Looking Back and Forward

Prior to ending a year, we often look back over the year in reflection. At People Who Care, we always take the time to see what we have accomplished. This past year, 2022, we were excited to celebrate 30 years of providing services to the community! As a local non-profit in the Quad Cities, 30 years is a major milestone, and it is because of our dedicated volunteers and community donors that we are still growing. The generosity of a former client/neighbor who left her estate to People Who Care allowed us to move into our own building after renting space for 29 years. This enables us to move forward with confidence to increase the number of neighbors we assist.

In 2022, People Who Care provided services to 490 neighbors throughout the Quad Cities, which was an increase of 150 neighbors! Our neighbors are adults who enroll in our services because they unable to drive because of age, vision or disability, and need a little extra support to stay independent in their homes. Amazingly, more than 14% of our neighbors are aged 90 or older and still living independently in their homes, in part because of the services we have been able to provide.

We rely on volunteers to provide most of our services. At the end of 2022, we were grateful to have 286 active volunteers! First and foremost, in 2022, our volunteers provided transportation for more than 3,500 trips to health care providers, grocery stores and other essential appointments. This transportation is “door-through-door,” which means the volunteer, using their own car, stays with the neighbor from pick up through return home. In 2022, this meant driving more than 106,000 miles to help people in our community (which is the equivalent of driving around the world 4.25 times!).

Our volunteers also assisted our neighbors in many other ways. They helped neighbors with more than 650 grocery orders, either placing online orders, which they then picked up and delivered, or shopping for the neighbor. They provided personal paperwork assistance 327 times and helped 165 neighbors resolve technology issues. Volunteers also made countless friendly phone calls and home visits to help reduce the isolation of many of our neighbors. Building relationships is a foundation of the services we provide.

We could not have served these neighbors without our amazing volunteers and generous donors whose support allows us to offer these services at no charge. However, we also know that there are still many more people throughout the Quad Cities area who need our services. As we look forward to 2023, we need your help. As part of your New Year’s resolutions, please consider volunteering for People Who Care, donating or leaving a legacy gift to help our neighbors in the future.

Visit www.PeopleWhoCareAZ.com to learn more about volunteering and donating. Make a difference – both to yourself and to others in the community. QCBN

By Bev Thurber