Roxanne Housley
The Women of Quail Creek (TWOQC) Community Outreach Committee needs your support to help Valley Assistance Services (VAS).
Collection Dates May 13 to 22 Madera Clubhouse Donation Bins
For almost 60 years, VAS has served local communities of southern Pima County and northern Santa Cruz County, including Sahuarita, Green Valley, Amado and Arivaca. VAS and their staff of registered nurses, benefits advocates, case managers and support staff lead cutting edge programs to address life’s challenges facing low-income families and seniors. During the past year, calls for support and help have increased to 100 per day and over 8,000 people received services, advocacy and assistance to live safely and independently.
The core programs that support health, safety and independence include:
* Monetary Assistance for rent, utilities and nutritional needs. All clients receive financial education to provide an avenue to break the cycle of poverty.
* Workforce Training/Career Building providing access to a computer lab, resume-writing assistance, mock interviews and job searches.
* Neighbors Helping Neighbors provides transportation and errand services along with friendly visits to seniors in their home by volunteers.
* Going Home With Care is an RN-led post discharge program to guide transition from hospital to home.
VAS needs help filling their essentials pantry list. This is especially important during summer when children are on vacation and do not receive daily meals from school. We can help by providing the following items:
applesauce squeezable pouches (no cinnamon), Welch’s fruit snacks, granola bars (no nuts or chocolate), Nutri-grain bars( apple or blueberry), canned fruit cocktail mix, canned peaches, or pears, canned corn, green beans, peas, small water bottles, Capri Sun fruit drink pouches, Ensure or generic brand, Rice-a-Roni boxes, mac and cheese (cups), small cereal boxes, pasta and spaghetti sauce.
And there is always a need for children’s and adult socks, toilet paper, paper towels, and feminine hygiene products.
An example of who VAS helps: A woman over 65 contacted VAS informing them of her difficult situation: her husband was undergoing chemo while she was also caring for her 3 grandsons. Between mortgage, husband’s medical expenses, and other bills, making ends meet was becoming a problem. It was determined that VAS could help with her utility bills which were two months behind, but her most pressing need was having enough money to feed three hungry boys age 11-17. Through the VAS Community Caring Food Pantry, we were able to supply the family with milk, eggs, canned goods and frozen meats. The ability to provide this food once a month helped her take a minute to breathe, gain control of her finances, and better care for loved ones. She recently came to the office with her boys to thank us for being there for families and seniors in crisis. Clearly, if not for us, she might have lost those boys and that family. She tearfully told us that we offered them dignity and a way to get back on their feet during difficult times!