April is Volunteer Appreciation Month and the
El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) is recognizing the
important contributions of its many volunteers. The Board of Supervisors is
scheduled to issue a proclamation to acknowledge HHSA volunteers on April 19,
2016, at 2:00 PM during a Board meeting at 330 Fair Lane in Placerville. Volunteers
are welcome to attend.
Approximately 600 volunteers currently provide
essential support to HHSA programs. About 25 HHSA programs utilize volunteers,
including Animal Services, Foster Care Services, Mental Health programs, Public
Health Nursing and many senior programs. Some programs could not function at
such a high level without them, according to program staff. For example, HHSA’s Senior Nutrition Program has
more than 200 volunteers working at any given time.
“Our
volunteers are an extremely valuable asset and give heart and soul to the work
we do as HHSA employees,” said Ruth Green, Program Coordinator in the Senior Nutrition
Program. “They are an inspiration to those of us who are fortunate to work with
them.”
According to Green, about 118,000 meals were delivered
to homebound seniors by volunteers last year in El Dorado County. Home
delivered meal drivers also serve as a welcome social connection to homebound
seniors. In addition, there are also eight congregate meal sites to serve
seniors operating throughout the county, mostly staffed by volunteers.
In recognition of its dedicated volunteers,
HHSA will also host two volunteer appreciation events on Tuesday, April 19,
2016, following the Board of Supervisors proclamation. The recognition events
will be held in Placerville at the Senior Center, 937 Spring Street from 2:30
to 4:00 PM and at the South Lake Tahoe Senior Center at 3050 Lake Tahoe
Boulevard from 1:30 to 3:00 PM. HHSA volunteers are invited to attend either
event.
For more
information about volunteering at HHSA, please call (530) 621-6369 or (800)
510-2020, or visit www.edcgov.us/hhsa
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