Archives

Do yourself some good — and have fun — while doing good for Erie. The 2013 Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community Erie will take place Saturday, June 8, at Presque Isle State Park. This year’s Walk benefits 25 local health and human service organizations, including the Erie County Diabetes Association, YMCA of Greater Erie, Therapy Dogs United and the Mental Health Association of NW Pennsylvania, among others. Walk participants can choose which organization they want their donations to go to. For the complete list of participating organizations, or to register for the walk, go to www.HighmarkHealthyWalk.org.

On-site registration and check-in will begin at 7:45 a.m. on June 8, and the walk, which is 5K (3.1 miles), will start at 9 a.m. There’s also a 1-mile fun walk, which starts at 9:15 a.m. The walk will be held rain or shine. Strollers and wheelchairs are permitted.

After the walk, participants can enjoy food, beverages, music, activities and prize drawings. For every $50 a walker donates or raises in support of a participating organization, they will receive one raffle ticket. Prizes worth a total of more than $1,000 will be raffled off.

Walkers who donate or raise $25 or more will receive a Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community T-shirt (while supplies last).

Parking is available at Beach 1, but get there early because it fills up fast.

Want thank the men and women who gave the ultimate service to our country? The Erie VA Medical Center is looking for volunteers.

Volunteers are needed for a variety of roles, from working in the cafeteria to assisting veterans in using hospital technology.

Here are some options:

-Transport patients throughout the medical center.  Volunteers are needed Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

-Wash dishes, clean tables, and stock the dining room.

-Assist veterans navigate through the My HealtheVet website and educate them on what is offered on the website.  Volunteers will be trained by the My HealtheVet contact person at the Erie VA Medical Center.  Flexible days are available, and the hours needed are during the workday (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).

-Transport patients and residents from to the Chapel located on the 2nd floor on Saturdays at 6:45 p.m. to attend Catholic Mass beginning at 7:00 p.m.

-Move files and perform clerical duties for the Radiology staff. Volunteers are needed Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and must be able to push a minimum of 50 pounds at least 200 yards at a time. Related safety training will be provided by Radiology staff.

-Keep an eye on restless or high fall risk patients. Volunteers are needed Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. in all areas of the inpatient setting.  Training will be provided.

-Assist patients with the GetWellNetwork televisions so that they can watch TV, movies and educational videos as well as gain access to the internet. Volunteers are needed Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. until noon in Oncology (Red Team) on the first floor.  Volunteers will be trained by Mike Baker, IPC Manager, located on the 2nd floor at the Erie VA Medical Center. He can be reached at 814-449-3669.

To get involved, contact the Voluntary Service Office at 814-860-2453 or 814-860-2454.

Image courtesy of the Erie VA Medical Center

Lace up those walking shoes. The bi-annual Dave Cooney Parkinson Awareness Walk takes off at 10 a.m. on Saturday at Presque Isle State Park.

Proceeds from the walk go to the Parkinson Foundation of Western Pennsylvania. The money will be used to fund services, support, and education for those afflicted with Parkinson’s disease and their families and support medical research to discover the cause and cure.

An estimated 8,000 to 10,000 people in western Pennsylvania suffer from Parkinson disease. That number soars to 1.5 million in North America and 6 million worldwide.

The Dave Cooney Parkinson Awareness Walk has raised $15,500 for Parkinson research since 2008.

This year’s 3-mile walk starts and ends at the Rotary Pavilion. The event will go off rain or shine.

Day of registration is $20. Fill out this registration form beforehand.

To donate, visit this website.

Dunn Tire retail locations across New York and northwestern Pennsylvania are fundraising for pediatric care.

From May 1 to 31, Dunn Tire customers will be asked to donate $1 and add a personalized balloon to an in-store display.

The proceeds will be donated to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. These hospitals provide care for sick children without regard to insurance coverage. In Erie, the participating hospital is the  St. Vincent Health Center.

“Each and every donation counts” said Chuck Haring, director of  marketing and advertising for Dunn Tire, in a news release. “One visit to these hospitals makes you understand the enormity of their importance. This is a great organization, and people who donate should take comfort in knowing that all of the money raised goes directly towards helping children in their local community.”

To donate, visit local Dunn Tire stores at 2202 Broad St., 4222 Peach St. or 2419 W. 12th St.

Happy early Valentine’s Day!

In honor of the holiday of love, today’s Volunteer Round-up features opportunities with a heart (or actually, that involve the heart). We’re highlighting volunteer openings at local hospitals and medical facilities.

Saint Vincent Health Center

Volunteerism has been a part of the Saint Vincent Health Center since its founding 130 years ago. Today, volunteers serve as part of the Saint Vincent Auxiliary.

Volunteers are needed throughout the hospital from the medical wings to the administrative offices. The Saint Vincent Auxiliary is also looking for help in the planning of its yearly events.

As an added perk, volunteers receive free parking and discounts at Cafe Roses, the gift shop and the fitness center.

For more information and an application, visit Saint Vincent Health Center’s website.

UPMC Hamot

The UPMC Hamot Aid Society was founded in 1906 and currently has 250 volunteers giving more than 13,000 hours of their time to the hospital each year.

Aid Society members volunteer in the hospital, through fundraising efforts or by running community health education programs.

Member of the aid society pay dues on a yearly basis.

To learn more, contact Pam Haley at 814-877-3650 or e-mail her at Pamela.Haley@hamot.org.

Barber National Institute

The Barber National Institute offers volunteer opportunities designed to help patients with developmental disabilities.

Students in need of community service hours are also encouraged to volunteer.

For an application, click here.

–

Please email all volunteer opportunity submissions to catherine.cloutier@timesnews.com.

 Graphic courtesy of Wikicommons