Volunteer News | May 28, 2021
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Dear CRC Volunteer,
May is one of the long months but it always seems to fly by. It is an ambitious month that encompasses many celebrations, activities and observances. The weather warms up, professional baseball, golf and basketball are all in full swing. “May the fourth be with you” and Cinco De Mayo, Mother’s Day and Memorial Day weekend all squeeze themselves into a mere 31 days. We plant flowers and fire up our grills and dust off our white shoes again (for those traditionalists out there!).
While May can handle its full plate, I think it is fitting that May is also Mental Health Awareness Month. The last 14 months have been hard for many of us and CRC volunteers have stepped up in big ways to support the growing needs of the community. It is important that as you continue to give your time and your hearts to others, that you also know when and how to care for your own health.
CRC held its first (and hopefully last) ever Virtual Volunteer Appreciation Event on May 13th and we highlighted some self-care tips from staff. I have included some of those tips in this newsletter. There are thousands of articles online by reputable counselors and individuals as well – if you have time: take a break, put your feet up, and consider some ways that you can take care of yourself!
Sara’s favorite self-care activities: time with loved ones, time completely alone (or with a book), naps and tacos.
Gratefully,
Sara Rosenbaum,
CRC Volunteer Manager
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Care for the Compassionate |
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Self-Care Tips from CRC Counselors
The CRC Counseling Department is grateful for the volunteers who give so selflessly to our mission on a regular basis. We recognize that it is easy to get worn down or experience compassion fatigue at times. Here are three pathways to consider this week to promote your self-care.
1) Set aside time to reflect, meditate, listen to music, engage in yoga or some sort of physical exercise. Focus effort on calming the mind and releasing tension in the body.
2) Set aside time to connect with supportive relationships. Focus effort on processing and releasing the emotional weight you are carrying in order to replenish your resilience. What is shareable, is bearable.
3) Set aside time to engage in spiritual or other practices. Focus effort on expanding your connection to the larger world, on activities that fill your soul and reinforce a sense of meaningful purpose.
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Self-Care Tip from Miranda Chavez, Director of Integrative Services
I asked Miranda what she likes to do for self-care and this is what she replied with:
My favorite self-care kind of thing is to go outside and hang out with the folks we serve. I like to sit on the curb and chat and if I’m lucky, it’s not about work-related stuff although that’s ok too but I love hearing about how they’re doing and how their kids and pets are and what's new with them. A lot of the folks have hobbies-crafts and art and reading. It’s self-care because its something that I enjoy AND helps to remind me why the work we do is important. Also, when clients pass away—we’ve had three in the last couple weeks who I knew well from doing the above mentioned—it gives me a way to describe them and who they were and have fond memories of them. I get to remember them as artists and parents and travelers and jokesters, etc., instead of “just” a client.
Miranda reminds us that an important combatant to burnout, is knowing our "why." At CRC, we do important work in the community—not only providing resources, but providing empathy and relationship and dignity.
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CRC's Virtual Volunteer Appreciation Event
If you'd like to see the partial recording of the event, email Sara Rosenbaum at srosenbaum@crcncc.org for the link. |
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Food Pantry volunteers with special "CRC Heart" cookies donated by a local business and the contents of the "goodie box" provided at the event! |
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Recipes from the CRC Food Pantry
Food Pantry volunteers receive and distribute an average of over 30,000 pounds of fresh food to our participants each month. They stock our shelves with donated goods and break down boxes. Volunteers ensure a clean, healthy, safe and compassionate experience for our participants. Yanira Frias, CRC's Food and Nutrition Manager, regularly stresses the Food and Nutrition Center's priority of providing healthy and fresh ingredients to those who access our pantry. Yanira shared a recipe with the volunteer program for a healthy snack that includes items that are regularly available in the Food Pantry. If you are looking for something simple, healthy and delicious, check out the recipe below!
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Congratulations to Michelle Russell and Carla Anderson!
Michelle Russell and Carla Anderson were the behind-the-scenes volunteer technical team for our recent CRC Tea fundraiser event. As members of the CRC Tea Committee, Michelle and Carla donated their Zoom expertise to help make sure the virtual event was a success. They held practice sessions with CRC staff, shared their Zoom knowledge and coordinated the technical details on event day. Thank you to Michelle and Carla for donating your skills to help raise funds for CRC!
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Truck Driver Assistant Needed on Thursdays
If you live locally, you may see the CRC truck driving around town Monday through Friday. It picks up donated produce and goods from local grocery stores and brings it back to our Food Pantry to deliver to those who utilize our services there. Our truck driver is in need of a volunteer assistant to ride with him on Thursdays to help load and unload those donations from 7:30 am to 11:30 am. The volunteer must be at least 18 and able to lift 25 pounds or more. If you are interested in this ongoing position, please contact Sara at srosenbaum@crcncc.org for more details. |
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Want to support our Resale Stores? Become a store volunteer!
We are always looking for committed, high-energy volunteers to receive donations, sort, clean and provide customer service when needed. Fill out an application here or contact Sara Rosenbaum for more information. You can also support the stores and our programs by shopping at one of our stores – giving back while also getting in some retail therapy! |
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Other Opportunities
We continue to have limited opportunities. However, all of our existing volunteers are hard at work keeping our programs going! Thank you! We will send out email notices as new opportunities come up.
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Domestic Violence Advocate Training
June 4, 11, 18 & 25, 2021
Learn from this CRC training and the experts presenting on the dynamics, danger and effects of intimate partner violence in our society and how to support and empower survivors in their healing. Learn more and register here
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If you know of anyone in need of food, housing or shelter, please pass along this link to information on how we can help: CRCNCC.ORG/COVID-19
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If you have a good story of volunteering, please share with me at srosenbaum@crcncc.org. I can include those stories in future newsletters as an encouragement to our team.
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Community Resource Center
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