April 24, 2020
Faith in Action of the Greater Kanawha Valley
THE MISSION of Faith in Action of the Greater Kanawha Valley is to support the independent living of older adults in the communities we serve by lending a helping hand,
neighbor to neighbor.
It's Volunteer Appreciation Week
Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those
little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.

Bishop Tutu was onto something when he uttered those words, I think. Speaking from the experience of watching Faith in Action of the Greater Kanawha Valley volunteers perform "little bits of good" every single day, it's clear to me that they are impacting the world we live in overwhelming ways.

We hear it all the time from the people we serve who share sentiments like this one offered by long time care receiver Betty B., "I rely on you and your volunteers so completely for doctor appointments and grocery shopping trips. Each volunteer is a special, different person – they are all so reliable and caring, they treat me as though I were one of their family."

That reliability and caring hasn't stopped because of the COVID-19 crisis. We are still lending a helping hand to our older neighbors through an adapted program of services focused on helping them stay connected and ensuring access to food and supplies.
Here's a snapshot of what our volunteers, together with support from many of our community partners, have accomplished over the past month:

  • Thanks to Ms. Groovy's Kitchen, volunteers delivered hot, home style Easter dinners to 30 of our isolated older neighbors.

  • With the help of the talented students from Charleston Montessori School, we delivered 110 hand-crafted 'thinking of you' cards - little rays of sunshine right in their mailbox.

  • Due to generous emergency funding from the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation and the United Way of Central WV, we are providing grocery shopping services, food pantry delivery, and prescription pick up & drop off. This funding has further enabled us to add a new temporary program to provide food and supplies to help bridge the gap for seniors in need.

  • Our volunteers are making regular check in calls to our care receivers. These calls have been warmly received and offer us the opportunity to stay connected to their needs.

  • Many Honey Do Crews projects have been postponed, but not all! Volunteers are still finding ways to provide socially distant but quality of life and safety enhancing services like mowing lawns, putting up handrails, and installing grab bars.

We like to say that this is our favorite week of the year, but the truth is, we try to show our love and appreciation for our volunteers as often as we can. We know that without them, there is no Faith in Action. But with them? Well, together we're working on overwhelming the world with good.


Do you know a senior who could use a helping hand? Are you interested in VOLUNTEERING? Contact us:
info@faithinactiongkv.com
304.881.7253
Meet the FIAGKV Board of Directors
While we're appreciating our volunteers, we have to give a big shout out to our stellar all-volunteer Board of Directors. We held our first meeting of the new term via the ubiquitous Zoom this week. As I interacted with our newly elected officers and our members - long-standing and new - I was reminded just what an incredible group of people they are. FIAGKV is fortunate to have their collective commitment, wisdom, and stewardship to nurture and guide our organization into a bright, full future. 
  • Bethany Hall, Chair
  • Joe Beeson, Vice Chair
  • Virginia Slack, Treasurer
  • Amy Boggs, Secretary
  • Andy Richardson
  • Carrie Jones
  • Jane Marks
  • Rev. Jay Parkins
  • Donna Edmondson
  • David Campbell
  • Rosetta Smith
FIAGKV is fortunate to have their collective wisdom and experience to nurture and guide our organization into a bright, full future. We're grateful for their commitment and their stewardship.
Good News for Donors
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act ,  is a $2.2 trillion emergency relief package in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It includes special provisions for donors to charitable organizations as outlined below:*

  • Section 2204 of the CARES Act includes a new above-the-line deduction (universal or non-itemized deduction that applies to all taxpayers) for total charitable contributions of up to $300. The incentive applies to contributions made in 2020 and would be claimed on tax forms next year.

  • Section 2205 of the CARES Act lifts the existing cap on annual contributions for those who itemize, raising it from 60 percent of adjusted gross income to 100 percent. For corporations, the legislation raises the annual limit from 10 percent to 25 percent. 

*Check with your tax professional for details.
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