HAND in HAND July 2014

HAND in HAND

Summer 2014

Our MissionTo provide exceptional innovative care and support to those who need assistance

with daily living, while inspiring others to do the same.

1640B East 2nd Street #200 - Austin, TX - 78702 - 512.477.3796 - www.handaustin.org

However, her life changed when she became an amputee. Her husband of 32 years cared for her, but became unable to when he had a stroke in September of last year. Annette felt anxious, depressed and isolated. She didn’t have health insurance and her situation felt hopeless.

That’s when Annette was connected with our Independent Care program and one special social work intern, Rachel.

While an attendant assisted with basic tasks, Rachel worked with Annette a few times a week. She provided companionship and also taught Annette exercises that she could do from her wheelchair.

“Without H.A.N.D. I wouldn’t have made it. You get turned down from so many places when you don’t have insurance, but H.A.N.D. didn’t care about that. They helped me anyway and they still take care of me today.”

Today, Annette is an outgoing, vibrant, and a proud grandmother. She attributes this change of attitude to H.A.N.D.

When Annette Penry was in the 7th grade, her father retired from the Air Force and the family settled in Austin. Over 40 years later, Annette (and her father) still call Austin home. She worked for years as a Patient Care Technician in St. David’s South Austin Hospital.

we are helping area neighbors daily

Dear Friends,

As we reach the middle of the year, it is time to stop and reflect how 2014 is progressing and how H.A.N.D. would like to move forward into future months. Last month, we held a staff retreat and garnered lots of great information. The best part was taking time to reflect on our successes over the past year.

Here is what the staff is proud of:• Transportation services and new wheelchair accessible van• Developing and implementing a formal volunteer program• Adding Americorps VISTA’s to help us expand• Clean audits from the Texas Dept of Aging and Disability Services• Aspire, our new workforce support model for our personal care attendants• Our collaborations in the community leading to deeper, more well rounded programming

These are just a few on the list. The past year has been a big one for us!

Executive Director MessageFollow Us:

In the next few months, the staff identified some burning questions for us to answer:• How can we expand our services both in Austin and surrounding areas to address the rising senior population?• How can we attract & support new staff in one of the fastest growing workforces in the country (personal care)?• How can we increase our fundraising to not only sustain programs but grow?

These are big questions to answer, but I guarantee this team is up to the challenge. We’d love to have you involved as a volunteer, on a committee, or as a donor as we begin to address these tough issues.

--Amy Temperley, Executive Director

[email protected]

A Cause for Celebration!H.A.N.D. congratulates attendants Delores Johnson and Kim Perkins, for entering the

Financial Greater Fitness Contest, and each winning the UFCU $250 prize.

University Federal Credit Union (UFCU) is supporting the FFGA Adult Financial Fitness Contest, a program that engages participants in actively managing their finances. Each participant chooses between a “CREDIT” or “BUDGET” packet that walks them through four financial activities. After completing the activities, participants write an essay about how their “new financial knowledge” has made a difference in their lives. H.A.N.D. expresses thanks to UFCU and FFGA for extending this opportunity to our attendants.

Healthy Alternative PartnershipsOne of the many ways we help our community is by providing healthy food to attendants and clients through our food pantry program. Located at the back of our office, we receive regular food donations from local nonprofit Keep Austin Fed and community supporters, like Whole Foods and the Austin Radiological Association (ARA) Donations include nonperishables such as, pasta, protein bars, rice, beans, sauces, peanut butter and much more. H.A.N.D. sincerely thanks Keep Austin Fed, Whole Foods, ARA, as well as our other supporters for serving the H.A.N.D. family and greater Austin community.

Volunteer Spotlight

For additional opportunities:Claire Fallat, Director of Volunteer Services

[email protected] 512.477.3796 x 224

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H.A.N.D. has been partnering with the Austin Association of Facility And Maintenance Engineers (AAFAME) since December of 2013 to assist with maintenance and repair of client homes. On March 29th-30th, 55 volunteers and over 20 participating companies worked together to renovate the home of one of our clients, Abel Torrez.

Mr. Torrez has many fond memories of his childhood farm in Leander. He worked long hours with his 12 brothers and sisters baling hay, fixing fences, and looking after their livestock. Mr. Torrez moved to Austin when he was 18. In 1980, Mr. Torrez moved in to his current house, located in the St. Johns area, with his now deceased wife. Today, his own house stands not much larger than 500 square feet. But when they moved in it was even smaller. Throughout the past 34 years, Mr. Torrez built much of the house himself. He continued to do small renovations until very recently when his health declined. Mr. Torrez’ diabetes claimed both of his legs and he now wears prosthetics. His little St. Johns home is everything to him, but it was sadly becoming unlivable.

AAFAME assisted with an ADA compliant toilet, water heater, a new shower chair, new bathroom sink, all new bathroom fixtures, smoke alarms, a new roof, wheel chair ramp, landscaping services, painting services, and general repairs around the home.

H.A.N.D. expresses a deep gratitude to AAFAME members and participating companies for the incredible generosity of both their time and resources. We are thrilled to be able to provide life-changing experiences for clients like Mr. Torrez.

With the successful completion of this home improvement project, our Director of Volunteer Services will coordinate similar projects for at least THREE more deserving clients throughout 2014, in partnership with AAFAME.

H.A.N.D. invites you to join usLet’s Have Dinner and Talk About Death FREE Dinner and Conversation When: Thursday, September 18th Where: Buca di Beppo, 3612 Tudor Blvd, 78759 Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00PM

Space is LIMITED.

Nearly 75% of all Americans want to die at home, yet only 25% of them do.

How we want to die – represents the most important conversa-tion America isn’t having. By deciding what end-of-life care best suits your needs when you are healthy, you can help those close to you make the right choices when the time comes. The dinner table is the most forgiving place for difficult conversation. The ritual of breaking bread creates warmth and connection, and puts us in touch with our humanity. It offers an environment that is more suitable than the usual places we discuss end of life.

End-of-life planning usually includes making choices about your goals for care, where you would like to spend your final days, and what you value in your life and death. RSVP to HERE or email Amy Temperley at [email protected] by Monday, September 15th, 2014.

Friends of H.A.N.D. Event

When: Thursday, October 16th Where: Atria at the Arboretum, 9306 Great Hills Trail, 78759 When: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

H.A.N.D. provides hundreds of low income Austinites per-sonal care and support to help them stay at home as long as possible. Let us treat you to a drink and hors d’ouerves and tell you how we do it. Join us for an informal gathering with our Executive Director, Amy Temperley to hear about our work in the community. RSVP to Amy Temperley at [email protected] by Monday, October 13th, 2014.

H.A.N.D. and Cook Walden Dignity have joined together to help start the conversation in a relaxed and interactive environment to transform this seemingly difficult conversation into one of deep engagement, insight and empowerment.

Your gift to H.A.N.D. will provide support, dignity and the comfort of home to an individual in our community. Please feel free to contact Deidre Honea at [email protected] with any further questions.

ContaCt InformatIon

Company (If Applicable): __________________________________________________________ Name: _______________________________________________________________________ Address: _____________________________________________________________________ City: ________________________ State: ________________ Zip: _________________ Phone Number: (____) _____ - ______ Email: _______________________________________

DonatIon amount

___ $50 ___ $75 ___ $100 ___ $200 ___ $350 ___ $500

aDDItIonal InformatIon ___ One-Time Gift ___ Recurring Gift ___ This donation is on behalf of a company ___ Anonymous

Payment InformatIon

Cardholder’s Name: ______________________________________________________________ Billing Address: ________________________________________________________________ Credit Card Number: _____________________________________________________________ Card Type: _______________ Card Expiration ___/___/_____ Card Security Code: ___________

H.A.N.D. is tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS. Our federal identification number is 74-1888198.

For your privacy: H.A.N.D. does not trade or sell our donor lists to other organizations. We offer donors the option to be recognized anonymously. Donors may request that they not be solicited in the future.

Yes! I’d lIke to make a donatIon

Follow Us:

Get Connected with H.A.N.D.Give back through Smile.Amazon.comSign-up for AmazonSmile and 0.5% of the price is donated back to H.A.N.D. Visit smile.amazon.com and enter “Helping the Aging, Needy, and Disabled Inc.” into the search box. Select our profile, and that’s it! Now every time you buy something from smile.amazon.com, we’ll get a donation. You don’t have to pay any extra to give back this season!

Give back with Freytag’s Florist

Mention H.A.N.D. when you visit Freytag’s Florists and 5% of your floral purchase is donated back. All day, everyday.

Give back with your Randalls’ CardConnect your Randall’s Card and 1% of your purchase will be

donated to #12687.