“Be my Valentine?" was a question posed by volunteers and staff of Foothills Caring Corps recently on its Cupid Convoy. This celebration of Valentine's Day was the latest edition of FCC's series of convoys visiting Neighbors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Enthusiastic and smiling (under their masks), participants dressed in pink or red clothing with heart-themed accessories. The convoy consisted of decorated FCC vans and private vehicles, which paraded around the community to visit dozens of Neighbors, spreading loving wishes and sharing Valentine's Day treats.
Treat bags with baked goods, candies, an FCC teddy bear, heart décor, word puzzles, and cards were shared at each stop. With February being American Heart Month, everyone was also given a list of heart-healthy eating tips, provided by Paradise Valley Community College nutrition students. Handmade Valentine’s Day cards were contributed by many members of the community, including Girl Scout Troop 783, the Newcomers Club of Scottsdale, and the Cactus Shadows High School National Honor Society.
MEET OUR NEW MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Foothills Caring Corps is excited to welcome Bethany Mok to the team as our new Marketing and Communications Manager! Bethany has worked with nonprofit organizations across the Valley, including UMOM New Day Centers, the Arizona Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and Mothers Awareness on School-Age Kids (MASK). With a background in marketing, fundraising and development, Bethany brings an extensive range of skills and experiences to FCC.
Bethany will be working with our Executive Director to create, develop and implement a strategic marketing and fundraising plan that will be sustainable for the organization. Additionally, she will be our brand ambassador, designing marketing collateral, working on the newsletter, and sharing stories from our Neighbors.
Bethany is a native Arizonan and received her B.A. in Communication Studies from the University of San Diego. Outside of work, she serves on the Executive Board of the Phoenix Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Club, practices yoga, and enjoys spending time in nature.
SUPPORT YOUR NEIGHBORS AT ACE HARDWARE
During the month of March, customer can choose to “round up” their purchase to the nearest dollar and the extra change will be donated to Foothills Caring Corps!
GET MOVING AND GROOVING WITH THE Y!
We are excited to share that the Desert Foothills Family YMCA is offering an online way to stay engaged in healthy living by breathing, moving, and laughing alongside specially trained instructors! If you are interested, you can call FCC team member, Maria at (480) 488-1105, she is happy to help get you connected with these classes!
Did you know? In addition to our Mobile Meals program, we're partnered with Foothills Food Bank & Resource Center to supply food boxes directly to home-bound Neighbors! The Foothills Food Bank & Resource Center's mission is to provide food, referral information, and financial assistance to individuals and families in need within their service area. Call or visit their office to learn more about their services and how to receive help!
[Source: desertfoothillsleaders.org]
A MILLION THANKS!
As you may know, FCC has a Medical Equipment Loan Closet. We are beyond excited to announce that the Desert Foothills Leadership Academy has initiated an innovative project to take us paperless! The goal of this project is to create, design, and implement an electronic borrowing system for Neighbors and community members to check out available medical equipment. This will allow us to keep a virtual log of the equipment that has been donated, what items are in our inventory, and who has items checked out. With this new system, the Loan Closet will become more efficient, organized, and accessible for all users, volunteers, and FCC staff members!
About the Desert Foothills Leadership Academy: "The Carefree-Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce and The Holland Center announced the creation of the Desert Foothills Leadership Academy in Fall 2020. This exclusive partnership was driven by a strong community desire to be a part of the creation of our future leaders. Their mission is to educate, energize, and engage emerging leaders with a goal of enriching community life while responsibly sustaining natural resources for generations to come.
THE VALUE OF OUR VOLUNTEERS: PRICELESS!
Tracking volunteer time is critical for calculating the true cost of programs here at Foothill Caring Corps! This information provides insight for funding and is required to be reported to the IRS and our grant-makers. Did you know that an hour of volunteer time is worth approximately $27/hour? When volunteers track and report their volunteer hours, it allows us to be intentional in planning our services and programs so that we may best meet the ever-changing needs of our Neighbors and community. This data is vital for strategic planning, setting goals for growth and improvement, and ensures financial stability and regulatory compliance.
All of the services provided through Foothills Caring Corps are 100% reliant on volunteers. FCC volunteers allow us to provide our essential programs and services. They are truly the hands and feet of our organization! Recording which Neighbors are receiving which services is critical, and the logging of time ensures coverage under our liability insurance. Though reporting volunteer hours may seem tedious, we've created an easy form for volunteers to fill out and submit online to help streamline the process.
Actions speak louder than words. This is how we know that our volunteers have the biggest hearts! Our volunteers are mission-driven, just like our FCC staff members. The joy that comes from helping a Neighbor is unlike any other. We hope that seeing the smiles brought to so many faces warms volunteer hearts as much as they warm our own. When we are able to share information about the collective service hours that volunteers have contributed, it shows our community how compassion is put into action!
HEART-HEALTHY EATING TIPS
[Source: Paradise Valley Community College Nutrition Students]
Cook more at home | Check food labels | When possible, walk 30 minutes per day
Use fresh herbs or citrus instead of salt | Try olive oil instead of butter
Fruits, veggies,
whole grains, beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, chicken or fish and plant-based proteins.
Sugary beverages,
excess salt, processed carbohydrates, processed meats, full-fat dairy and eggs
trans-fat and partially hydrogenated oil, found in a lot of commercially
processed baked goods.
"PROJECT WELLNESS"
With COVID-19 vaccinations becoming more readily available, we want to make sure that you can access and navigate these services!
To find out more about scheduling an appointment to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, call the Foothills Caring Corps office at (480) 488-1105.
To coordinate a ride to receive your COVID-19 vaccination, please call at least 5 days prior to your appointment.
For more information about when and where you can receive the vaccine, visit: