Benevilla

Fundraising Campaign

As physical and mental capabilities decline and support systems change, older adults and/or adults with disabilities are encumbered by challenges that often lead to a loss of independence. Benevilla's Volunteer Home Services program strives to promote the well-being of older adults and individuals with disabilities or medical conditions, while helping them to lead dignified, independent lives at home. Through this free program, caring volunteers provide assistance with certain activities such as grocery shopping, assisted transportation to medical appointments, and friendly visitors/phone pals on an ongoing or as needed basis. These basic services meet critical needs for our members and also give valuable support to caregivers who would otherwise need to provide this assistance to their loved ones.

Specific services offered (as possibile) include :

1) ASSISTED TRANSPORTATION: Our volunteers provide door-through-door transportation services, not only ensuring that our members get to all of their medical appointments safely, but also waiting with them for their appointments, picking up a prescription if needed, and then driving them home.

2) GROCERY SHOPPING: Many older adults are unable to drive to the grocery store to buy food, so our volunteers will do their shopping for them to ensure they have the food they need to remain healthy. Feeding America reports that food-insecure adults have an increased risk of developing diabetes, and food insecurity is associated with a range of chronic illnesses such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and various cardiovascular risk factors.

3) MINOR HOME REPAIRS: As individuals age, it becomes harder for them to undertake basic repairs that their house and/or appliances need. Often, these older adults also live on a fixed income which makes hiring a handyman difficult. Our members can request assistance from one of our skilled volunteers to undertake the home/appliance repairs they require to keep their house/appliances in good condition/working order.

4) BUSINESS ASSISTANCE: Members may also request help with what we call "business assistance," which means help in paying their bills, completing paperwork for benefits, etc. Many times, one person in a relationship balances the check book and pays the bills. When that person passes away, our volunteers educate the member on their new financial responsibilities, such as balancing a check book, paying their bills, and various other tasks.

5) FRIENDLY VISITOR/PHONE PAL VISITS: One in three older adults who live independently also live alone. Benevilla's volunteers offer weekly in-person and/or over-the-phone companionship and socialization for homebound members to help them ward off the depression that many isolated seniors develop.

More About Us

Benevilla's client-centered programs are made possible by more than 300 volunteers and 165 employees. Our programs include:

Volunteer Home Services: Volunteers provide services for elderly and disabled adults, including grocery shopping, assisted transportation to medical appointments, friendly visitors, handyman services, and weekly errands.

Benevilla CARES Information & Resources: Human services professionals help those in need identify, understand and use community services.

Adult Life Enrichment Day Programs: Our five-day programs provide an enriching experience for those who no longer can care for themselves, while simultaneously providing respite for caregivers. Each center features specialized programming to meet specific needs (i.e. memory care, physical therapy, intellectual challenges).

Wirtzie's Child Development Center: This preschool and childcare program provides a safe and nurturing environment for children ages 6 weeks-5 years old to explore and grow.

Art's Center for All Ages - Intergenerational Program: This joint program between Wirtzie's and Lucy Anne's Place Life Enrichment Day Program provides structured time for children to spend with older adults.

Birt's Bistro: This café and bookstore is an all community gathering space where classes are held and works by local artists are featured. To go service is also offered.

Family Resource Center: The FRC provides parents and caregivers of children (birth-5) access to information and resources around child development, health and parenting and has a support groups for kinship families where non-parental relatives serve as the child's primary caregiver.

Testimonials

When Cheryl first moved to Sun City, she was recently widowed, legally blind, living alone, and didn't know a soul. Cheryl shared, "It is not an exaggeration to share that Benevilla 'rescued' me at a critical time in my life. After my husband's sudden death, I moved to Sun City and knew no one. Benevilla's Free Home Services program and was able to provide me the support I so badly needed, such as transportation to the grocery store and to doctors' appointments."

Bobbye described Benevilla's Free Support Groups as follows, "Support Groups have helped save my life... I was losing who I was in the process of caregiving. I've developed a lot of strong relationships [in Benevilla Support Groups]. Life Coaching has been an additional support. It helped me get through the end stages for my husband, helping me find myself again, and to recognize that I did not really lose everything that I thought I had."

DONATE TOWARDS OUR MISSION

Started by and for our community in 1981, Benevilla enriches lives of community residents by serving older adults, adults with disabilities, children and the families who care for them in Phoenix Metro's West Valley.