RSVP Reflections

Retired & Senior Volunteer 55+ Program

monthly newsletter - September 9, 2022

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Fox Valley seeking supportive mentors

By Kara Patterson

RSVP Program Assistant

Mentors who work with school-aged students at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Fox Valley support the agency in its mission of helping youth reach their full potential.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Fox Valley, a neighborhood-based gathering space designed specifically for youth programs and activities, engages volunteers of all kinds to assist staff. The agency currently is looking for additional mentors, one of its highest-need volunteer roles, said volunteer coordinator Sam Packard.

“When kids match with a mentor and there’s a really good spark there, the kids really look forward to seeing their mentor every week because it’s an adult figure they can count on seeing every week,” Packard said. “We’re looking for reliable role models that can come in and support those kiddos that might not have those role models already.”

The agency asks volunteers to mentor students for a minimum of three months, with a plan to meet weekly for one hour each time. There also is a need for volunteers who will commit to mentoring students for the full school year.

“We want that to be long term so it’s not just another person in their life that’s disappearing,” Packard said. “If there’s people, especially people who are retired, who are looking for something structured or regular, I think that would be a really good fit.”

Read entire article here.

Hooks ‘n Needles gearing up for annual campaign

The Salvation Army Fox Cities is gearing up for the annual Coats for Kids campaign and is accepting donations from our community of gently-used coats from Sept. 26 through Oct. 27.

It has been a tradition with Hooks ‘n Needles volunteers to knit and crochet hats, mittens and scarves in conjunction with this campaign. Volunteers bring their donations throughout the year to Volunteer Fox Cities, where RSVP staff members store them.  

The group meets from 10 a.m. to noon on the first Wednesday of the month at Memorial Presbyterian Church, 803 E. College Ave., Appleton. Jan Sommerfeld, RSVP director, will attend the Oct. 5 meeting and collect donations – after a traditional “Show & Tell.”

While hats, mittens and scarves for youth are stored for distribution to the Coats for Kids campaign in fall, other items are distributed throughout the year. This year, RSVP donated 629 items to local nonprofits. Those items include a variety of baby clothes, shawls, lap robes, blankets, fidget mats and Knitted Knockers.

Organizations receiving these donations include:

·        Community Clothes Closet

·        Heartland Home Health & Hospice

·        Appleton Police Department

·        Johnston Elementary School

·        St. Paul Elder Services

Many thanks to Hooks ‘n Needles volunteers for all their efforts in providing clothing for vulnerable individuals and people facing poverty in our community!

When is the best time to get a flu shot?

Autumn means the arrival of cooler temperatures, Packers football, holiday excitement (anxiety as well) and of course … the seasonal illness train. The last few years have taught us a lot about protecting ourselves from illnesses. The flu, however, is still best dealt with through a yearly vaccine. When’s the best time to get the annual flu shot? In this article by Network Health pharmacist Dr. Sarah Wilczek, you’ll learn about the risks of the seasonal flu, symptoms to look out for and when is the best time to get this important immunization.

Check out Wisconsin getaways

Wisconsin’s a state full of activities for everybody in the family. Though we are well underway with the new school year, there is still plenty of time to get out on the weekends before the temperatures make outdoor time best suited for shoveling and quick jogs/wheels from the car to the door. In this article, learn some great activities Wisconsin offers you can get in with your family before the temperatures drop too far.

Hi volunteers!

I have started to see signs of the beginnings of my favorite season, autumn! The most obvious is that it is getting darker earlier. There also have been a few cooler days, which means coat weather is coming too. We are continuing to collect coats, hats, gloves, blankets, socks, hand warmers and any other cold weather items you can think of. St. Therese has given us a whole room with shelves to store our Loaves & Fishes items. This has been a great way to be able to see just what we have and need more of.

Our odds-and-ends table continues to be a wonderful source of needed items for our guests. People check it out and take things from it all the time. We appreciate any donated items but here are some good ideas: any personal hygiene products, soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, toilet paper, Kleenex and any kind of unopened food.

The September volunteer schedule is live, and we still have quite a few openings, especially on Fridays. If you have some extra time to help us out, we would appreciate it. The system we have for packaging and distributing food is working really well. Volunteers and guests seem very happy with it.

Our numbers have increased over the summer, and we have signed up many new people and even some larger families. A number of our guests are truly homeless. For some, home is their car. You are such generous members of our community. It is your time and generous donations that enable us to care for those who are not as fortunate and blessed as we are.

Finally, a big thanks for all the prayers and well wishes I have received as I have dealt with my breast cancer this summer. I am doing really well and expect to continue this way.

On behalf of Shannon and the staff at Loaves & Fishes, thanks for everything that you do. You have no idea of how what you do changes the lives of others!

-     Sue

Sue Danreiter is the volunteer coordinator at Loaves & Fishes of the Fox Valley Inc. For more information on volunteer opportunities, contact Sue at 920-750-0964 or visit loavesandfishesfv.org.

All are welcome to learn about effects of hearing loss

The Hearing Loss Association of America Fox Valley Chapter will hold an in-person meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12. Join us for a presentation by Susan McFadden, Ph.D., founder of the Fox Valley Memory Project. McFadden, who retired from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 2012, remains involved in the Fox Valley Memory Project.

Recent studies from Johns Hopkins and Stanford University relate untreated hearing loss to cognitive decline. This happens primarily due to isolation, loneliness and depression. Hearing loss after age 60 is extremely common. Help is available, but too often people are unsure of how to get help.

Might this be the time to bring your spouse, friend or someone you know to learn more about how hearing loss affects us? The meetings are open to all who are interested in learning. We meet at Bordini Center at 5 N. Systems Drive in Appleton. Doors open at 6 p.m. Subscribe to HLAA Fox Valley Chapter’s monthly newsletter at hlaafoxvalley@gmail.com. For more information, go to www.hlaawi.org/chapters.

Check out senior living expo

The 23^rd Annual Senior Living Expo, sponsored by the Appleton Noon Lions Club, runs from 8 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Sept. 21, at Players Choice of the Fox Cities.

This free interactive trade show features informative exhibit booths, health screenings and speakers. Prizes will be available throughout the morning. Free coffee and rolls will be on hand while supplies last.

Bring your used eyeglasses, sunglasses and hearing aids for recycling.

Follow this link for details.

Elder Justice Corner

Navigating Unfair Medical Billing and Collections

Medical billing, collections and credit reporting can hurt people when they are already struggling with a health crisis. Medical bills can be confusing and often you might feel like you’re navigating a winding maze of information. Help is available to support you in making sure you are treated fairly.

Know your rights and protections when it comes to medical bills and collections.

Find out if you are getting the help with your medical bills to which you are entitled.

Understand how to navigate medical bills.

The White House released a fact sheet on the Biden Administration’s new actions to lessen the burden of medical debt and increase consumer protection. Learn more about how the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau is helping to stop unfair medical debt collection.

Volunteers will rake lawns in conjunction with CHAIN Reaction

The Outagamie County CHAIN Reaction (Communities Helping Adults In their Neighborhood) will be held on Saturday, Oct. 29. Volunteers will rake lawns for older adults and individuals with differing abilities in Outagamie County.

Individuals who would like their lawns raked on Oct. 29 should contact Outagamie County at 920-832-5515 or hhsvolunteers@outagamie.org.

The AmeriCorps Volunteering in America volunteer data profile for Wisconsin says 37.4% of residents volunteer, ranking Wisconsin 12th among states.     

Volunteer Opportunities

Supervised Visit program: Seeking volunteers to supervise the visits of children in alternate care with their natural parent(s) at an agreed upon site to allow their relationship to develop and continue in a safe environment. The volunteer’s schedule is flexible and determined by the hours they want to work and the assignments they accept. Once assigned a case, their schedule is generally consistent. Contact Barb at barbara.mincheff@outagamie.org.

Appleton Area School District: Many volunteer opportunities exist with the Appleton Area School District! We have tutoring programs such as the United for Reading Success Program and the Math Achievement Partnership along with projects where we could always use some extra hands. For more information, contact AASD’s family and community engagement coordinator, Julie Bargholtz, at bargholtzjulie@aasd.k12.wi.us.

ThedaCare at Home: Seeks volunteers to provide companionship to terminally ill patients and their family members. Volunteers share their time and talent by visiting, listening, assisting with meals, or simply being a loving presence to a patient. The support that volunteers provide is an essential part of the hospice program. To learn more, contact Jane at jane.shea@thedacare.org or 920-969-0919.

Feeding America Tribal Food Box Packing: Is seeking volunteers to help pack meal boxes on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month through December for indigenous people in Wisconsin. Forty volunteers are needed for each shift: 8-11 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. To volunteer for a shift of your choice, visit feedingamericawi.org, click on “Get Involved,” follow the “Volunteer” link, then “All Appleton Volunteer Opportunities” and select “Tribal Elder Box Program.” 

Rebuilding Together Fox Valley: Looking for volunteers to perform house repairs. Skilled volunteers are preferred, but we encourage volunteers of all skill levels to help improve our community. Contact Shelah at Shelah@rtfv.org or 920-730-2156, ext. 101.

Happy birthday to volunteers celebrating in September!