VNA Hospice’s Innovative Latino Mobile Resource Center Van to Visit Two Locations in South County in August, Plus Four Via Zoom Conferencing Sessions and Five at CHISPA Communities

The nonprofit VNA Hospice’s innovative Latino Mobile Resource Center van will be at two South County locations in August 2020 — once in Gonzales and twice in King City — as well as four times via Zoom conferencing and five at CHISPA housing communities.

King City, CA, July 30, 2020 - The nonprofit VNA Hospice’s innovative Latino Mobile Resource Center van will be at two South County locations in August 2020 — once in Gonzales and twice in King City — as well as four times via Zoom conferencing and five at CHISPA housing communities.

The van, which was launched in November 2019, continues its mission to deliver information and resources about end-of-life decisions and care to the local Spanish-speaking communities of Monterey County.

The van, funded in part by Hospice Giving Foundation, will be at the following physical locations:

>8-11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 2: Identifying needed resources for the community, King City Flea Market, 625 Division St., King City.

>10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 4: Identifying needed resources for the community, Vosti Recreation Center, 107 Centennial Dr., Gonzales.

>8-11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 9: Educating the Community on End of Life Planning, King City Flea Market, 625 Division St. King City.

The outreach with the CHISPA (Community Housing Improvement Systems and Planning Association, Inc.) communities, all on the topic of identifying needed resources for the community, are as follows:

>3-5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25, at Los Abuelitos Senior Housing, 528 East Market St., Salinas.

>12-3 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31, Canyon Creek Townhomes, 1834 Chablis Way, Gonzales.

>3- 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, Tyler Park Townhomes, 1120 Heidi Dr., Greenfield.

>4-6 p.m. Wednesday Aug. 26, Villa San Miguel, 1201 Amherst Dr. King City.

>12-2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10, Market Street Townhomes, 110 Market St., Soledad.

The four online Zoom conferencing sessions include:

>6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3: Virtual “Go Wish” Game with Mujeres en Acción (Greenfield group).

>12 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6: Virtual “Go Wish” Game with Mujeres en Acción (Soledad group)

>7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6: Virtual “Go Wish” Game with Mujeres en Acción (Castroville group)

>4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7: Virtual “Go Wish” Game with Mujeres en Acción (Salinas group)

For more information visit www.ccvna.com, or call (831) 372-6668.

About VNA & Hospice
Since 1951, the not-for-profit VNA has provided a wide range of home health care, serving Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz and South Santa Clara counties. VNA places an emphasis on individual patient needs and goals, providing care in an ethical, effective, compassionate and fiscally responsible manner.

VNA Community Services brings wellness to our community. Well known as the community immunizers; experienced, professional registered nurses provide on- site flu and vaccine services.

As the only travel health clinic, VNA provides comprehensive consultation and immunizations for international travelers. Health screenings and education are offered to corporate business, in the field or in the board room. Nurses provide services to local schools to meet state-mandated screenings, vaccines and staff education.

VNA provides intermittent care, covered primarily by insurance, through the expert skills of our trained and certified clinicians, to assist patients, families, and caregivers in the comfort and familiarity of their own homes. The home health division offers key specialty program, including cardiac, connections, diabetic, orthopedic, and palliative care. These individual programs have advanced practice clinicians and program expertise.

VNA Hospice is specialized type of care for those facing a life-limiting illness, their families and their caregiver. The care involves a team-oriented approach to expert medical care, pain management, and emotional and spiritual support expressly tailored to the patient’s needs and wishes. A key component to the team is VNA Volunteers who give their time to improve the lives of others. For the community, grief and loss support are offered to individuals or groups.

VNA & Hospice, Inc.
PO Box 2480
Monterey, CA 93942-2480

Phone:831-226-7666
Fax: 831-648-7726
Email: vnainfo@ccvna.com
https://ccvna.com/

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
https://ccvna.com/

VNA Hospice’s Innovative Latino Mobile Resource Center Van to Visit Three Locations in South County in July

The nonprofit VNA Hospice’s innovative Latino Mobile Resource Center van will be at three South County locations in July — one in Chualar and two in King City.

King City, CA, July 08, 2020 — The nonprofit VNA Hospice’s innovative Latino Mobile Resource Center van will be at three South County locations in July — one in Chualar and two in King City.

The van, which was launched in November 2019, continues its mission to deliver information and resources about end-of-life decisions and care to the local Spanish-speaking communities of Monterey County.

The van, which is a part of Hospice Giving Foundation’s Juntos con Esperanza partnership, will be at the following locations:

> 12-3 p.m. Thursday, July 9: 2020 Needs assessment survey distribution, Alma’s Bakery and Deli, 25482 Payson St., Chualar.

>8-10 a.m. Thursday, July 16: VNA bringing resources to the community of King City at St. John Catholic Church, 504 N. 3rd St., King City.

> 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, July 23: VNA bringing resources and needs assessment survey distribution, Leo Meyer Center, 415 Queen St., King City.

This program was funded (in part) by the Hospice Giving Foundation.

Since 1951, the nonprofit VNA Hospice has used an integrated, team-oriented approach to helping those facing a life-limiting illness, along with their families and caregivers.

For more information visit www.ccvna.com, or call (831) 372-6668.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.ccvna.com

VNA Hospice to Participate in Second Bloom Project, Repurposing Flower arrangements for Hospice patients

Due to busy schedules and time constraints, florists often rush from one project to the next, giving new meaning to the term “left on the cutting room floor.”

Salinas, CA, April 29, 2020 - However, while bits of edited film never make it to the big screen, unused flowers don’t need to be discarded. They can be beautifully and tenderly repurposed to brighten the day of someone in hospice care.

That’s the idea behind Second Bloom Project, a local nonprofit that brings together people — nurses, patients, design volunteers and community florists — through repurposed bedside arrangements.

Central Coast VNA & Hospice has announced its participation in the uplifting program, started by former professional florist Anne Bell.

“To be able to recycle this joy and beauty at no cost to our partners in hospice is an incredible feeling,” said Bell.

Bell worked previously in the event and floral design department at Pebble Beach Co., and couldn’t help noticing all the excess flowers thrown in the green bin.

“I felt that it was wasteful to throw away those flowers that could bring so much joy,” she said.

Bell once ran her own floral design business in Danville, but closed the business when she had triplets (who are now in college). Years later she stumbled upon a Roseville nonprofit called Petal Connection, and volunteered her services a few times a week to arrange flowers for hospice patients.

Four years ago, Bell and her husband moved from Roseville to La Selva Beach to build an empty nest after raising five children. She took the job at Pebble Beach Co., and loved the work, but always remembered the joy of volunteering at Petal Connection. So she quit and convinced Pebble Beach management to participate in her new nonprofit.

“From my past experience with the Petal Connection, I realized that this scenario presented an opportunity to bring an institution like Pebble Beach together with the community to spread joy,” she said.

VNA Hospice is proud to accept these floral gifts that they eventually deliver to patients all over the Central Coast. Because hospice care addresses the patient’s physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs, Second Bloom fits perfectly within VNA’s mission.

“I’ve witnessed firsthand the great appreciation of hospice patients and their families by this unexpected gift of flowers,” said Bell. “I love having the opportunity to work with flowers and give back to my community.”

For more information about the Second Bloom Project, visit www.secondbloomproject.com. For more about VNA Hospice, visit www.ccvna.com.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.secondbloomproject.com

VNA expands New Beginnings grief support groups to include virtual and telephonic access

Despite unprecedented circumstances surrounding a global pandemic, VNA remains committed to the needs of its community — including grief support through individual work or groups.

Salinas, CA, April 26, 2020 - During these trying weeks, VNA’s goal has been to maintain accessibility to every individual, which necessitated the addition of virtual and telephonic support meetings.

Facilitated by VNA hospice chaplain and grief counselor Mick Erickson, “New Beginnings” grief and loss support groups, along with individual work, are offered free as a community service.

Before the pandemic, Erickson provided emotional and spiritual support to patients and families of those at the end of life, facilitating six groups each week in Monterey, San Benito and Santa Clara counties.

“Now we are in the process of transforming how we provide those services,” Erickson said.

While following CDC and county health guidelines, VNA is still able to offer weekly face-to-face meetings. Now, through a service called Teams, Erickson can provide live, online counseling, utilizing audio and video.

It has proven to be a valuable tool for Erickson.

“I see people with an added layer of stress in their lives,” he said. “In addition to their personal life stress and their grief, there are added concerns about health and safety. This is resulting in high anxiety, fear, depression, discouragement and despair.”

Because shelter-in-place mandates have isolated so many, “the need to feel supported and loved is more important than ever before,” Erickson said. “People need to feel there is someone out there who acknowledges and values how they feel and what they are going through.”

For onsite meetings, VNA adheres to approved safety policies, with no more than eight attendees permitted, and everyone practicing social distancing guidelines. VNA asks the public to refrain from attending if:

You or a family member has a sore throat, cough and/or fever
You have had contact in the last 14 days with someone who is suspected (or confirmed) as having coronavirus.
You have had contact with someone who has travelled internationally in the last 14 days.
Those interested in virtual meetings should contact VNA with the group of their choice and provide an email address. They will receive an invitation to join the group at the appropriate time.

Weekly Meeting Schedule
Mondays, 4:30-6 p.m. — San Martin Presbyterian Church, 13200 Lincoln Ave., San Martin
Tuesdays, 12:30-2 p.m. — Mars Hill, 610 San Benito St., Hollister
Tuesdays, 3:30-5 p.m. — Microsoft Teams Virtual Meeting (via phone or video)
Wednesdays, 6:30-8 p.m. — Church of the Wayfarer, 7th and Lincoln, Carmel
Thursdays, 4:30-6 p.m. — Microsoft Teams Virtual Meeting (via phone or video)
Get connected and make a request at ccvna.com/supportgroups. Join virtually by emailing Ed Horsley at ehorsley@ccvna.com.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://ccvna.com

VNA Hospice among Health Agencies to Order Masks from Nonprofit Organized by Pacific Grove Teens

Given the nationwide shortage of personal protection equipment (or PPE), some health-related agencies have had to expand their search for items such as face masks.

Pacific Grove, CA, April 18, 2020 — Given the nationwide shortage of personal protection equipment (or PPE), some health-related agencies have had to expand their search for items such as face masks.

Central Coast VNA Hospice found some help from a Pacific Grove family who has launched an innovative nonprofit called Masks for Monterey County.

Toula Hubbard found a way to keep her kids active and connected through a Girl Scout service project. Her two teenagers created the nonprofit to connect mask makers with healthcare professionals, essential workers and those in need.

Toula, a life and wellness coach, lives in Pacific Grove with her husband Chris, her daughter Thalia, 16, and son Niko, 15.

“Gratitude and a sense of belonging are important to wellness,” she said. “So volunteering and gratitude are basic principles that clients learn to exercise and my children have been raised with.”

The registry at www.masksformontereycounty.org is two weeks old and already has more than 4,000 requests, with more and more seamstresses added each day.

Currently there is a worldwide shortage of protective face masks, which help slow the spread of the virus. VNA Hospice has ordered 300 masks from MFMC, and will be receiving them each week in batches of 30.

Most of the masks are typically made with 100 percent cotton fabric.

“Honestly it doesn’t matter what type of mask is made,” Toula said. “We just need the masks and we will match the mask type to the appropriate group.”

What they call AB masks have a spot for a filter, and are prioritized to health care workers. Some masks are simply cloth, great for those interacting with the public, such as grocery workers, postal workers and essential employees of all types.

“We have some people who have asked that masks be made to cover the N95 mask,” she said.

All masks are reusable, and each recipient is instructed to sterilize between each use.

When the pandemic ends, the family will collect any unused masks, sanitize them and repurpose them by donating to dialysis centers and other facilities that cater to the immune compromised.

A junior at Pacific Grove High School and a member of Girl Scout Troop 30626, Thalia had been keeping an eye out for potential Girl Scout Gold projects. She joined her brother, a freshman at PGHS and a member of Boy Scout Troop 43, in the endeavor.

“We have many friends who are health care workers, and essential employees, and the conversation started around how to get them resources to protect themselves and others if they are carriers without knowing,” Toula said.

She challenged her kids to take a look at the need and see what they could do to help. In the process, they learned new skills, among them creating a website and launching social media platforms. Each has worked to help draft marketing materials while problem solving the logistics of moving fabric donations and completed masks around the county.

So far, masks have been sent to healthcare workers, home-health workers, those passing out food to the needy, fire and police departments, essential county agency workers, grocery store and drug store workers, nonprofits and other agencies serving the community.

“Our intention is to also provide masks to the second wave of those in need including the vulnerable and elderly,” Toula said.

The family has friends who work and volunteer for VNA, a nonprofit close to their hearts.

“VNA provides so many services in the community, and you can see why their nurses and volunteers need the added protection,” she said.

All masks donated are free, but there are costs for materials and delivery, so the Hubbards have set up a donation portal on the website.

The lesson in this project is clear.

“Make a difference in the center of your circle, and the ripple effect will have others creating a similar circle with a similar ripple effect,” Toula said. “At the end of the day we are all in this together.”

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.masksformontereycounty.org