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March 30, 2020 By Hastings, Debbie Leave a Comment

Ways to Help during the Covid-19 Pandemic

by Therese Hartwell

Over the last few weeks the world has turned upside down. Covid-19 has impacted all of our lives but has also reminded us how interconnected we are. Many of us are accustomed to responding to a crisis by going “out there” to help, but now we are advised that the best way to help is by staying in. Yet, at this difficult time we must support each other. Below are some ideas for ways to contribute in this new reality. All recommendations are subject to restrictions in effect in your area and your own safety concerns. Please stay safe.

If you are not in or living with someone in a high risk category, consider doing the following, but be sure to follow AARP’s tips for safe delivery:

  1. Volunteer with a food distribution program in your community.
  2. Offer to help an elderly or at-risk neighbor or family member.
  3. Check with your local assisted living/elderly home to see if you could provide adult coloring books, word puzzles and other activities for shut-ins.
  4. Check to see if your local animal shelter needs emergency foster homes for the animals in their care.
  5. Donate blood, but make an appointment first, as they are staging contributors to comply with social distancing.

If you are self-isolating, you can still take many actions from home to help with the pandemic:

  1. Donate to a cause that assists those most impacted, e.g. your local food bank.
  2. If you can, consider paying your hair stylist, barber, nail technician, housekeeper, etc. as if they were providing you services even if you are foregoing them for now. Tape an envelope with a small amount of cash to your trashcan with “thanks” written on it for your trash collector.
  3. Use platforms like Skype, Zoom, Google Hangouts or FaceTime to read to children giving their parents some relief, visit with people shut into their homes and stay connected with friends.
  4. Reach out by phone, text, email, Skype, FaceTime, or letter to community members you may not usually visit in this way.
  5. Find ways to support those on the front lines of the crisis, such as medical professionals, first responders and grocery store workers.
  6. Check with your local Homeland Security and Emergency Management and Public Health offices to determine their needs for donated supplies. (Examples and ideas.)
  7. Make masks for vulnerable individuals and healthcare workers. Check out clinically requested specs. Join Covid Mask Makers Group.
  8. Suggest that people in your community put stuffed bears in their windows, so kids can walk or drive around the neighborhood and "go on a bear hunt".
  9. If you know someone who is looking for work, share an article from the Krazy Coupon Lady on companies that are hiring.

Mutual aid organizations have popped up all over to help people at higher risk of COVID-19 and workers who have been laid off due to the pandemic. Find or register such groups through AARP’s Community Connections searchable directory. Or do a search for “mutual aid” in your city or county.

If you are stuck at home with extra time on your hands, it’s an excellent time for some virtual volunteering. Consider these ideas:

Book Share--scan or edit scanned books for people with reading disabilities.

Translators Without Borders--if you are fluent in at least one language other than your native tongue, volunteer to translate texts into different languages for NGOs and nonprofits.

Amnesty International--if you are interested in global human rights, you can use your computer or phone to review pictures, information and documents for human rights violations.

More Love Letters--write letters to pre-selected people in need.

Zooniverse--People of all ages and backgrounds can participate in real scientific research through over 50 online activities.

Carry the Future--Make blankest, hats, sweaters or dolls for refugee children through Me2You program.

You can find other ideas for virtual volunteering in this article and on the Points of Light website.

And remember we are all feeling a great deal of stress right now. Don’t underestimate the value of small random acts of kindness. Find inspiration here.

January 13, 2020 By Hastings, Debbie Leave a Comment

2019 Getaway and Annual Meeting Recap

The 2019 Getaway and Annual Meeting held in Detroit was a great event in the Motor City and home of Motown. Rick Chizmadia really showed us how his hometown is truly experiencing a rebirth and renaissance. From the welcome cocktail for Board members generously hosted by Carol-Lyn and Steve McElvey in their gorgeous home; to the evening dinner cruise on the Detroit River aboard the Diamond Jack; a guided tour of Pewabic Pottery, the historic ceramic studio and school; tours of Motown and the Detroit Museum of Art, and a FAUSA in Motion walk along the RiverWalk..... I was happily exhausted after the weekend! Our accommodations and the Gala Dinner and Auctions at the historic Westin Book Cadillac hotel downtown, were exceptional.

My special thanks go to the following members without whom the Gala FUNDraising night would not have been a success!

  • Carol-Lyn McElvey, Detroit FAUSA member, for serving as our lively auctioneer and coaxing the small crowd into raising a respectable amount for the Live Auction. 
  • Phoebe Mallard, Brenda Brinkley, Aurora Silvestri: their collective energy toward promoting Quilt Drawing tickets, Fill ‘em Up Envelopes and modeling the designer handbags got everyone to participate in the FUNdraising!
  • A huge thank you to Jane Indreland, Peggy Dauser, Suzanne Wheeler, KathyDeBest and Carol-Lyn for helping with registration and receiving items for the auctions.
  • A VERY special thanks to our Getaway organizer AND surprise entertainment provided by Rick Chizmadia who is an amazing singer and performer, and organizer. And to ALL attendees who DONATED items and BID on them as well!
  • And last but not least, a well-deserved SHOUT OUT to Kathy Coughlan, our FAUSA Treasurer, who worked behind the scenes with me for months and also for the hours she put in during the weekend. The tallying of the bid results, payments and record-keeping are daunting tasks which may go unnoticed but NOT unappreciated!

I’m looking forward to Cape Cod in 2020!!!!

November 1, 2018 By Hastings, Debbie Leave a Comment

2018 Annual Meeting and Getaway Gala Fundraising Recap

Posted by Marilee Watts, Director of Philanthropy

The 2018 Getaway and Annual Meeting was surely a ‘Weekend to remember with friends I can’t forget!’ The DC Planning Committee really deserves all the kudos, the SHOUT OUTS, and FAUSA’s eternal gratitude for their excellent attention to every detail of the weekend. 

My special thanks go to the following members without whom the Gala FUNDraising night would not have been a success!

  • Suzanne Wheeler, FAWCO Foundation President and FAUSA member, for serving as auctioneer and coaxing the crowd into raising a record amount for the Live Auction. In addition to the five Getaways and the Hope Wall Hanging on offer, two last minute donations pushed our total to record-breaking heights!
  • Sue Haycock, Vivi Katsiouleris, Phoebe Mallard, Leslie Nelson and Tessa Wheeler whose energy toward promoting Quilt Drawing ticket purchase and Fill ‘em Up Envelopes also set an income record. 
  • A huge thank you to Jane Indreland, Sue Haycock and Phoebe Mallard for helping receive items for the auctions during registration, and also their creative assembly of the baskets. Thanks to each of you who contributed an item to the five baskets.
  • A VERY special thanks to ALL attendees who DONATED items and BID on them as well!
  • And last but not least, a well-deserved SHOUT OUT to Kathy Coughlan, our FAUSA Treasurer, who worked behind the scenes with me for months and also for the hours she put in during the weekend. The tallying of the bid results, payments and record-keeping are daunting tasks which may go unnoticed but NOT unappreciated!
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Virtual Getaway & Auction A Huge Success!

The results are in and the 2020 version of the Getaway and Annual Meeting established a new trend in … [continue]

Why Join FAUSA?

People living outside their home country see the world through different eyes.

Your experiences are different, your friends more diverse, your families are likely to speak another language and you are familiar with other cultures. Your perspective has changed and so have you. Back in North America you often feel like a stranger.

FAUSA offers its members:
  •  Global perspective
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  • Understanding forums for repatriation issues
  • Opportunities to rediscover North America
  • Social and philanthropic events

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