February 2023

Volunteer Spotlight: Maribel Robles

MSW Intern for Community Services 

Finding a fulfilling internship can be a daunting task for students. However, for Beach Cities Health District (BCHD) intern, Maribel Robles, things have been very different! 

Maribel is now in her final year of her Master of Social Work program, which includes a required internship. Knowing that some community service providers are more interested in their bottom line, Maribel wanted to find an organization that really cares for its community. 

After interviewing with some organizations and receiving offers from others, Maribel firmly decided on BCHD. 

“I could clearly see the love that the Community Services team at BCHD has for its clients. Its advocacy for the community and staff is refreshingly unusual! The team builds such strong and effective relationships with its clients, regularly assessing their changing needs, building rapport, and always working hard to truly support them.” 

In June 2022, Maribel started her part-time internship (16 hours per week) while continuing her studies. During the day, Maribel mostly concentrates on the care management program for older adults and adults with disabilities: evaluating the needs of each client, including their level of function, progress, safety, well-being and their need for services and resources to support aging in place. Maribel co-facilitates the Virtual Happiness Chat, a monthly casual discussion group focused on supporting overall well-being, building social connections and boosting resilience. In addition, Maribel is one of our GSWEC (Geriatric Social Work Education Consortium) interns. GSWEC is the nation’s first integrated regional network aimed at improving geriatric social work education and field training. We are one of twelve “Centers of Excellence” that hosts 2-3 GWSEC interns every year. Our GSWEC interns receive a stipend (https://www.gswecnow.org/). 

Talking to her Care Manager, Charlotte Barnett, it’s easy to see what an incredibly positive asset Maribel is to the BCHD community. As Charlotte explains, “Maribel has made a wonderful addition to our team in the past year. She always goes out of her way to improve the lives of our older adult clients, from providing emotional support for caregivers to navigating and assisting with transportation and health insurance benefits.  

“She has mastered the art of balancing her student intern role so well. If you consider the key traits of an amazing intern being curious and eager to learn, listening, following instructions, and soaking up knowledge from more experienced colleagues, Maribel has them all! She has the confidence to share her own ideas, works like a professional representing the high standards of the BCHD organization, is dependable, and always willing to step outside of her comfort zone."  

When asked what she likes most about her internship, Maribel replied: “I really enjoy the diversity of my role and the opportunities I’m given to step out of my comfort zone. For example, I was recently asked to facilitate a group of clients by one of my Care Managers, Charlotte, for Social Hour . I’d never done this before, but with training and advice, I knew I was capable, so I just took a deep breath, and it worked out well! I also love the fact that our clients have the freedom to express themselves with the BCHD staff and their peers." 

In May 2023, Maribel will complete her Master of Social Work with the goal to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. In terms of the future, Maribel would love to continue working with BCHD. As she concluded, “It will be hard to find another organization as caring as BCHD.” 

Social Hour Recap



Thank you to those who attended the Volunteer Social Hour on February 8. It was great seeing everyone and getting a chance to connect in person. The mix-and-mingle bingo game provided the opportunity to meet new faces and spark some interesting conversations. Chief Executive Officer, Tom Bakaly, and Board Member Vanessa Poster joined in the festivities. The hors d’oeuvres were both healthy and tasty. We look forward to more Social Hours to come! 

Visit our website to get more information about Blue Zones Project Approved Restaurants.

Save the Date for the Volunteer Recognition Brunch!



The Volunteer Recognition Brunch is a GO! Please save the date for Saturday, May 20, 2023, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Theme, details, and registration link to come as we draw closer to the date. Come help BCHD celebrate all your wonderful contributions to the Beach Cities community! We’d love to see you there.

Calling Award Nominations!

The Volunteer Recognition Brunch is also a time for us to recognize those extra special volunteers who have been noticed for going above and beyond their volunteer work to truly help us excel in our programs and services.

Do you know a volunteer who is doing an extraordinary job? Someone who especially embodies one of BCHD’s Core Values of Accountability, Integrity, Excellence, Compassion? If you do, nominate them for a Core Value Award!

Click here to complete the nomination form.

Nominations are due by Sunday, March 12th at midnight.

Our Core Value Award recipients will receive their award at the annual Volunteer Recognition Brunch on May 20, 2023.

If you have any questions regarding this process, please feel free to contact Alejandra Sierra, Purpose & Engagement Coordinator (https://Alejandra.Sierra@bchd.org)

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 for Morning and Early Afternoon Shifts

Volunteers (14+) meet all 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 referral to 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 or 3 hour shift required for one year; scheduling available Monday – Saturday. *Expected commitment for High School students is a semester or over the summer. 

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 of staff and visitors; periodic disinfection of shared spaces; mail and package distribution; badge making; supplies inventory; assembling marketing packets; assisting with Help Desk Ticket tasks and projects. Weekly 4-hour shift commitment on a regular basis is required.  

AdventurePlex Camp Volunteer

AdventurePlex is looking for volunteers (14+) to help kids play their way to good health at our AdventureCamp! Duties include monitoring adventure room, keeping facility area 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 a.m. – noon or 12:30 - 3:30 p.m. Available dates are as follows: 

• April 3 – 7 
• April 10 - 14 
• May 29 
• June 19 – August 25 

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 1-1.5 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 do weekly shopping for basic needs like groceries and prescriptions. Weekly 1-1.5 hour shift commitment for at least 3 months required. 

Event Volunteer Opportunities

It is important for Beach Cities Health District to be out in the community sharing our programs and resources with our residents.  

At the moment, we have the following open events:

Hermosa Beach St. Patrick's Day Parade

Saturday, March 11 | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. (check-in at 10:30 am)

Downtown Hermosa Beach

Calling all volunteers! Come celebrate St. Patrick's Day the healthy way by walking with BCHD in the 27th annual Hermosa Beach St. Patrick's Day Parade.

To receive up to date information for upcoming volunteer opportunities, visit our sign-up page to subscribe to the volunteer email list.

THE CITY OF HERMOSA BEACH IS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS! 

Individuals (15+) interested in volunteering with the City of Hermosa Beach for their local events may send their contact information to info@hbchamber.net to get on their distribution list. Please be advised that these events are not managed or operated by BCHD and any questions or issues should be communicated directly to the city. 

Get information on upcoming meetings and leave public comment on agendas here: https://www.bchd.org/public-meetings. 

Volunteer Hours

We appreciate all the commitment of our community to help others in 2022. We are grateful for the 18,239 reported hours of BCHD volunteer service in 2022. This number includes groceries shopped for, prescriptions picked up, calls made, visits to our older adult clients, Center for Health & Fitness front desk check ins, committees met, administrative support, intern projects, gardens kept, and more. Thank you all! We know BCHD volunteers will continue doing remarkable things in 2023.

So far in January, BCHD volunteers contributed 2,115 hours to our essential services for the community. Thank you!!

Volunteer Anniversaries

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

February Anniversaries

Penny Berry, 24

Jean Lucio,14

Jennifer Pusateri,11

Nancy Bhatt,10

Dan Smith, 7

Laura Petros, 7

Carol Smith, 5

Sue Murray, 4

Bara Mann, 2

Keith Montoya, 2

David McBroom, 1

Official years of service in BCHD system.

District Updates

Department Highlight: Well Being Services! 

This month, BCHD will be highlighting all the great work and programming taking place in the Well Being Services Department. Learn more about this program by watching Jacqueline Sun, Director of Well Being Services, present at the January Board of Directors meeting, or view the presentation slides. 

For more information about what’s happening at BCHD:

Get the latest and greatest about BCHD by reviewing the January CEO Report provided at our last Board of Directors meeting. 

Join us at the next BCHD Board Meeting

All volunteers are welcome to attend Board meetings held the 4^th Wednesday of each month.

Get information on upcoming meetings and leave public comment on agendas here: https://www.bchd.org/public-meetings.

First & Third Tuesday of the Month, Virtual

(March 7 and 21)

10 – 11 a.m.

Zoom link: https://bchd-org.zoom.us/j/87651635014 

2nd Mondays, In person 

(March 13)

2 – 3 p.m. 

Manhattan Beach Joslyn Center, Sunset Room 

1601 N Valley Dr, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266