What an incredible year we’ve had at Foothills Caring Corps! Thanks to our supporters, FCC Neighbors continue to be empowered by the services we offer to help them thrive. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw an immense increase in needs due to limited personal interactions and extreme social isolation. Since then, compassionate community members have flocked to become FCC supporters. They generously share their time, talents, and treasure with our Neighbors in need, while prioritizing the health, safety, and wellness of all. From Volunteer Orientation to our annual signature events, we loved seeing your smiling faces in person!
For many years, Taste of Foothills was a beloved community event and the premiere fundraiser for FCC. The highly anticipated event brought together the entire community as an opportunity to reconnect with old friends and support a local cause. We changed course after the pandemic to accommodate the community's availability and willingness to support our fundraising endeavors. With the continued goodwill of our supporters, we hosted our first-ever Virtual Silent Auction! Between 6/13 - 6/17, people across the globe could visit our online auction platform to bid on packages generously donated by local business owners and community members. This virtual event allowed us to reach folks outside of our immediate community to contribute to furthering FCC's mission.
Our 11th Annual Golf Classic Presented by Kendrick Wealth Management was hosted in December at Mirabel Golf Club. Nearly 90 participants joined us to golf for good, and 20 community members and businesses showed their support through sponsorships. We hit a hole-in-one with having you as our Supporters and hope you had as much fun as we did! Special thanks to all of those involved in making this event happen.
Receiving generous grants from our community played a critical role in covering operating expenses in 2022. Thank you to the Kiwanis Club of Carefree, the towns of Carefree, Cave Creek, the cities of Scottsdale and Phoenix, and the Maricopa Association of Governments for their continued support of our mission. We were delighted to be the recipient of a grant from Safeway for the first time in 2022!
We loved spending time with you out in the community, too! We attended many community events including, but not limited to: Karsten Ace Hardware's anniversary, Carefree Classics Wheels and Wings, weekly Kiwanis meetings, Carefree Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce business breakfasts, mixers, and ribbon cuttings, the Carefree Volunteer Job Fair, and Chanukah in Carefree.
If you'd like to have Foothills Caring Corps table at your upcoming event, please contact Rita Brady at ritab@foothillscaringcorps.com.
The Foothills Caring Corps Board of Directors would like to share that Robin Cochran has resigned as Executive Director as of Friday, January 27, 2023. Robin has accepted a new position and will be working with an area non-profit that focuses on providing safe, stable, and affordable housing. We would like to thank Robin for her 2.5 years of service to our Neighbors and wish her the best in her new endeavors.
During this transition, we are pleased to announce that our Director of Neighbor Engagement, Nancy Cohrs, will be filling the position of Interim Executive Director. with more than 13 years of Caring Corps experience, we know and trust that our dedicated staff will provide operational continuity under Nancy's leadership.
The board of directors is actively searching for a permanent Executive Director and is confident that the skills and experiences of our board members, staff, and volunteers will be beneficial in that process. We want to thank you for your continued support as we move forward and continue to serve our Neighbors.
TOP - TIER VOLUNTEERS
108
New Volunteers
Even with record-high gas prices, Volunteers remained diligently committed to driving for our Neighbors!
$5 / Gal
*average cost of fuel
in 2022
More than 90,000 miles driven!
Historically, New Volunteer Orientation was hosted monthly on the second Thursday at 9 AM. With growing interest in becoming an FCC Volunteer and to provide flexibility, we've added an additional orientation date on the third Tuesday of each month at 2 PM.
During 2022, Volunteer Application Forms became available on our website in a digital format, which streamlines the onboarding process. Additionally, we began using a nationally recognized background check company, Sterling Volunteers. These changes have significantly cut down on the time between signing up to volunteer and being able to connect with FCC Neighbors! Donna Guerin serves as both our Van Program and Volunteer Engagement Manager.
One of the most significant changes in volunteer engagement was the implementation of new software, Assisted Rides. Despite its name, this software is used for services other than rides, such as: friendly visiting, grocery shopping assistance, minor home repairs, basic technology help, caregiver relief, and more. Assisted Rides provides 24/7 access for Volunteers to an online portal which shows existing Neighbor requests and allows Volunteers to sign up with a simple click! The program seamlessly interfaces with Google Maps to provide mileage estimates, maps, and navigation assistance. Additionally, it allows each Volunteer to track and log both the time spent volunteering and overall mileage.
Utilizing Assisted Rides has helped FCC Staff become more efficient in matching Neighbors’ requests with available Volunteers. With built-in reporting features, it is easier than ever to analyze trends and better understand the ever-changing needs of our Neighbors.
NEIGHBOR
NEWS
238
New Neighbors
59
Existing Neighbor Reassessments
Familiarity with Foothills Caring Corps’ ongoing supportive services and programs promoting independence for older adults has kept the community buzzing about getting involved with our organization! Additionally, the continued building of housing, combined with an aging population has led to a high volume of requests to become Foothills Caring Corps Neighbors. Throughout 2022, we’ve also had an increase in reassessments completed for our existing Neighbors, to understand possible changes in their circumstances since the COVID-19 pandemic.
To address these issues, Director of Neighbor Engagement, Nancy Cohrs, has worked diligently to streamline the intake and reassessment process. Through online correspondence and phone calls, basic information is obtained to create a profile for the Neighbor prior to her in-home visit.
Grocery Store Shopping Assistance
Handyman Help
148
trips to the grocery store
Neighbors can choose to shop with a Volunteer or have a Volunteer shop on their behalf. It's nice to have a little help carrying your bags inside!
97
minor home repairs made
Climbing a ladder to replace the pesky beeping battery in your home smoke detector or
a burned-out lightbulb can be unsafe - fortunately, we have Volunteers ready to help!
216
hours spent together
Neighbors can be assigned a caring Volunteer to visit and/or phone them on a regular basis. Having someone with whom to chat, grab a coffee, or spend quality time, helps combat the effects of social isolation.
Friendly Visiting & Phoning
Pet Visiting
Sometimes, a snuggle from a furry friend is what we need to be filled with joy! Foothills Caring Corps has certified pet teams who visit Neighbors and bring smiles to their faces.
Caregiver Relief
Caregivers who are on-call 24/7 need a break, too! The time our Volunteers provide respite allows caregivers to go to an appointment, run errands, or take an hour for themselves.
Basic Technology Help
As technology continues to permeate our everyday lives, it can be challenging to navigate new gizmos and gadgets. Our Volunteers assist Neighbors with setting up smartphones, internet troubleshooting, and more.
23,836
Mobiles Meals delivered to our Neighbors
Most Attended Trips
Walmart & Fry's302
Chair Yoga 164
Senior Market Day 143
Lunch Bunch is only once a month but is the most attended and loved by Neighbors!
