Senior Serve

2009 Day of Caring

noreply@blogger.com (Senior Serve) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:04:00 +0000

United Way of Kern County unites the local business community and non-profit agencies in many different ways to benefit Bakersfield and our county. One of these ways is Day of Caring when volunteers from the business community join forces with the board members and staffs of the non-profit agencies to accomplish any task the agencies cannot accomplish on their own.

Day of Caring this year is September 12. Senior Serve has been paired with AERA Energy. They will be sending 30 or more volunteers to Senior Serve and 15 or more of our board and staff members will lead teams to do calling on our clients in the community. In three hours on that morning, hundreds of seniors will be called on, encouraged, given a small present, and enjoyed.

The morning starts with a wonderful breakfast at 7:30 at Stramler Park. By 8:30 our volunteers and staff will come to the Senior Serve office to be organized and trained. During the next couple of hours, each team will make three or four visits. At noon everybody will return to the office for a quick lunch and debriefing. The endeavor always turns out to be exciting and fulfilling as well as extremely helpful in keeping up with our senior clients.

Here are a few images from the 2009 Day of Caring.

Our Lastest Newsletter...

noreply@blogger.com (Senior Serve) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:02:00 +0000

Our latest newsletter is now available.

Inside this Issue:

Sylvester
5 years ago, Sylvester was diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenic. Today, he goes to a doctor every two weeks for a shot to control this condition. His greatest fear is that he will forget the appointment, return to acting out in public, and end up in 3B at Kern General Hospital.
Congratulations!
Birth announcements from the growing families of our staff members.
United Way of Kern County
The annual Day of Caring is coming on September 12, 2009.
Homelessness...Part 2
John Marshall writes about the history of homelessness in the United States as well as the needs that have emerged today.

Download our Newsletter here.

Off to Fresno...

noreply@blogger.com (Senior Serve) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:12:00 +0000

Today, John Marshall made his way up to central California to continue working toward setting up a branch of Senior Serve in the city of Fresno. His first stop was to visit one of our clients who recently lost their mother and to check in on how the family was doing.

Then he resumed his drive to Fresno. Today was an important day as a Steering Committee and new leadership began taking shape. We are excited about the future of Senior Serve being a representative payee agency for this wonderful city located in the Central Valley of California.

More to come...

Annual Summer Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Senior Serve) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:09:00 +0000

Here are some photos of our time last weekend with the staff and Senior Serve Board and volunteers. Thanks to our Board Chairman, Ed Taylor and his wife for opening their lovely home to everyone.

The afternoon was full of swimming, games and good food.

Annual Field Trip

noreply@blogger.com (Senior Serve) — Wed, 20 May 2009 23:08:00 +0000

Recently, on a Friday, our staff took our annual field trip. This morning as part of our staff meeting, we sat down together to discuss what we learned and to share pictures, drawings, brochures and information and special moments we experienced on our field trip.

Each year we like to go and visit some of clients, see the places they are living and even visit potential residences or services to check things out before we begin referring clients to them. This year we decided to divide up into four vehicles and have each group of our staff go on a mission. Their mission simple, but we had "scavenger hunt" type challenges to accomplish as well.

Each group or vehicle met first at Wells Fargo, our banking institution for all of clients. We simple wanted to see some of the services they provide for our clients and even touch base about challenges the staff at Well's Fargo faces servicing so many from Senior Serve.

Then we divided up into our groups and received our flourescent orange sheet of paper. Our instructions for the rest of the day's events.

We read, "You are on a mission. A mission to discover the facilities, the clients you have been working with on a daily basis, live and breathe. When you enter your vehicle your assignments begins."

On the sheet were also 8 rules to abide by:

1) You will be asked to perform missions at each location and upon completion of the mission you will be told where you are going next and what mission you will perform next. (You cannot go on if you do not complete the mission-time is ticking.)

2) The driver is not allowed to speed.

3) You must not be rude and say to the driver, "rapido".

4) You must learn as much information about the facilities as possible (there will be a test).

5) Get a business card from all of the places you will be visiting.

6) Make sure you stay on schedule!!!!!

7) There is a prize at the end so you want to be the first one to complete all of your missions.

8) See you back at the shop.

Overall, as we discussed, the different types of challenges we received at each place the groups visited was fun and informative. Some of the tasks in our missions were to take pictures, gather brochures or printed materials about the places we were visiting, draw or sketch residences, discover the last room number at a motel we visited and even sing a song with a client of ours.

We're looking forward to next year. Gleaning knowledge for our clients and having fun at the same time is a GREAT way to have a field trip.

Here our a couple of pictures from our time together.

Elder Connection takes part in the 12th Annual Elder Abuse Prevention Conference, "Domestic Violence in Later Life"

noreply@blogger.com (Senior Serve) — Sun, 17 May 2009 21:50:00 +0000

We took part in this important conference held in Bakersfield, California. Here is an article from The Bakersfield Californian or link to the article here.

Raising community awareness

BY PAUL ROZELL AND THE REV. STEVE VINSON, Contributing writers

Experts believe that up to 80 percent of seniors embrace deep spiritual values as they draw closer to the end of life. Unfortunately, one of the tactics of abusers of the elderly is to ridicule their belief system to humiliate and develop undue influence over them. Often the victim is not allowed to go to church or contact anyone from the faith community.

The 12th annual Elder Abuse Prevention Conference, "Domestic Violence in Later Life," was held Wednesday with 175 attendees from various disciplines, including clergy and three very eager students from Liberty High School. This was close to a 60 percent increase in attendance over 2008, when 110 participated. At least one spiritual leader present said the conference increased his awareness by helping him identify the signs and symptoms of both physical and financial abuse, and by teaching him what services are available once the abuse is identified.

Speakers shared moving stories of abused elderly persons, including one of a woman who was battered by her husband earlier in life, and by her daughter as a senior.

The conference was designed not only to increase awareness on elder abuse but also to challenge the community to get involved in reporting suspected abuse and in developing safety net services for Kern County's abused elderly. In keeping with that goal, Adult Protective Services plans to begin an informational outreach to Kern's faith community in the coming months to help congregation leaders and members identify elder abuse and the prevention resources available. To report suspected elder abuse, call Adult Protective Services at 868-1006 or 800-277-7866.

Paul Rozell is program director of Protective Services with Kern County Aging and Adult Services. The Rev. Steve Vinson is executive pastor at Canyon Hills Assembly of God Church.

6th Annual Clay Shoot

noreply@blogger.com (Senior Serve) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 19:16:00 +0000

We just finished this year's clay shoot fundraiser and it was a GREAT success raising funds for Senior Serve. Plus it was a good time for those who participated this year. As Always it was a "fun raiser" for us as well as fundraiser. Again, we found ourselves enjoying "Five Dogs", the shooting range that hosts us each year, in Woody, California.

Here are a few photos of the day:

Ready, Aim...Fire!

This was lunch!

Having too much fun on the ATV!

I wonder how this happened?

We are so very thankful to all our sponsors (click to enlarge)
and to all who showed up to shoot.

See you next year!

If you were not able to make it this year, please join us next year!
Click here to sign up for our mailing list so you won't miss out on the date and information!

Rainbows, Raindrops and Hail

noreply@blogger.com (Senior Serve) — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 22:57:00 +0000

Saturday, the 22nd of February was the annual Clay Shoot fundraiser for Senior Serve. The picture is of two of our winners. Cindy Callaway won the 10/22 Rifle and Robin Brassfield won the ATV from Valley Cycle.

As Always it was a "fun raiser" for us as well as fundraiser. The beautiful site of "Five Dogs", the shooting range that hosts us, in Woody, Ca unfurled its lovely spring fresh green hills and added lots of wild weather with rain, hail, wind and even a rainbow or two to brighten the occasion. We wondered if anyone would want to come out and shoot on such a day - but these guys were intrepid hunters who had signed up weeks ahead to come in teams of 4 to enjoy, shoot , eat and hopefully win their favorite prize at the auction table or take home the ATV or a Browning Citori 525 12ga. o/u shotgun. They turned out in their hunting gear and warm jackets to sleuth and slay the round, orange clay pigeons that flew at their command.

We are so very thankful to all our sponsors and to all who showed up to shoot on that blustery day. It is a time of year we all look forward to and we look forward to next year. (yes, we already are planning for next year)

Look for our ad in The Bakersfield Californian this Sunday, March 9th in the the sports section.

WE'RE DELIVERING!

noreply@blogger.com (Senior Serve) — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 16:21:00 +0000

Hey everyone, we're delivering Christmas gifts to the seniors in our community & Elder Connection clients. We gave Home Instead Home Care a list of 125 of our clients and the people of the Bakersfield Community filled their wish lists. So now we have the joy of delivering gifts. Unfortunately, we have way more gifts then we can deliver so if you are feeling in the Christmas spirit come by our office on "H" Street and take a few gifts out. If you are REALLY feeling in the Christmas spirit travel out to Laurel Springs on Westwold and Gosford and pick up more gifts to deliver. Today and tomorrow we are making every effort to get our gifts out. Senior Serve took all of the gifts in the zip code of 93301 and 93308 but if you are familiar with another part of town there are plenty of packages that need to be delivered. Thanks for adding a little joy to a seniors life. Have a great season!

Bridge-Builder-Que

noreply@blogger.com (Senior Serve) — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 00:08:00 +0000

A hug, a smile and a "Thank you, this was so nice of you," was there reaction of one of our clients on Monday, as she munched on her juicy hamburger and potato salad. It looked like an old fashioned bar-b-que in our parking lot as folks arrived for their weekly checks and found a group of people from Olive Drive Church, who do bar-b-ques as a ministry to others who need that gift of food or fellowship, cooking hamburgers along with all the nice veggie fixings that make them yummy. This was another one of those blessings that Kelly mentioned that came from the Bakersfield Californian article last week."The Growling Dogs" is the colorful name this ministry group has chosen for themselves, and when we tried to thank them for coming and feeding our clients, they just said quietly, "This is what we should be doing - so thank you!" About 200 people walked through the serving line with Bev Allen, our Board of Director's Chairperson, and Gerry Goodman, Executive Director, and Frank Jones, who is also a Board member, serving up the hamburgers, salad and chips along with a drink. We noticed that the good cooking smells wafted into the office so that even the staff found time to leave their desks and enjoy the feast. The Native Americans and the Pilgrims on that first Thanksgiving may have had more exotic fare - but they couldn't have enjoyed it anymore than our group did this week. Thanks, "Growling Dogs," Olive Drive Church, and Pastor Paul Giesbrecht for the gift of hospitality and nourishment.

Good News Re-Ignites Old Relationships

noreply@blogger.com (John and Gloria Marshall) — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 04:33:00 +0000

The wonderful blog just posted by Kelly this weekend makes the phrase "pressed down and running over," come to mind. That passage in Luke reminds us that forgiving, giving and blessing others results in good things "pressed down, shaken together, running over, put back into your lap."
The great article posted in The Bakersfield Californian last week about our services at Senior Serve has been a catalyst for good things for our clients....
Several phone calls from old friends to re-connect and inquire about offering help...
Friends and family saying things like, "Oh! now we know what you do."
The new offices that we are working to establish in neighboring communities were encouraged, and in fact the opportunity for the interview came in a round about way from a relationship in Taft that John had made recently in the process of starting a Representative Payee Service there. The reporter heard about Senior Serve from him while doing a article in Taft about something else!

Outpouring of Gifts

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly McKinsey) — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 17:46:00 +0000

We are truly blessed. Thanks to the wonderful article the Bakersfield Californian did last week we have had an outpouring of generous gifts donated for our clients.

1) "Be a Santa to a Senior" by Home Instead Senior Care - We contributed the names of 125 clients eligible to receive gift cards, clothing, and personal request items for Christmas.
2) 50 to 75 Gift bags full of hygiene products are being donated by an individual who was inspired after reading our article.
3) Liberty Christian Center volunteers are pre-preparing Thanksgiving Dinners for clients in need.
4) Olive Drive Church volunteers are putting together Thanksgiving Gift Baskets for clients in need.
5)Olive Drive Church's "Growling Dog" cooking team will be preparing a lunch for our clients from 11am - 1pm, from food donated by our own Board Members.

So much is going on I just had to tell someone!

Compassion Helps Locals

noreply@blogger.com (Senior Serve) — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 15:31:00 +0000

Today there is an article in the Bakersfield Californian Local Section about Senior Serve. If you don't get the paper go here.

Short Clips Of News

noreply@blogger.com (Senior Serve) — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 21:18:00 +0000

This is John Marshall blogging on to give an update about the exciting things that keep happening in the extension program of Senior Serve.
Lake Isabella: The Manna House, founded by Penny Clausen and Verna Riley, now has 40 clients. They have moved out of their cubby hole into a larger room and have recruited 4 volunteers to help with the routine work.
Bellflower: Kingdom Causes, in South Los Angeles, is on board for establishing a representative payee program along side of their food and housing program for the homeless. Pray for Ryan VerWys and Eric Copeland as they recruit their first five clients. A major gift from friends in Bakersfield is helping found this ministry.
Taft: Our friends in Taft are excited about the program and searching for the right person to start this ministry in that city. Everybody agrees that the need is great.
Fern: Josh Daniel at the West McKinley Assembly of God Church is recruiting 4 people to start a representatvie payee program in that city. This church is located in a very needy community of about 10,000 people. I will be meeting with them this Tuesday evening.
Right here in Bakersfield: This morning I talked with a representative of Kern County Mental Health and they want us to submit a proposal to manage the income of those under their care.

10 Year Anniversary

noreply@blogger.com (Senior Serve) — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 03:29:00 +0000

We are celebrating our 10 year anniversary this month. When we look back at the beginning when John Marshall began working with Social Security to help manage the finances of individuals who needed assistance, who knew our agency would have grown into the 1500+ clients we have today.