South Whidbey Youth Connection and Community Challenge

Sep 202010
 
 September 20, 2010  Posted by Kathy McLaughlin 2 Responses »

The South Whidbey Youth Connection is a part of the HELP Network of South Whidbey Island and an integral part of the community.  We’ve written about the HELP Network in the past and there are a still a few more organizations that need to be highlighted.

You can click on the above logo to read all the posts associated with the HELP Network.

Providing a gathering place for our youth is extremely important and we do it well on South Whidbey Island. Having the South Whidbey Commons and the Youth Connection is  a blessing.

The South Whidbey Youth Connection is all about having fun and helping our children grow. It  is an organization that fosters healthy youth development by offering a drug and violence free opportunities for area teens in a safe and nurturing environment.

The South Whidbey Youth Connection was created in 1989 by a coalition of caring Islanders representing public schools, congregations and a circle of community leaders. What sprouted as a small after-school center has grown into The Hub, a drop-in center for middle and high school students, where healthy interaction, fun and food are shared five days a week.

The Hub  re-opened on the first day of school, September 7th, in their usual location at the Langley United Methodist Church.

Local philanthropist Nancy Nordoff is issuing a challenge to the community. Nancy will match up to $5,000 in donations received through the middle of  October that will directly support The Hub’s operations. If you usually wait until the holidays to make your annual donation, please consider doing it now so Nancy can match it. You can click here to find out how you can support the Youth Connection.

The South Whidbey Youth Connection provides a number of activities for the young people of our community.

Swimming with friends.

Spending time with our larger four-legged friends:)

Surfs up!

You should also know that the D.V. and Ida McEachern Charitable Trust have been lending a big helping hand at the Hub.  After more than two decades of use, many of their games and appliances were wearing out and needed to be replaced.  Thanks to their support they are getting new dishwashers and toasters for the kitchen, new foosball, air hockey and ping pong tables, new instruments for music lessons and jam sessions, and several new Wii and Xbox games.

Need some help around your home or business?

The Teen Employment Experience Network continues to grow. This summer was a big success!  During the past 2½ months (May 15 to July 31) they’ve employed 13 youth in South Whidbey for a total of 170 hours. 15 employers have utilized their services;  the majority being “at home‟ employment, such as mowing lawns, weeding, moving furniture and the like.

Quite a bit going on at the South Whidbey Youth Connection!

Good Cheer!

Friends of Friends Medical Support Fund

Apr 282010
 
 April 28, 2010  Posted by Kathy McLaughlin No Responses »

Friends of Friends Medical Support Fund is charitable organization committed to helping the residents of South Whidbey with uncovered medical expenses.

As many of you know, we live in a special community.  One that truly cares about helping those in need. It’s all about people helping people!

In 2009 Friends of Friends helped 235 South Whidbey residents with a total of $81,446 in medical bills.  Since 1997 Friends of Friends has been a conduit for donations from the community, paying over $600,000 in medical and dental expenses.  In the beginning, their founder, Lynn Willeford, took calls from her home. They now employ a part-time paid service coordinator to authorize services. In their years of existence; Friends of Friends have been a temporary safety net, helping hundreds of individuals.

Friends of Friends is part of the HELP Network that is focused on improving the quality of life for those who live in our community.

Friends of Friends has to set dollar limits on how much they can help any one individual over the course of a year in order to meet the needs of as many people as possible. They cannot reimburse individuals for bills already paid nor make any direct payments to individuals. They pay only providers of medical services such as health professionals, hospitals, labs, or pharmacies, and to the ferry system for medically necessary travel.

Friends of Friends helps with dental needs only in situations with medical implications, and covers only those complementary or alternative medical therapies with a proven record of efficacy when used for a specific medical condition.

You should know that Friends of Friends volunteers are not caseworkers, they can not give medical advice, nor can they make medical referrals.

They can help you with prescriptions and over-the-counter medications, visits to health professionals, medical equipment or supplies, hospital and lab fees or transportation to treatment on the mainland.

Examples of ways Friends of Friends have helped:

* Prescription medication for a senior citizen diagnosed with diabetes
* Co-pay on doctor visits for a child with multiple disabilities
* Mammogram and ultrasound tests for a single working mom unable to afford health insurance
* Ferry tickets and gas vouchers for someone needing on-going treatment several days a week at a mainland hospital
* Acupuncture treatment for a woman with chronic pain
* Rental of a knee scooter

The success of any charitable organization is predicated on the thoughtful donations made by it’s supporters. It is about having compassion for others.  Those who take action by showing this compassion set in place an inspiration for others to follow; from a few come many!

Donations and Support can also be event driven. Friends of Friends has an annual event that we all know as the  Mr. South Whidbey Island Pageant. Here a handful of South Whidbey’s finest compete for the title during an evening filled with humor and shenanigans.


The contestants and crowd alike gather each year to support this local event, which provides crucial resources for the Friends of Friends Medical Support Fund.

Looks like great fun and for a great cause!  Once again the event will be held at Freeland Hall on October 2nd; so mark your calendars!

Next Event

You won’t want to miss the Annual Mother’s Day Plant Sale. This is a special event with individuals donating plants right from their own gardens. You can expect to find many unique and unusual items for sale! What a great way to freshen your gardens and support Friends of Friends at the same time.

Maxwelton Valley Gardens is also donating some shade loving plants; many thanks to them.

Annual Mother’s Day Plant Sale
South Whidbey Tilth, Bayview
The Saturday before Mother’s Day
May 8, 10-2 pm.

If you would like to make a donation here is a link .

Friends of Friends supports those in need on South Whidbey with the following Zip Codes: 98236, 98260, 98249, and 98253.

If you live in the Coupeville area, a similar grassroots organization was formed in 2006 to serve people in your area. Please contact Small Miracles , PO Box 912, Coupeville, WA 98239. (360) 672-5651.

If you need help with medical expenses in the South Whidbey area:

You can call their message line at (360) 221-4535

Send an e-mail  to info@fofmedicalsupportfund.org

Write them at:

Friends of Friends Medical Support Fund
PO Box 812
Langley, WA 98260

However you contact Friends of Friends, please provide your name and address, and a phone number where they can reach you. You should hear from them within 24 hours.

People Helping People doesn’t get any better!

Good Cheer!