Volunteers Can SELF-ASSIGNwith Assisted Rides!

Did you know that volunteer drivers are now able to self-assign and update their assignments online? This prevents time-consuming “phone tag,” and allows volunteers more freedom than ever in arranging their schedules.

Your coordinators will be happy to help you through the process the first few times, but here are the basics:

To self-assign, contact your coordinator for an Assist-ed Rides ID and password. Log on and select the area you would like to serve.

To ASSIGN a request to yourself: 1) Click the STATUS of the request to bring up the “Driver Trip Update” function 2) Click on the “Assign Me As Driver” button 3) Click on the “CLOSE” button

To REMOVE yourself from a request: 1) Click the STATUS of the request to display the “Driver Trip Update” function 2) Click on the “Remove Me As Driver” button 3) Click on the “CLOSE” button

To UPDATE a request as COMPLETED: 1) Click the STATUS of the request to display the “Driver Trip Update” function 2) Select COMPLETED in the ‘New Status’ drop down box, enter mileage and hours and check the reimbursement box if you wish to be reimbursed mileage. 3) Click the “UPDATE” button.

NOTE: All of the above actions can be done one after the other in the “Driver Trip Update” function.

You can also add multiple stops, view your “Complet-ed Trip” report, check maps, add a volunteer note and more! To learn how, or for more detailed information about self-assigning, check with your Coordinator of Volunteer Services.

Volunteer pins (for those who did not receive them yet) will be available at each Satellite Office for volunteers interested in picking them up. (We will not be able to mail out remaining pins.)

“Just want you to know I am really happy with your quality service. The volunteers I have had...are

wonderful. I feel like they are my friends...” --Care Receiver Marion

Hearts and Hands Administrative OfficesMain Number: (716) 406-8311

Our main number is the one to call if you need general information, or you would like to use our list of extensions to contact a specific person. Please use your Coordinator’s direct number if you are already a Care Receiver or a Volunteer, to ensure prompt attention. You received this number at your intake or your training. Thank you for your cooperation!

“Every day I’ll wear your memorylike a favorite shirt upon my back.’

--Richard Thompson

In Memoriam:John Capan * Joseph DeGaspari * Joyce Harding

Mark Luderman * Rev. Carl ReichertEugene Taylor * Natalie Taylor

Donations Received in Memory of:Judy Abby * Robert Airey * Mary Aquila

Joseph I. Brenon, Jr. * Louis BurgioAngelo Bussi * Chuck and TammyWarren Diemer * Sjoerd DijkstraLaurence Fisher * Bonnie FrielAlan Greinert * Gloria Kreutter

Betty Jane Maroone * Thomas F. Reinke, Jr.Dorothy Rodler * Bobby T.

George and Agnes Van Buren

Hearts and Hands Administrative Offices2710 North Forest Road, Suite 205Getzville, NY 14068

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONU.S. Postage Paid

Clarence, NYPERMIT No. 6

Current Resident or:

Upcoming Events in Our Communities...September 18th, 1-5 PM: Dementia Respite at the Wright begins at the Wright Center in Akron, NY. Contact Amanda at Hearts and Hands, 716-406-8311, Extension 105, for more information about the program.September 21st, World Gratitude Day: We’re thankful for all our volunteers who are so dedicated and de-pendable, and for all the care receivers and their families who entrust their care to us! What are you grateful for?September 26th, 9 AM: Alzheimer’s Association’s “Niagara County Walk to End Alzheimer’s” begins at Art-park, 450 South 4th Street, Lewiston, NY. Registration 9 AM, ceremony at 10 AM, two mile walk to follow. Contact Phil Weiss: pweiss@alz.org or 716-626-0600.October 3-4th: Global Missions Festival at Eastern Hills Wesleyan Church. Contact Robin Schara, 716-688-7165, ext. 114 at Eastern Hills Wesleyan for more information.October 7th, 4:30-6:30 PM: Amherst Community Volunteer Fair at the Amherst Center for Senior Services.October 24th, 10 AM: Apple Festival at Clarence United Methodist Church. Booths from service organizations from all over the area, with fun items for purchase, delicious food and lots of APPLES!November 7th, 8 AM - 3 PM: Erie County Caregivers Coalition Caregiver’s Day at the Millenium Hotel in 2040 Walden Ave, Cheektowaga. Contact (716) 858-2177 or caregiver@erie.gov for more information.Memory Cafés: at The Meadows at Weinberg, 2650 North Forest Rd., Getzville, NY, 3rd Thursday of each month, 1 - 3 PM (Entrance is across from JCC playground - Meet in the Second Floor Lounge); at St. Mary of the Lake School, 4737 Lakeshore Rd. (Rt. 5), Hamburg , NY, 4th Tuesday of each month (park in front of build-ing, in small lot - enter from Rt. 5).

Hearts Fall 2015: Volume 12, Issue 3

Strings

Jaele Naab poses with her prize-winning chalk art draw-ing at Hearts and Hands’ Chalk Art Festival, part of Clar-ence Day in the Park on 7/25(see complete story, page 4).

Call us at 716-406-8311 -- or visit our website at hnhcares.org

Time, Talents and Treasure Help Us Make A Difference The demand for Hearts and Hands’ services continues to grow throughout Western New York. Our recent expansions into Amherst and Niagara County are going very well. However, our continued ability to address the needs of your neighbors is held in your hands. Please give generously of your time, talents and treasure so we can make a difference in our Hearts and Hands Caring Community. Immediate gifts are very helpful for our growth, and your investment in our mission to serve your com-munity will be very much appreciated. However, if now is not the time for a financial gift, placing a chari-table gift into your estate plans will help us sustain our efforts for future generations. Gift through your Will: A bequest is the most traditional way to provide important help for worth-while causes like Hearts and Hands. With a gift through your will or living trust you retain full use of the prop-erty during your life. Life Insurance: You can name Hearts and Hands: Faith in Action, Inc. as the beneficiary of your life insurance. Just contact your company. A better idea may be to transfer actual ownership of the policy. Financial Accounts: Most accounts at finan-cial institutions can be made payable at death to a per-son or a charitable organization like Hearts and Hands. Ask the manager of the institution how to arrange to designate a death beneficiary for your CD, savings ac-count, brokerage account, etc. These gifts are revoca-ble during your lifetime should you so decide. Benefits from IRAs and pension funds: Your estate can save both income taxes and estate taxes if

you make Hearts and Hands or an additional charity the death beneficiary of your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) or other retirement savings plan. You can also arrange for lifetime income to be paid to a family member after death, with Hearts and Hands’ benefits coming later. As a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), I have the expertise to share with you these and oth-er gifting vehicles in support of Hearts and Hands. I encourage you to also seek out the expertise of your financial advisor and/or attorney when making you re-state plans. Together we can ensure your wishes are carried out so your goals for your family and commu-nity can best be met. We appreciate your support, whether it is your time, talents, or treasure. With your ongoing assis-tance we will continue to strengthen your Hearts and Hands Caring Community together.

Sincerely,James Y. Bender

Executive Director

“Listen! The wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves,

We have had our summer evenings, now for October eves!”

― Humbert Wolfe

Hearts and Hands’ services include:Door through door transportation for medical appointments and personal errands. In-home supports like light housekeeping and lawn care, companion and respite visits, minor home repair, “Phone Pals” and much, much more.

Q: When should I schedule my appointments?

A: The sooner, the better!When you become a Care Receiver in the Hearts and Hands family, your introductory materials alert you that we need at least 7 days’ notice to schedule an appointment.

It’s come to our attention that there is some confusion and some care receivers think they must wait until the appointment is 7 days away to schedule it.

In fact, we invite you to schedule as early as possible. The earlier you schedule with us, the more likely it is we will be able to fill your request.7 days is the minimum amount of time we need, but you can schedule as far in advance as you like!

Gold Sponsors

Assisted Living...Where Family MattersClarence Center, NY * (716) 319-9500

www.BristolHome.org

County Line Stone Co.

County Line Road, P.O. Box 150 Akron, NY 14001(716) 542-5435

CLOISTERS AND MEADOWSAPARTMENTS

Westgate Avenue, Akron, NY 14001ODS Management Group

(716) 542-3030 * 1-888-542-3031 (Toll Free)1-800-662-1220 TDD NYS Relay Line 711

Silver Sponsors

www.bank of hollandny.com12 South Main Street * Holland, NY 14080 * 716-537-2264

250 Qualer Rd. * East Aurora, NY 14052 * 716-655-4667

Dementia Respite at the Wright Are you caring for a family member at home who suf-fers from a memory impairment? Are you in need of a break from your responsibilities to run errands, attend your own doctor appointments, just relax or have lunch with a friend? Dementia Respite at the Wright, through the help of dedicated volunteers, will provide a social, friendly, and engaging envi-ronment for memory impaired adults, giving their caregivers that much-needed break. The program is free, includes snacks and activities, and is available to the public the third Friday of the month from 1 PM to 5 PM at the C. Dee Wright Center located at 11 Church Street, Akron, which is handicapped accessible. The respite program is scheduled to begin September 18th and will be accepting approximately 5 to 6 individuals at this time. The only requirement is that the client has a diagnosis of memory impairment and does not have combative, self-destructive or violent tendencies. Anyone interested in participating in this program may contact Judy at the C. Dee Wright Community Center (716) 491-2909 or jboeheim@hotmail.com. “Dementia Respite at the Wright” is a partnership be-tween the C. Dee Wright Center, Hearts and Hands, the Alz-heimer’s Association and the Erie County Department of Senior Services, meant to provide a healthy environment for clients to “change the scenery” and meet one another. For more information on how to volunteer or support this pro-gram, please contact Amanda at Hearts and Hands (716) 406-8311, Extension 105.

Training for Dementia Respite Volunteers:

Alzheimer’s Association “Basic Training” for those volunteers interested in participating in the Dementia Respite Program at the Wright Center in Akron, NY will be available online or at the Alzheimer’s Association office. These upcom-ing trainings can be found on their website at http://training.alz.org/.

Seven Western New York Offices

Call Today: (716) 542-5444

Hearts and Hands Welcomes New VISTA We welcome Stefany R. Stempien to the Hearts and Hands family! Stefany comes to us through the AmeriCorps VISTA program, and will be taking on the role of Community Outreach Coordinator. Stefany started at Hearts and Hands in August 2015, and will be with the organization for one year. Stefany will be working with Community Outreach Councils in Hearts and Hands’ service areas. Community Outreach Councils are groups of local volunteers which develop ways to spread the word about Hearts and Hands throughout their unique community. Stempien will also be working to engage veterans in Hearts and Hands, a goal established by AmeriCorps. Stempien is a resident of East Amherst, and graduated Summa Cum Laude in May 2015 from SUNY Binghamton with a degree in Neuroscience and a minor in History.

She has been involved as a member and volunteer with the John Newman Mission Community and is currently a vol-unteer coach for the Clarence Bulldogs Varsity Cheerleaders. She also worked at Asbury Pointe, a local independent living home, during high school and college. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, a national academic honor society. Her hobbies are hula hooping, crocheting, knitting and cooking. Hearts and Hands bids farewell to Jaclyn Betts and Colleen Dorney, our VISTA workers from 2014-2015. In addition to their work with Community Outreach Councils, they established new relationships with veteran’s organi-zations and developed the very popular “Board to Death!” fundraiser. Colleen is now in Danbury, CT, working as a VISTA Leader at Connecticut Campus Compact, supporting 12 VISTA members at 10 sites throughout Connecticut. Jaclyn has headed to Pittsburgh, where she will be pursuing a Master’s Degree in Public Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, with a concentration in Nonprofit Management. VISTA is the national service program designed specifically to fight poverty. Authorized in 1964 and founded as Volunteers in Service to America in 1965, VISTA was incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of programs in 1993. VISTA has been on the front lines in the fight against poverty in America for 50 years.

Hearts and Hands Chalk FestivalHearts and Hands held its first annual Chalk Art Festival at Clarence Day in the Park on July 25th. Winner in the Adult Category was Deirdre O’Mahony of Clarence, NY for her drawing of the Brant Point Light-house in Nantucket, RI. Youth winner was Jaele Nabb of Akron, NY, for her drawing of a beach, entitled “Fun in the Sun!” (on cover.)

Bronze Sponsors

Visit any of our five comvenient locations in:Akron - Clarence - Clarence Center - Lancaster

www.bankofakron.com * 716-542-5401

I Squared R Element Co., Inc.12600 Clarence Center Road, P.O. Box 390Akron, NY 14004-0390 U.S.A.email: sales@isquaredrelement.comweb: www.isquaredrelement.comphone: (716) 542-5511

Volunteer Andrew’s Kind Deeds Blossom!Arrangements of Flowers Warm Care Receivers’ Hearts A young man by the name of Andrew decided to volunteer for Hearts and Hands through the Akron Office. Andrew is 14 years old, and became a volunteer along with his dad, Kevin. Andrew wanted to do something different…something to let care receivers know they are important and loved and thought about. He decided to create some flower arrangements and deliver them to care receivers Hearts and Hands thought could use a boost. Andrew’s “random acts of kindness” could not have been better timed for two of the individuals who received the work of his hands. Tabitha Fisher, Volunteer Coordinator for the Akron Office, said that she heard about two recipients of Andrew’s gifts. The first was approaching serious surgery for cancer, and she was facing it without the comfort of nearby family. She had been feeling “down in the dumps.” It just happened to be her birth-day, and she was, as she said, “sitting there feeling sorry for my-self” when Andrew walked up to her house with an arrangement of flowers. Her words to Tabitha were, “You have no idea what that

did to me!” It was such a comfort to her to know that someone was thinking of her. Andrew reached out to another care receiver who had recently lost her husband. Amazingly, and unbeknownst to Andrew, he delivered her flowers on the date that she and her husband would have celebrated their wedding anniversary. She said that receiving Andrew’s flowers on

their special day really lifted her spirits! You may never know how much your kind acts affect the people you serve, but you can be sure they have an effect. Care receivers (and their families) can relax, knowing they will be able to reach their doctor, get groceries, and take care of pressing busi-ness, because you were willing to help. Their yards are neat, and other little tasks around their homes are tended to, because of your service. In the process of helping, you forge warm relationships that contribute to the health and well-being of both the care re-ceiver and the volunteer. Our volunteers tell us over and over that they receive much more than they give. We are so grateful they continue to serve with such neighborly dedication. To find out how you can be a volunteer, contact Program Di-rector Sandra Barillari at (716) 406-8311, Extension 108.

Program Partner

W E S T E R N N E W Y O R K

We’ve got a flavorfor every occasion.

Perry’s Ice Cream

We acknowledge the Erie County Depart-ment of Senior Services, the New York State Office for the Aging, the NFTA, the John R. Oishei Foundation, the United Way, the Grigg Lewis Foundation, the Niagara County Office of Aging and all the local towns and villages that collab-orate with Hearts and Hands to enhance the lives of those in need.

Shop and Make Us Smile!Shop at Amazon Smile: When you shop through Amazon Smile, you can support Hearts and Hands at no extra cost! That’s because Amazon Smile donates 0.5% of each eligible purchase to the non-profit of your choice without raising the price of the item. So you can help to financially support Hearts and Hands through your regular shopping! Here’s how:

• Go to smile.amazon.com and sign into your Amazon account.

• Search for Hearts and Hands Faith in Action and choose us. • Then, make your future purchases through smile.amazon.

com. Shop for Our Cause through GoodShop! GoodShop is a simple way to make a difference -- each time you shop online through GoodShop, they make a donation to your favorite cause! There is no additional cost to you, you receive the same prices and level of service, and the retailers are responsible for collecting payment, shipping and returns. Here’s how to participate:• Go to www.goodsearch.com; click on “Create an Account”

• Choose a cause: search for “Hearts and Hands, Faith in Action”

• Select your favorite store and Start Making a Difference! (Don’t forget to look for Deals and Coupons)

Thank you for your support!

Hearts and Hands Shirts Now Available Online!Visit Etsy.com and search:

Hearts and Hands White Volunteer T ShirtHearts and Hands White Polo

Hearts and Hands Red Volunteer T ShirtHearts and Hands Red Polo

or visit our website and click on the tab!Our thanks to Jessica Esch of Chick-n-Scrap and Kate Duffy of

ALD Embroidery for helping us design our shirtsand market them online!

H&H Receives Clarence Rotary Check Hearts and Hands Board Member Robert Friedman, who is also a Clarence Rotary member, facilitated Hearts and Hands’ being the beneficiary of the Clarence Rotary’s 2015 Raffle fundraiser for charity. The drawing took place on August 3rd at the Clarence Town Park. Rotarians raffled off the choice of a 2015 Porsche or $40,000 in cash, as well as a number of smaller cash prizes. A check in the amount of $10,000 was presented to Hearts and Hands as a result of the Clarence Rotary’s efforts. Hearts and Hands extends its gratitude to Bob Friedman and all the Clarence Rotary members for their support of their Hearts and Hands Caring Community!

Clarence Rotary member Bob Friedman, also a Hearts and Hands Board member, presents a $10,000 check to Executive Director James Bender and Hearts and Hands President Kathleen Flynn after the Rotary’s recent fundraiser.