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"A gift of time and caring support to adults with persistent health needs, and their families."

     Respite Volunteers of Shiawassee is an interfaith non-profit agency which places trained volunteers with families who live in Shiawassee County, Michigan. They help those caring for an adult in their home.

     Volunteers are asked to provide 1 - 4 hours companionship to the person who is ill. This gives the caregiver a much needed respite to: take a nap, go for a walk, grocery shop, meet friends for lunch, go to a doctor's appointment, run errands, or whatever will relieve their caregiving duties.


Links for Respite Volunteers of Shiawassee

   



What Does a Respite Volunteer Do?


  • Provide companionship and emotional support.
  • Provide a gift of time, rest and relief to the caregiver.
  • Stay with the patient for short periods of time while the caregiver
    runs errands, goes shopping, keeps appointments, etc.
  • Help the patient with hobbies he or she enjoys.
  • Bring some fun and friendship into someone's life.

 

How do I become a Volunteer?
If you are a resident of Shiawassee County, or live nearby,
simply call (989) 725-1127 to start.

A volunteer packet, including information and an application will be sent to you.
Volunteer Trainings are held 3 to 4 times per year throughout the county.
You may also receive training right away. Just give us a call!

Stop By and Visit Us at Our New Location
710 W. King Street
Owosso, MI


A new sign is erected  at Respite Volunteers of Shiawassee at their new location..
The sign was designed and and donated by Mark Agnew of Agnew Graphics Signs & Promotions.
Left to Right are Mark Agnew and Helen Howard, Executive Director of Respite Volunteers

Respite Volunteers of Shiawassee is now on Facebook

Check out our Page by Clicking on the Facebook Logo
Sign up as a Friend while visiting our page.

Thank you to everyone 
who helped us prepare
for our Bingo Purse Party

More photos are available on our "facebook" page.

 

 

Dear Friends of Respite Volunteers, 

Hope you are enjoying your Summertime!

Please view our facebook page for many photos from our For the Love of Dads 5K Run Walk held in June at Baker College in Owosso. Thank you to everyone who participated.

We are at the point of really needing more volunteers throughout Shiawassee County. Right now we do not have enough volunteers to provide help to all the patients asking for our services. Please consider volunteering with our program if you are not yet a volunteer. If you are already a Respite Volunteer, please consider who you know that would also enjoy giving back in this way and visiting someone in their own community. Our volunteers tell us they are uplifted by the chance to serve and feel blessed to be able to help the person they are matched with. Please call to register for a training. 

We would like to get more Volunteer Training locations scheduled. So if your church has not yet hosted a Respite Volunteer Training and you think this would be a possibility, please check this out and give us a call. We also need help providing the light lunches for our Volunteer Trainings. We usually hope for about 10 persons to attend the training, so several persons from a church, or a specific group at a church, or a business could plan the light meal as a donation to Respite Volunteers. 

Our Rock-a-thon for Respite is scheduled for Tues. Sept. 14th from 11 a.m. till 2 p.m. Volunteers and friends of Respite Volunteers seek pledge donations to Respite Volunteers in advance. We ask that participants bring their rocking chair, and we rock from 11 a.m. till 2 p.m. with lunch provided. Chair massages, manicures and entertainment will be provided. Call or e-mail our office for the sample letter.

The next Purse Party Bingo is tentatively scheduled for Thurs. Oct. 14th in Owosso. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Twenty purses with a retail value of at least $40. will be won by bingo games. Refreshments will be provided. More information to follow. 

The Owosso Postcards to benefit Respite Volunteers are available at many area businesses. During the summer we are continuing to sell coupon vouchers to Simpson Brothers Greenhouse in Ovid at the Respite Volunteer Office. The vouchers can be taken to Simpson Brothers Greenhouse to pick out your own beautiful flowers, (we will receive 15% of your purchase). We are planning for our “Comfort Cookbook” to be on sale by November. We are asking for $100 sponsorships to cover the printing of the Comfort Cookbook and these can be in memory or honor of a loved one or special volunteer.

Please see the Citgo fuelinggood.com website to vote for gas cards for Respite Volunteers. Please see the Art Van contest for nonprofits also and vote for Respite Volunteers. Please see www.gazelle.com where you can donate computers, cell phones etc. and the value is donated to Respite Volunteers. Also you are now able to register your Kroger card with the Kroger Community Rewards program to donate a portion of your total purchase to Respite Volunteers. Please register online at krogercommunityrewards.com. And please bring in your VGs Grocery receipts too. 


Helen Howard












 

 


Volunteers Needed Throughout Shiawassee County


Additional volunteers are needed throughout Shiawassee County, especially persons interested in volunteering for patients in their homes, and helping with transportation for physician appointments, grocery shopping, etc. Communities that volunteers are especially needed in are: New Lothrop, Laingsburg, Henderson, and Carland.

Please Call 989-725-1127
for more information

 

Respite Volunteers is receiving a record number of new requests for service. We believe this is in part due to the economic situation of elderly patients and their caregiving families in Shiawassee County. We do provided services to a higher percentage of elderly living alone than ever before also. Additional Volunteers are needed throughout the county, but especially in Owosso. 

The training is designed to prepare volunteers to serve adults with ongoing health needs, and their caregiving families, and especially persons who are frail, elderly, and living alone.

 

 

Shiawassee Respite Volunteer Calendar
July - October 2010
A Neighbor's Independence Depends on You


July 2010

Happy Fourth of July Everyone! 
No Liaison or SHARE meeting this month!

Tuesday, July 13th, 10:00 a.m. - Planners Meeting for the Rock-a-thon for Respite


August 2010

Need a site for a Respite Volunteer Training in August. We would need a Sunday School room with a DVD & VCR player, best days are Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 

Planning a Perry - Morrice - Laingsburg - Shaftsburg - Bancroft
 Respite Volunteer Gathering
at a Perry Church
Invitations to follow

Friday, August 6th, 9:30 a.m. - Church Liaison Meeting at the Perry Church of the Nazarene. This meeting is open to volunteers who would like to be spokespersons for the Respite Volunteer.

Monday, August 9th - RSVP for the August 19th SHARE Meeting, and what "Dish to Pass" you plan to bring. Please Call 989-725-1127

Tuesday, August 10th, 10:00 a.m. - Planners Meeting for the Rock-a-thon for Respite

Thursday, August 19th, 5:30 p.m. - SHARE Meeting for Volunteers planned at the Memorial Healthcare Auditorium. The speaker is Laura Ruhle of the Alzheimer's Association.  The topic is an overview of Alzheimer's Disease and related Dementia, and how a volunteer can help a family. This will be a potluck. Please RSVP by Monday, August 9th 989-725-1127 


September 2010

Rock-a-thon
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
at the Respite Voluneer Office - The Shaw House Grounds

Tuesday, September 7th, 10:00 a.m. - Planners Meeting for the Respite Volunteer Rock-a-thon. 

Tuesday, September 14th, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. - Rock-a-thon for Respite Volunteers at the Respite Volunteer Office/The Shaw House Grounds.  Please request sponsorship from your family, friends, families you have served through Respite Volunteers. Manicures will be provided. Sloppy Joe Luncheon to be provided for participants. Please bring your rocking chair, and if possible, an extra rocking or lawn chair.


October 2010

Friday, October 1st, 9:30 a.m. - Respite Volunteer Church Liaison Meeting at the Christ Vineyard Church Office, Main St. (M-21) Owosso, east of the Dollar Store

Thursday, October 14th -
Purse Party Bingo planned at the Church of God, Owosso N. M-52. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Bingo begins at 7:00 p.m. for 20 purses of $40.00 or greater retail value.

 
 

 
Respite Volunteers of Shiawassee
Wish List

Postage Stamps
Someone to provide fall yard clean up
Someone to sweep the deck and walkways
Gift Cards for Staples, WalMart, or Meijer for purchase of office supplies 
Pastel Copy Paper
Locking File Cabinet with key
Volunteer Training Sponsors
Respite Family Sponsors 
VG’s Receipts 
Lawn Rake
Annual Memberships
Cleaning and Paper Supplies
Someone to repair the mortar on the front steps