M�r�� March 2018
www.MoonValleyTattler.com
VOL 38 No. 3
REBUILDING TOGETHER VALLEY OF THE SUN PROVIDES VITAL HELP TO RESIDENTS
BY RT VOS
No one should be afraid to live alone. Age, disability, and lack of resources often mean homeowners cannot properly maintain their homes in a safe condition. Rebuilding Together Valley of the Sun (RTVOS) works with low-income residents across the Valley to help them stay in their homes and live as independently as possible. A recent client in Phoenix described the impact after she participated in the Safe at Home program, which installs safety grab bars and other minor safety improvements. “Yesterday I was able to take my first shower without the fear of falling,” she said. “I can’t describe the joy I felt in knowing that I was safe and could now take a shower daily without having to require supervision. I felt very independent.” In addition to the Safe at Home program, this client also benefitted from the Arizona Ramp Project, which provides free, custom-built and installed ADA-compliant home access ramps for low-income seniors and veterans. “I no longer feel like a captive in my own home,” she exclaimed. Rebuilding Together Valley of the Sun is able to help clients this way because of dedicated sponsors and volunteers. Safe at Home installations are performed by a small group of volunteers BY BO LARSEN who generally give one morning a week to keep two homeowners safer and living independently. Corporate, church, and civic groups Do you know where your meals come from? frequently dedicate a portion of one day to installing a wheelchair At a restaurant, you assume your meal is readied ramp for a homeowner in the Valley, using the experience as a teamby a chef, or even a professional cook. Perhaps, building exercise or to meet public service commitments. you would believe your lunch at a staff meetThere are myriad ways companies, ing was assembled by a team of sandgroups, and individuals can help in wich makers from a café with some this vital work. The easiest is to become catchy name. Have you ever thought a sponsor – no matter the level of your meal could have be created by a giving, everything helps. A wheelchair group of people with special needs with installation – from design through oversight from a highly trained Chef? construction and installation – is Welcome to the culinary and catering only $1,000 and is a perfect activity programs and business at the Life Skill for groups. A set of grab bars for the Center for people with intellectual and bathroom is under $100. developmental disabilities of the Civitan Last year, RTVOS installed 345 Foundation in Phoenix. fall prevention modifications and built Each weekday, people with special 51 wheelchair ramps. Additionally, they needs work in Civitan’s commercial painted 74 homes, landscaped 20 yards, kitchen preparing meals for schools and businesses. From salads, sandwiches and renovated six non-profit facilities and wraps, steaks, barbeque, to pastas and deserts, and even special catered events, this completed three veteran multi-housing team of talented cooks can make it all. With oversight from our very own local Chef projects. Why don’t you become a part Philip Occhipinti. After many years working in corporate culinary programs, Occhiof the effort in 2018? pinti now spends his days teaching and training the team of coaches and members in For more information, call the all aspects of daily cooking, food safety, catering and food service. RTVOS office at (480) 774-0237 or Civitan provides vocational training and employment oppor- continued on page 3 visit the website, www.RTVOS.org.
ADULTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS KNOW HOW TO COOK