Good News - May 2020

COVER STORY 25 MAY 2020 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition Greeting Cards Local care centers have provided the first names of residents in their facilities, so volunteers can make or write cards and letters to elderly to brighten their days. This has been a great activity for families looking to get children involved at home. Zoom Activities One care center reached out to Heart2Heart seeking volunteers to co- ordinate social activities for their residents via Zoom or other online means to keep residents engaged. Drop Off Bins Crossway Church is setting up a drop off bin, so people can drop off supplies for the elderly in care centers. Suggested items include crossword puzzles, magazines, Bingo, cards people have made or comfortable socks. Grocery Assistance A Senior Grocery Assistance Program was developed in partner- ship with Van Horn Law Group, which utilizes volunteers to do grocery delivery runs for vulnerable seniors who are sheltered at home. In- formation on this service is available on their website at heart2heartoutreach.org/h2hgrocery/ Relief Kits Heart2Heart has partnered with the Mennonite Central Committee’s disaster relief program to provide 500 healthcare kits for those in need. Each kit contains a towel, toothpaste, soap, a toothbrush and canned turkey meat, and they’re seeking partners who can provide hand sanitizer and toilet paper to complete these kits for distribution. The ministry is doing whatever it can to try to meet the needs of elderly adults. “We want to be a resource hub,” said Gallo, “so if you’re a church of 50 people and you don’t have a convalescent ministry, let us be your convalescent ministry. Or if you’re a church of 10,000 people, allow us to be an extension of your church, co-laboring in this space.” Here are three strategic ways people can get involved: 1. Pray. Pray that God will allow Heart2Heart to be the example of how we should serve the elderly. 2. Get involved as a volunteer hands-on through their many projects. 3. Contribute financially through your church, business or as an individual. For more information, visit heart2heartoutreach.org. • More than 205 Heart2Heart volunteers actively visit seniors in care centers each month. Volunteers from Keller Williams display a Cozy Blanket. More than 52 Cozy Blankets are being delivered to residents in elder care facilities. Heart2 Heart Outreach By The Numbers • Florida has the highest concentration of older resident in the U.S. • Heart2Heart was founded on Mother’s Day 2010 to provide HOPE, share LOVE and restore PURPOSE to the aging. • 77 churches actively partner with Heart2Heart to serve seniors in care centers. • 89 senior care centers in South Florida welcome Heart2Heart volunteers. • Well over 2025 residents of elder care facilities have received visits from Heart2Heart volunteers. • 22.5% of Broward residents are over the age of 65 or nearly 430,000 residents, according to The Silver Tsunami report.