As you might have noticed, we’ve changed our name! But don’t worry, everything else has remained the same. Our mission and services will remain the same while our staff and board remain dedicated to keeping seniors in their homes, throughout the Brainerd Lakes area. Along with the name change, we’ve created a new logo and tagline as well:
Here’s the official news release, that gives more details about our name change:
September 28, 2018
Contact:
Ann Silgen, Executive Director
annsilgen@charter.net, 218-330-9610
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Lakes Area Interfaith Caregivers Changes Name to Interfaith Volunteers
BAXTER, MINN. — The charitable nonprofit organization, Lakes Area Interfaith Caregivers has changed their name to Interfaith Volunteers. The organization’s leadership initiated the change because they wanted a name that more accurately reflected the organization’s mission and services.
“We’ve had the same name since the organization was formed in 2001,” said Ann Silgen, the organization’s executive director. “We believed it was important to keep the word ‘interfaith’ in our name, since we have strong connections to the faith community. And the word ‘volunteers’, since they are the backbone of our organization.”
Regardless of the name change, their mission remains the same: “to help low-income seniors and persons with disabilities continue to live comfortable, safe, independent lives in their own home.”
Interfaith Volunteers fulfills this mission in a variety of ways but primarily by deploying volunteers to assist senior citizens with building wheelchair ramps and minor home modifications, providing rides for medical appointments and errands, and making companionship visits.
According to AARP, 87 percent of adults age 65+ want to stay in their current home and community as they age. Furthermore, more than 50 percent of nondrivers over age 65 do not leave home most days, partly because of lack of transportation options. (Source: AARP.org)
Based in Baxter, the organization helps to keep people in their homes, while helping to maintain a high quality of life. Interfaith Volunteers employs three people and works with nearly 350 volunteers each year. Last year alone, the organization’s volunteers provided 3,700 hours of service, assisting over 400 individuals throughout Crow Wing County.
The majority of their volunteers come from the local faith community and churches but anyone is welcome to become a volunteer. The services that these volunteers perform help to facilitate the safety, independence, and comfort of the recipient. Some of these services include:
• construction of wheelchair ramps, low-rise steps, or other handicapped access
• minor home repairs
• occasional housekeeping, meal preparation, lawn care, and snow removal
• rides to medical appointments, shopping and errands (with advance notice)
• home visits, either in person or by phone, as needed
• care and companionship to poor, disabled, or isolated elderly
Interfaith Volunteers is a 501(c)(3) organization and all contributions are tax deductible. Nearly 60 percent of the organization’s funding comes from contributions made by area businesses and individuals. For more information about the organization, or to learn more about volunteering or donating, contact Ann Silgen, Executive Director at annsilgen@charter.net, 218-820-7454 or visit their website at www.interfaithvolunteers.org.
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