August 2022

Beach Cities Volunteer Day Came Back with a Bang!

On Thursday, August 11, Beach Cities Health District (BCHD) held their Beach Cities Volunteer Day in support of the LiveWell Kids Garden Program and it was a huge success! 

We are thankful to our more than 100 volunteers and 10 organizations who showed up to help refresh and renew the school gardens for this coming school year.   The goal of this fun, family-oriented event is to enhance our community’s health through the act of volunteerism. A simple act of volunteering can derive many health benefits such as higher rates of life satisfaction, social connections and longevity. 

The morning started with an energetic kick-off at Alta Vista Park in Redondo Beach.  Redondo Beach Unified School District’s Superintendent, Dr. Steven Keller, thanked the volunteers and talked about the importance of the LiveWell Kids program. BCHD took the opportunity to recognize outstanding contributions by community members during the kickoff event. Following their active participation in BCHD’s COVID-19 testing and vaccination efforts, the Redondo Beach Fire Department (RBFD) was presented with the District’s “Partner in Health” Award, and RBFD’s Division Chief, Issac Yang, was separately recognized and received BCHD’s “Committed to Community” honor. Kina Desai, a junior at Mira Costa High School and a member of BCHD’s Youth Advisory Council from Hermosa Beach, was presented with the “Committed to Community Youth” award. Staff then led a mindful moment with a stretching routine and volunteers were sent off to their various garden sites.

Though the sun shined bright and there may have been more than a trickle of sweat involved in this labor of love, the volunteers got a lot done and the mood was cheerful. The day’s work involved weeding, planting, harvesting, removing and disassembling garden boxes, cleaning up and more! Harvested produce was donated to several local charities providing hot meals to those in need in the local community. Everything at the school gardens looks renewed and ready for the kids to begin their lessons.

Thank you again to all those who participated. We could not do this without your help! For those who had such a great time and can’t wait to do it again – you will have your chance! Join us on August 31 to help prepare the school garden at Hermosa View Elementary School in Hermosa Beach. Details are below.

Interested in volunteering (getting back to it or taking the next step to volunteer) with BCHD? See below for what’s currently available and please stay tuned to our newsletters and website as new opportunities arise! Anyone interested is welcome to fill out our Volunteer Application at www.bchd.org/volunteer. If you are or have been a BCHD volunteer or if you have questions, you’re invited to email us at Volunteers@bchd.org.

Hermosa View Elementary School Garden Prep

Our garden at Hermosa View Elementary School is in need of gardening prep before the start of the school year. We need help with clearing the garden beds, cultivating and amending the soil, and planting seeds, among other things. We are looking for support on August 31, from 9:30-11:30am. 

You can sign up to volunteer prep our Hermosa View Elementary School Garden HERE

Purpose Connector – HIGH NEED

The Volunteer Services department is looking to add Purpose Connectors (18+) to their department. Individuals well-suited for this role enjoy talking on the phone and working on the computer. Training will be provided but familiarity with BCHD volunteer programs, spreadsheets and database experience will give you a head start. A weekly 4-hour shift commitment on a regular basis is required. 

Administrative Office Front Desk Volunteer - HIGH NEED

Our Admin and Community Services departments are looking for volunteers (18+) to help with telephone coverage, front desk screening, disinfection of shared spaces, mail and package distribution, badge making, supply inventory, assembling marketing packets and assisting with Help Desk Ticket tasks and projects. Weekly 4-hour shift commitment on a regular basis is required.  

Garden Angel

Our Youth Services department is looking for volunteers (18+) to support our LiveWell Kids program by helping maintain our elementary school gardens in Redondo Beach and Hermosa Beach. Two monthly shifts of two and a half  hours each, or five hours a month (i.e. five shifts at one hour) required. 

Conversation Companion: Support Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities

Volunteers (18+) are matched with older adults or older adults with disabilities to visit and engage in socialization activities such as life review, watch movies at home or in the theater, play card or board games, take walks, go for lunch, etc. Weekly one to one and a half hour shift commitment.

Errand Volunteer: Support Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities 

Errand Volunteers (18+) are matched with one of our Community Services Care Management clients and will do weekly shopping for groceries and prescriptions. Weekly one to one a half hour shift commitment for at least three months.

AdventurePlex Camp Volunteer

AdventurePlex is looking for volunteers (14+) during Thanksgiving week and other dates throughout the year to help kids play their way to good health at our AdventureCamp! Duties include monitoring the adventure room, keeping facility areas clean and safe, assisting with activities (arts and crafts, classes and rock climbing) and checking in/out guests at front desk. One shift a week required, Monday - Friday, either 9:00 a.m. – noon or 12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

2022 Volunteer Hours

We appreciate the commitment from our community members to help others in 2021. We are grateful for the 25,716 reported hours of BCHD volunteer service in 2021. This number includes vaccines administered, groceries shopped for, prescriptions picked up, calls made, Center for Health & Fitness front desk check-ins, committees met, administrative support, intern projects, gardens kept, and more. Thank you all!

January: 1,041

February: 2,033

March: 1,105

April: 959

May: 1,840

June: 738

July: 2,097

Total: 9,813

Volunteer Anniversaries

Although many of you still are not back to actively volunteering in your usual roles right now, we are endlessly grateful for your commitment. The many collective years of efforts toward a healthy beach community from our volunteer corps is truly incredible.

August Anniversaries

Linda Donato, 21

George Schmeltzer, 20

Mary Drummer, 17

Mary Wadman, 11

Amy Quan, 7

Barbara Carlson, 7

Julia Bassine, 6

Marie Puterbaugh, 5

Dolores Keeling, 3

Teresa Haddad, 3

Official years of service in BCHD system.

Event Volunteer Opportunities

It is important for Beach Cities Health District to be out in the community sharing our programs and resources to our residents. See below on the community events BCHD will attend. Share with friends and family and volunteer together! You can sign up to as many events as you would like to serve as a volunteer. 

Fiesta Hermosa Labor Day Weekend

Back and better than before, Fiesta Hermosa 2022 will be in full swing, September 3rd - 5th, to celebrate Labor Day weekend. Join BCHD at our booth behind the Hermosa Beach Community Center to help get the word out about our programs and help run some fun, family-friendly activities. 

There are two shifts each day: 11:00am-3:30pm or 3::30pm - 7:30pm.

Sign up using this link

https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/90e7419918a74b37b492e595ffb73fd3