On May 4th, 2024, AGRC Volunteers were treated to a dinner in recognition of their service to the community.
Photos by Theresa Escobar
Photos by Theresa Escobar
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Night Out at Arrowhead Gardens, August 2, 2022 Submitted August 16, 2022 by Sue Thatcher, Committee Chair Goal of the event was to have residents get to know each other and participate in the national event which is designed for neighbors to meet each other as well as local law enforcement. In order to facilitate that the committee designed the following: As residents arrived, they were greeted at a card table set up just outside the office and had a name tag prepared. The tags were the “Hello my Name Is” variety. I had handwritten “I love to:” towards the bottom and residents were asked their name and what do you love to do? The idea was that residents would see others with the same interest and begin a conversation about that. They were also given a 1/6 th piece of paper with 4 squares and a place for their name and apartment number. They were told that as they stopped at each station the paper would be stamped and when it was full, they would trade it in for their meal ticket. The paper was color coded by building, at 7:30PM there was a drawing from each building, the one with the most residents attending was for a $100.00 Fred Meyer gift card, second place building a $50.00 card and 3 rd place a $25.00 card. The next station was outside the women/s restroom, where they were given another “my name is:” sticker with a name already on it. Each name was one half of a famous pair—peanut butter and jelly, Romeo and Juliet, etc. They were told to find their “match” and present themselves to the AGRC president and Arrowhead Gardens property manager located in the Community room, to receive a prize. The prizes were purchased at the Dollar Tree and put into gift bags, also from the Dollar Tree. The meal tickets were also to be issued there. Next, they proceeded into the “living room” area, where table were staffed and set up with information on: Volunteering, AGRC and Clubs and Committees. Eachtab le had a sign over it to label it. As they proceeded, they were given a stamp on their card. They were then directed into the Craft Room where there was a presentation on the Gardens Gazette for their 4th stamp. Then they went into the Community room for socialization until the food trucks opened at 6PM. Food was paid for by SHAG, prizes and decorations by AGRC with a $500.00 budget. (About $300.00 was actually spent, to purchase 100 gifts at Dollar Tree, Fred Meyer gift cards and miscellaneous supplies. Police from our precinct were invited and two officers came, as well as another who is the son of a resident. At 7:30 PM Norm Bolden hosted music on the deck until 9PM. Download the complete document with recommendations HERE.
Sunday, July 21, 2019 4-6 PM - B Community Room AGRC gave recognition to 35 of 67 invited volunteer residents with a catered celebration. White table clothes, table decorations, cold beverages, and a buffet of delicatessen foods served by the caterer--his picture is in the slideshow. Nancy H, AGRC VP, was the organizer.
Benefits of volunteering: 4 ways to feel healthier and happier Borrowed from Help Guide International Benefit 1: Volunteering connects you to others
One of the more well-known benefits of volunteering is the impact on the community. Volunteering allows you to connect to your community and make it a better place. Even helping out with the smallest tasks can make a real difference to the lives of people, animals, and organizations in need. And volunteering is a two-way street: It can benefit you and your family as much as the cause you choose to help. Dedicating your time as a volunteer helps you make new friends, expand your network, and boost your social skills. Make new friends and contacts One of the best ways to make new friends and strengthen existing relationships is to commit to a shared activity together. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, especially if you are new to an area. It strengthens your ties to the community and broadens your support network, exposing you to people with common interests, neighborhood resources, and fun and fulfilling activities. Increase your social and relationship skills While some people are naturally outgoing, others are shy and have a hard time meeting new people. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice and develop your social skills, since you are meeting regularly with a group of people with common interests. Once you have momentum, it’s easier to branch out and make more friends and contacts. Benefit 2: Volunteering is good for your mind and body
Volunteering provides many benefits to both mental and physical health. Volunteering helps counteract the effects of stress, anger, and anxiety. The social contact aspect of helping and working with others can have a profound effect on your overall psychological well-being. Nothing relieves stress better than a meaningful connection to another person. Working with pets and other animals has also been shown to improve mood and reduce stress and anxiety. Volunteering combats depression. Volunteering keeps you in regular contact with others and helps you develop a solid support system, which in turn protects you against depression. Volunteering makes you happy. By measuring hormones and brain activity, researchers have discovered that being helpful to others delivers immense pleasure. Human beings are hard-wired to give to others. The more we give, the happier we feel. Volunteering increases self-confidence. You are doing good for others and the community, which provides a natural sense of accomplishment. Your role as a volunteer can also give you a sense of pride and identity. And the better you feel about yourself, the more likely you are to have a positive view of your life and future goals. Volunteering provides a sense of purpose. Older adults, especially those who have retired or lost a spouse, can find new meaning and direction in their lives by helping others. Whatever your age or life situation, volunteering can help take your mind off your own worries, keep you mentally stimulated, and add more zest to your life. Volunteering helps you stay physically healthy. Studies have found that those who volunteer have a lower mortality rate than those who do not. Older volunteers tend to walk more, find it easier to cope with everyday tasks, are less likely to develop high blood pressure, and have better thinking skills. Volunteering can also lessen symptoms of chronic pain and reduce the risk of heart disease. I have limited mobility—can I still volunteer? People with disabilities or chronic health conditions can still benefit greatly from volunteering. In fact, research has shown that adults with disabilities or health conditions ranging from hearing and vision loss to heart disease, diabetes or digestive disorders all show improvement after volunteering. Whether due to a disability, a lack of transportation, or time constraints, many people choose to volunteer their time via phone or computer. In today’s digital age, many organizations need help with writing, graphic design, email, and other web-based tasks. Some organizations may require you to attend an initial training session or periodical meetings while others can be conducted completely remotely. In any volunteer situation, make sure that you are getting enough social contact, and that the organization is available to support you should you have questions. Benefit 3: Volunteering can advance your skills
If you’re considering a new vocation, volunteering can help you get experience in your area of interest and meet people in the field. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice important skills, such as teamwork, communication, problem solving, project planning, task management, and organization. You might feel more comfortable stretching your wings once you’ve honed these skills in a volunteer position first. Teaching you valuable skills Just because volunteer work is unpaid does not mean the skills you learn are basic. Many volunteering opportunities provide extensive training. For example, you could become an experienced crisis counselor while volunteering for a women’s shelter or a knowledgeable art historian while donating your time as a museum docent. Volunteering can also help you build upon skills you already have and use them to benefit the greater community. For instance, if you hold a successful sales position, you can raise awareness for your favorite cause as a volunteer advocate, while further developing and improving your public speaking, communication, and marketing skills. Gaining vocation experience Volunteering offers you the chance to try out a new vocations without making a long-term commitment. It is also a great way to gain experience in a new field. In some fields, you can volunteer directly at an organization that does the kind of work you’re interested in. For example, if you’re interested in nursing, you could volunteer at a hospital or a nursing home. Your volunteer work might also expose you to professional organizations or internships that could benefit your vocation. Benefit 4: Volunteering brings fun and fulfillment
Volunteering is a fun and easy way to explore your interests and passions. Doing volunteer work you find meaningful and interesting can be a relaxing, energizing escape from your day-to-day routine of work, school, or family commitments. Volunteering also provides you with renewed creativity, motivation, and vision that can carry over into your personal and professional life. Many people volunteer in order to make time for hobbies outside of work as well. For instance, if you have a desk job and long to spend time outdoors, you might consider volunteering to help plant a community garden, walk dogs for an animal shelter, or help out at a children’s camp. Consider your goals and interests You will have a richer and more enjoyable volunteering experience if you first take some time to identify your goals and interests. Think about why you want to volunteer. What would you enjoy doing? The opportunities that match both your goals and your interests are most likely to be fun and fulfilling. AG resident Diane Radischat received a 1st Annual SHAG Community Builder Award on May 30, 2019 Diane had a celebration party for her award at Arrowhead Gardens Community Room on July 17, 2019 Jay Woolford, CEO, and Karen Lucas, COO (SHAG Community Life Foundation) spoke of Diane's contributions to the community.
Diane gave her appreciation for the award and she presented the food and beverage menu: Taco bar, rice & beans, agua fresca, sangria, and dessert. Recorded Wednesday 7-17-2019 at Arrowhead Gardens by John Walling 424D February 2019 Thursday February 21 - Resident Birthday Social  FEBRUARY BIRTHDAY SOCIAL. DAVE BELL, RUTH DEAN, LINDA PHILLIPS & GREG Wednesday February 20 - Dessert Auction Dessert Auction Raised $1109  Saturday February 16 - Valentine's Day Party  |
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