
Thank you to this quarter's volunteer groups, organizations and companies that shared their time with VOA Oregon. Group volunteering is a great way to build camaraderie and help VOA Oregon accomplish big things. If you have a group interested in volunteering, email volunteer@voaor.org. We've hosted groups of five volunteers all the way up to 60!
  • Pacific International Academy
  • VW Credit
  • Job Corps
  • Home Builder's Foundation (including volunteers from Rodda Paint, Miller Paint, and Keller Williams)
Group Project Highlight
VOA Oregon was fortunate to be chosen to participate in the Home Builder's Foundation 10th Annual Painting a Better Tomorrow. On March 12th, volunteers from Rodda Paint, Miller Paint, and Keller Williams, spent the day painting the East Family Relief Nursery. The space looks so bright and clean now! This was all possible by the generous donations and volunteer time from the Home Builder's Foundation. Thank you for helping us maintain a welcoming and warm space!

Starting the painting!
Finished!
VOA Oregon Wish Lists
In addition to volunteer time and financial contributions, VOA Oregon and our clients rely on generous in-kind donations. Our adult day centers, Lambert House and Marie Smith Center, are in need of small items like socks, chapstick, lotion, and even stuffed animals.  Please consider donating some of the items off our wish list. 

Call the number of the program listed on the website to make a donation drop off or contact Kelsey Stark at kstark@voaor.org to make arrangements.

Join us
September 9, 2016 at the Portland Art Museum
 as we honor local humanitarian and volunteer extraordinaire, Gary R. Maffei.

Kelsey Stark
Volunteer Services Manager
503-595-2009
Our Mission: To change lives by promoting self-determination, building strong communities and standing for social justice.