October 2022

Volunteer Spotlight: Amy Abramson

California native and Beach Cities resident Amy Abramson has always had a keen interest in working with and through people. 

After graduating from San Diego State University with a degree in Public Administration, Amy moved with her husband, a fellow Aztec alum, to the Beach Cities. She worked in both sales and personnel positions which utilized her communication and relationship-building skills. 

Despite scaling back work to become a stay-at-home mother, Amy continued to serve her community. She was active with the PTA during her daughter’s school years. Once her daughter graduated, she had more time to pursue other interests, one of which was working as Volunteer Coordinator at the Bob Hope USO at LAX.  After 12 years, she switched her focus to volunteering at an LAX information desk, providing helpful guidance and a friendly face to masses of travelers passing through.

Amy’s first dive into volunteering with BCHD began in 2006, when she sought to give back to the community through an organization where she strongly believed in their mission. As an Errand Volunteer, she helped an older woman get groceries for the week, a task she hoped someone would help her parents with should they ever need it. Not only was it fun and rewarding, but Amy also learned great couponing tips from her client. 

Though she directed her talents elsewhere for a few years, Amy came back to BCHD as the pandemic swept through the South Bay in 2021. She gained purpose and an energy outlet during those difficult times by volunteering at the BCHD testing and vaccine clinics.

When help was no longer needed for COVID-19 programs, Amy decided to volunteer at the BCHD administrative office’s front desk. Here, she has enjoyed socializing with staff and visitors as she works on projects assigned to her from different departments. Her work could be anything from answering and directing calls, donor outreach, filing, to assembling program materials. 

Recently, Amy took on an additional role as a Purpose Connector for Volunteer Services. The friendly voice on the other end of the phone line helping potential volunteers find the program that best suits their interests and talents could be her!

Amy says she volunteers because “I like to keep busy, and I think volunteering is good for my health and well-being.” When asked what she would like to share about her experience volunteering at BCHD, Amy says, “The staff are very friendly and welcoming. There are a lot of different opportunities to pursue based on your interests. You can work with kids, older adults or gardens. You just need to figure out what you want to do.”

Thank you for your support and all that you do for BCHD, Amy! We certainly appreciate your calm and friendly demeanor as you strive to make the lives of staff, visitors, clients and prospective volunteers better.

allcove Beach Cities

Opens November 1

for Young People ages 12-25

The allcove Beach Cities center is part of an innovative network of integrated youth mental health centers designed with, by and for youth. The goal of allcove is to reduce stigma, embrace mental wellness, increase community connection and provide access to culturally responsive services. allcove centers welcome young people ages 12 to 25 with mild to moderate needs, providing a unique space for them to access services, with resources and support for friends, family and the South Bay community. The centers are embedded within the community they serve and reflect the unique needs of local youth.

A ribbon-cutting event was held October 18 for local leaders and allcove stakeholders and service providers. Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi, Dr. Steven Adelsheim of Stanford and allcove, Toby Ewing of California's Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, Dr. Steven Keller of the Redondo Beach Unified School District, Ali Steward of BCHD and members of the allcove Beach Cities Youth Advisory Group address the gathering.

State Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (66th District), second from left, presents a Certificate of Recognition from the California Legislature to Marin C. and John H. of the allcove Beach Cities Youth Advisory Group and Ali Steward of BCHD (left) at the ribbon-cutting event for the new center October 18, 2022. (Photo by Brad Jacobson/BCHD)

allcove Beach Cities is located on the 4th floor of the Beach Cities Health Center at 514 N. Prospect Avenue in Redondo Beach.

Led by a team of eight Youth Advisory Group members, and supported by Stanford University’s Center for Youth Mental Health & Wellbeing and a team of local experts, allcove Beach Cities will open November 1 and provide unique peer-to-peer collaboration and guidance with access to a range of services that include:

• Mental health
• Physical health
• Substance use
• Peer support
• Family support
• Supported education and employment

By taking a regional approach, BCHD was able to apply and receive a $2 million grant from the State of California, bringing needed professional mental health resources to youth in the Beach Cities and South Bay. Congress has also provided another $1 million for allcove Beach Cities, thanks to the efforts of Representative Ted Lieu and his team. 

Learn more at www.bchd.org/allcoveBeachCities 

Spread Cheer This Year with Holiday Gift Bags

Believe it or not, Beach Cities Health District has already kicked off this year’s Holiday Gift Bag project for the 2022 holiday season. Holiday Gift Bags give the community an opportunity to support older adults and adults with disabilities in the community, many of whom are homebound and live in isolation.

Ways to Participate:

Donate. To fund the Holiday Gift Bag project, we are seeking $9,000 in donations. Make a $25 contribution and receive a card to send to a friend or relative, letting them know that a holiday gift bag has been given in their honor. Make a $100+ donation by December 1st and we will thank you in a local newspaper.

Deliver a Holiday Gift Bag. Volunteer and deliver cheer to an older adult in the Beach Cities. This opportunity is open to individuals or groups such as families and organizations who would like to deliver gift bags in December. Signups open October 31st. Visit bchd.org/holidaygiftbags to donate or sign up to volunteer.

Get Creative. Help color and decorate holiday cards which will be inserted in each holiday gift bag and delivered to our older adult clients. For more information and to participate go to https://www.bchd.org/holidaygiftbags.

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.

Campus Greeter – High Need

Volunteers (14+) meet guests who enter the 514 building while also providing general support and customer service duties for the full BCHD campus. Duties include greeting guests and tenants, providing information and referrals to the public, walking visitors to/from medical appointments or allcove Beach Cities upon request, maintaining a clean and orderly area and tracking volunteer hours worked. Must be friendly, helpful and able to push wheelchairs and walk around the campus. Weekly 2-3-hour shift required for one year; scheduling available Monday – Saturday. *Expected commitment for High School students is a semester or over the summer.

AdventurePlex Camp Volunteer – High Need

AdventurePlex is looking for volunteers (age 14+ ) 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 the front desk. One shift a week required, Monday-Friday, either 9:00am – noon or 12:30pm-3:30pm. Available dates are as follows:



• November 11^th
• Monday, November 21^st – Friday, November 25^th (No camp on   Thanksgiving 11/24)
• Monday, December 19^th – Friday, December 23^rd
• Monday, December 26^th – Friday December 30^th
• Monday, January 2^nd – Friday, January 6^th
• January 16^th

Administrative Office Front Desk Volunteer 

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

Conversation Companion: Support Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities

Volunteers (18+) are matched with older adult clients and/or adult clients 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.

2022 Volunteer Hours

We appreciate the commitment of our community 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, staffing events, 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: 2,397

August:1,737

September: 2,043

Total: 13,893

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. 

October Anniversaries

Claudia Lindwall, 20

Andrea Hughes, 13

Carolyn Jurk, 12 

Don Luke, 7

Doug Rodriguez, 5 

April Diedrich, 4

Debbie Martin, 4

Jennifer Steffen, 3

Official years of service in BCHD system.