Faith in Action (FIA) Volunteers
A story of Faith in Action:
Ruth is 80 years old. She lives alone and cannot see very well. Her eyes burn and tear all the time. She cannot read or watch her favorite TV shows anymore. The neighbor who was giving her rides to the food bank fell ill and can no longer drive. Ruth needs to see an eye specialist immediately, just as much as she needs groceries. Neighbors and friends are not available to help her, and her closest relative would rather not get involved. Her life is miserable, she feels abandoned and not of value to anyone. She is at risk of losing everything.
This was the story Ruth told us when she called REACH Faith in Action for help. She was in tears, not knowing where else turn. We quickly matched her with compassionate volunteers who gave her rides to doctors appointments in Hagerstown as well as to the Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore where surgery was performed to restore her eyesight. She was within a month of losing her eyesight permanently.
Ruth has her vision back. Her eyes don’t pain anymore and she is enjoying the beauty of life around her. She still gets rides to medical appointments and to the food bank. Thanks to the caring REACH Faith in Action volunteers, Ruth is now living independently and with dignity in her own home.
If you are interested in volunteering for a FIA program, please complete the volunteer application.
Attention Registered FIA volunteers: if you need to update personal information, availability for volunteering, and/or the areas of interest, please use the FIA Volunteer Update Form.
One of the goals of Faith In Action is to improve the quality of life, care, and support for the citizens of Washington County who live with long-term health conditions or disabilities, and to help meet the needs of this community, many of which are currently going unmet. Our volunteers provide simple assistance that makes a large difference to someone in need.
The Faith In Action Program empowers the elderly, the disabled, and others in need to live in their homes with comfort and security through informal services provided by caring and compassionate volunteers.
The growing senior population of WashingtonCounty has strained our resources and needs are going unmet for many of our citizens. If you have even one or two hours a month to spare during daytime or evening hours, we have a spot for you in our organization; volunteering to help those who can't do for themselves with some of the basic tasks in life. Below are a few of the services provided by our volunteers!
Friendly Visitation - Visits homebound, elderly, disabled and lonely persons in need of a friend and compassionate human contact,
Minor Home Repairs/Yard Work/Gardening - providing repairs needed to sustain a comfortable living environment, may also include helping someone with mowing, weeding, planting and other needs to maintain their property.
Telephone Reassurance - call homebound elderly, disabled and lonely persons in need of a friend and compassionate human contact.
Transportation (Medical, Religious, Social) - transportation (local and long distance) to and from doctors' appointments, health care facilities, etc. Transportation may also include accompanying someone to religious and/or social activities or for personal needs such as to a hair salon.
Light Housekeeping - assist with household chores to help individuals maintain their dignity.
Meal Preparation for Homebound - assist with or prepare meals for homebound persons who are unable to do so for themselves. Possibly help teach those who are able how to cook.
Personal Record Keeping/Mail Reading - help persons maintain their personal records and read and write mail for them.
Grocery/Pharmacy Shopping - shopping with or for someone for groceries, personal and basic needs, pickup prescriptions, etc.
Respite Care - Relieves a primary family caregiver to afford them some free/personal time. Be a sitter/companion to care recipient - does not open or administer medications; possibly serve prepared meals and liquids as directed by the primary family caregiver.
For questions/additional information, contact:
REACH at 301-733-2371 x100 or e-mail reach@myactv.net
