Staff Program Coordinator

Ann LeBrun

Executive Director

Michelle Baumhoefner

Advisory Board LaMae Dahms

Carol Dittbenner Clara Friese

Sandy Gustad Norma Hagert Lucille Lienig Carolyn Steffl

Joint Powers Board Dave Forkrud

Redwood County Newsletter

250 South Jefferson Street PO Box 130

Redwood Falls MN 56283 Tel: 507-627-1016

E-mail: ace.redwood@ co.redwood.mn.us

Creating strong, involved communities focusing on volunteerism and active living programs for adults 55 & above, and care partners of all ages.

FEBRUARY 2020

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GOAL for 2020 Please help me reach my goal for 2020. I would like to sign up 100 new volunteers this year! We have many people who volunteer but they are not registered with A.C.E. ALL VOLUNTEER HOURS MATTER! Whether it is 1 hour or 5 per month! So, if you know of someone—friends-family-neighbors—that volunteers but is not registered please encourage them to do so. It takes less than five minutes to fill out the application and a few minutes a month to report your hours. All of our volunteer information is confidential, PLUS you will be invited to our Annual Volunteer Appreciation Event.

Please help me reach my goal for 2020!

Reporting Volunteer Hours for 2019 Many times when I visit with volunteers, they tell me that they have

volunteered throughout the year but haven’t yet reported their hours or

have not signed up as a volunteer with A.C.E. of SW MN. Some feel it is just

not important. It’s not too late and is important to our program. You ask

why? Tracking volunteer hours is a valuable tool in highlighting how

volunteers impact a community. Your volunteer hours (NOT YOUR

PERSONAL INFORMATION) are reported to the federal, state, and county

officials who provide funding for our program. These hours along with

stories about what volunteers are doing provide a “snapshot” of the

volunteer work that is happening in Redwood County.

It also indicates that you are volunteering and that you will receive an

invitation to our annual Volunteer Appreciation Event held in the spring.

Wondering if you reported your volunteer hours? Give us a call. We keep

track of your hours by your name & month and also the station you

volunteer at. Call us at 627-1016, send us an e-mail at:

ace.redwood@co.redwood.mn.us or send your hours in the mail to

A.C.E. of SW MN, 250 S Jefferson, PO Box 130, Redwood Falls, MN 56283

All your information is confidential. It is not shared with anyone.

While it is February one can taste the full joys of anticipation. Spring stands at the gate with her finger on the latch.

Patience Strong

Your local VOICE for Aging & Volunteer Services

20 40 80 60 100

Looking for a volunteer Station Supervisor (Blood Program Leader) for Vesta Bloodmobile. Responsibilities include (will work with Account Manager):

Confirm date/time/location of blood drive

Create ideas to get donors in the door

Call repeat donors to sign up for the blood drive

Have volunteers at the blood drive to greet donors and serve snacks

The next bloodmobile in Vesta will be May 14th.

For more information, call Ann LeBrun at A.C.E. of SW Minnesota – Redwood County at 507-627-1016.

Presenter: Jason Cotner, Police Chief - City of Redwood Falls

Learn about senior legal rights, basic law enforcement 101, scams and reducing telemarketing. CLASSES ARE FREE. For more information contact Wendy Dahl, Redwood Area Hospital at 637-4527 or Ann LeBrun at 627-1016.

Law Enforcement and Safety for Seniors Wednesday, February, 12th 2020 - 9:30 a.m. Redwood Area Community Center

In Search of Volunteers To spend time with the animals at the shelter. Playing with them, loving them, walking the dogs…whatever you feel you can do to help make the animal happier!

REWARD Knowing you made the animals lives happier and let them know there are people out there that care! Shelter Hours: Monday – Friday 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm Saturday – 10 am - noon

Our Free Tax Clinic for Low Income Tax Payers is growing and needs dedicated volunteers during the 2020 tax season.

Volunteers Needed – Redwood Falls Home Delivered Meals

The Redwood Falls Home Delivered Meals (Senior Center at the RACC) needs volunteers for February. Volunteer time is one hour/per day.

For more information or to volunteer call Patsy Evers at 507-644-6464.

When: Monday evenings and possibly an occasional Saturday from approximately February 1 to April 15. Who: GREETERS to help clients fill out paperwork and keep the clinic moving efficiently. TAX PREPARERS to prepare basic tax returns. All you need is a desire to learn and willingness to help people! Anyone, including students, can volunteer and prepare taxes! We provide all your training, and tax returns are entered into an easy to use software system. A few hours of someone’s time can, literally, put thousands of dollars back into the low income households that need it most. Last tax season, $217,827 was refunded to Redwood Falls clients. 178 federal returns were completed, mostly for people age 60 or older. If you are interested in volunteering or have questions, please contact Lori O’Leary at 507-637-2187 #2158.

Meals on Wheels Senior Center Needs help to deliver meals in February.

If you would like more information about volunteering or participating at any of the above stations please contact Ann LeBrun at 627-1016.

Upcoming Bloodmobiles Milroy: March 26th Sanborn: March 31st

Cybercrime

Thank you to Pam Rosenau – Marketing/Communication Liaison – MVTV Wireless Internet for her presentation at the January Healthy Living Series. If you were not able to attend this session below are a few take home points:

Change Password(s) Often. 12 characters is recommended. Change every 3-6 months Websites you are visiting should start with https, the s at the end stands for security Keep your files backed up in the “cloud” or on an external hard drive that should be

disconnected from computer after backing up files

REMEMBER I stop before I download I think before I click My password contains, LETTERS (UPPER & lower case), NUMBERS AND SYMBOLS

Looking for durable fabric for clothes protectors. If you have any fabric you can donate please contact Ann LeBrun at 507-627-1016.