Donations
June 15, 2009
Faith in Action Volunteers is a charitable organization
operated by and for the people of Fremont County
In 2003 with a Robt. Wood Johnson Foundation grant, direction from the
sponsoring Presbyterian Outreach, and with a VISTA volunteer project
manager we surveyed Fremont County communities and began two programs:
transportation and health equipment loan. When our grant ended in
November, 2005, our programs were sustainable with community support.
In June 2006, we incorporated independently as an Iowa not for profit organization and
were awarded our IRS tax-exempt status and 501c3 public charity designation. Faith in
Action Volunteers is well into our seventh year of service to residents of southwest Iowa.
These early years have presented many opportunities to refine and expand our programs,
as well as many challenges to keep all running smoothly. We have a solid base and will
continue to grow as needed.
 Our mission is to assist our elderly, disabled, and disadvantaged neighbors lead
independent lives with dignity. We provide volunteer opportunities for all ages to help
with transportation needs, and to collect, inventory and deliver medical equipment for
those recuperating at home. Our office and equipment storage closet are centrally located
in Sidney, with volunteers from every town in Fremont County.
A neighbor’s independence depends on you…
Individually our Directors and Volunteers are active in their communities; all are supporting members of their churches or civic organizations. Our business
memberships are current for the Fremont County Chamber of Commerce and the Fremont County Economic Development group. SharonYahnke, Program Director, and
Rev. Tom Clark, Advisory Council President, serve on the Waubonsie Mental Health
Corporation Board of Directors. Michael Ross, Advisory Council officer is President of
the Fremont County Chamber of Commerce. Norma Schaaf, Advisory Council
member and past officer of Sidney American Legion Auxiliary Post 128, worked with
Faith in Action to combine their medical equipment inventory with ours and is active in
the H.E.L.P. loan program. Mary Schaffner is a member of the George C. Grape Hospital Board.
We keep up our membership in the National Faith in Action Network for the benefits
of belonging to a group of 300+ individual but similar programs around the country.
Faith in Action Contracts with SWITA for Vehicles
Last year, soaring gas prices along with increased requests for
rides strained our transportation budget. We drove 30,000 miles in 2008, and see an
increase in ride requests for 2009. Though our drivers are volunteers, they’re reimbursed
for mileage if they use their own vehicles and for other expenses including meals.
Essential costs to operate the transportation service include a supplemental insurance
policy to cover all volunteers plus a separate Staff and Directors liability insurance
policy. Southwest Iowa Transit provides insured, maintained vehicles;  Faith in Action recruits drivers and submits monthly mileage/trip logs.
Drivers of these vehicles are background checked and fully insured by SWITA. Our
professional, caring volunteers and staff drive over 100 rides monthly for our neighbors.
We ask a reasonable fee for services, but we do not refuse rides for inability to pay.
If you’d like to join us as a transportation project volunteer,
you’d be welcome. We will match you with a job that suits your skills and available time.
We need more Volunteer Drivers, especially from the Hamburg and Tabor areas, as well
as one or two office volunteers to help dispatch rides and track data for important record keeping. Click on the Volunteers page for an
application, or stop in our Sidney office.
…we HELP with our Health Equipment Loan Program
 Medicare no longer covers the cost of bathing or toileting devices though bath benches
and commodes can retail from $50 to $100 each. Those who require short term use of
assistive devices while they recuperate at home or in a care center after surgery are glad
to be able to borrow these items from the Faith in Action/Sidney Legion Auxiliary
H.E.L.P. closet. Together we maintain a supply of refurbished wheelchairs and walkers,
clean bathing and toileting devices, power chairs and electric hospital beds.
Though we loan items for temporary use we encourage a donation upon return. Click on
the H.E.L.P. page to see our check out form and suggested donation list.
Volunteers are needed now to inventory our growing collection of
medical equipment and tag each item. We have a separate computer dedicated to the
HELP project and want to get the inventory on spreadsheets and post it on our website.
Cleaning and maintenance of items before they’re loaned out is an ongoing job as is
pickup and delivery of items with our vehicle or yours.
The H.E.L.P. project is our most collaborative effort. Managed by
representatives from Faith in Action and the Sidney Legion Auxiliary, individuals
and care centers are our biggest donors of medical equipment. Last summer a Bible
School class volunteered to clean equipment and design a flyer. Court ordered
community service young people installed shelving and painted our storage building.
Sometimes we must purchase repair parts or need to buy another wheelchair or bath
bench. Kohll’s Medical Equipment in Omaha sells us lightly used wheelchairs and
other items at affordable prices. Penn Drug, Gearge C. Grape Hospital, Home Health and others
give referrals. A suggested donation list by item is provided to borrowers who give what
they can upon return of the equipment.
Call to learn more about our volunteer intake policies or examine the VOLUNTEERS page.
Bequests or contributions to our local
501(c)3 organization are tax-deductible.
It’s safe and easy to donate:
Or donate by mail:
Faith in Action Volunteers, Inc.
P.O. Box 604
Sidney, IA 51652
We will return a receipt for your records.
Studies show that volunteering improves health and quality of
life and it feels good, too! We plan to continue what we’ve started
and grow to include more volunteers and neighbors. Our expenses
are as low as they can be with fuel and insurance the highest.
Everyone involved is a volunteer and we pay no employee salaries
or payroll expenses. Expense receipts are reimbursed so anyone
with some free time can afford to volunteer. Any income, by fee or
donation, is used locally for direct services.
We all thank you for your consideration. If we can assist you or if we
can be of service to someone you know, please email, call or speak to one
of us in your community.
Very truly yours,
Sharon Yahnke Program Director
With the Faith in Action Advisory Council:
Rev. Tom Clark, Tabor & Randolph
Gordon Green, WHMC, Clarinda
Mary Schaffner, South Hamburg
Norma Schaaf, Sidney
Jeff Beckner, SWITA, Atlantic
Lonnie Koch, Farragut
Michael Ross, Sidney
|
