This September agencies will have a great new opportunity to assist their clients by becoming a community partner with HHSC.  TAFB is reaching out to our partner agencies because many already provide services to help those in need across the state.

There are several levels of participation as a Community Partner of HHSC:

Level I - Self Service Site - Community Partner Agency provides computer and internet access, clients come into your site and apply online for HHSC benefits programs. No assistance provided.  Site would display posters and provide printed materials.

Level II and III - Assistance/Case Assistance Site -Community Partner Agency provides computer, internet access and some form of case assistance directly to clients to help them log into the online application.  This could be through volunteers and/or staff. TAFB will help provide training.  

If you would like more information on the CPP program and levels of participation, please contact Vicky Martinez, SNAP Outreach Manager at vicky.martinez@tafb.org.

The mobile pantry programs are doing very well, specifically the Downtown, Stop 6 and Westside pantries, serving an average of 550 households. Any Partner Agency that is interested in collaborating with an existing mobile pantry is encouraged to contact Terri Jewell, Mobile Distribution Specialist at terri.jewell@tafb.org.

The Pantry Express program is well supported with the first distribution time beginning no later than 9 a.m. and all four drops completed by 10 a.m.  The current Pantry Express locations are Church of Philadelphia, Beth Eden, Mission Hope, and Butler Housing.  The average households served between all four express sites are 130.  The current express pantry takes place on the 4th Tuesday of every month.

Keeping Hydrated During the Summer Heat

When the temperature rises, people are at increased risk of dehydration. Many of us have experienced dehydration to some extent, but children, seniors and those working or waiting for services outdoors are especially vulnerable.

Know the signs of dehydration in yourself and the clients you serve:

• Thirst
• Flushed skin
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Weakness
• Dry mouth, eyes, and skin

In extreme dehydration, you may feel hot, feel like your heart is racing or you're breathing very fast. You may not go to the bathroom much, and when you do go, your urine will be dark yellow and may have a strong odor.

It is important to remember that your body needs water even if you don't feel thirsty. Water does so much in the body, like moving nutrients around, increasing the effectiveness of medicines, moving waste out of your cells, and helping you feel energetic. Water is also important in maintaining good digestion, and preventing heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Make it a habit to drink plenty of water.

Tips for staying hydrated:

• Drink a glass of water when you wake up.
• When you are active or exercising grab a bottle and keep it handy.
• Drink a glass with every meal and take water breaks throughout the day.
• When it's hot outside be sure to drink one or two more glasses than usual.
• Being tired is another sign of being thirsty so next time you start to feel a yawn come on, grab a glass of water.
• Bringing water from home is much cheaper than buying while you're out.
• Try replacing sodas and other dehydrating drinks with plain water, flavored water, or decaffeinated teas and coffee.

Do your volunteers stick around?

Just like any for-profit business, staff and volunteers that stay with you for the long-haul are the most beneficial. So how do you keep volunteers coming back for more? The commitment of volunteers to your organization depends mostly on these three factors:

• Screening volunteers and matching them to appropriate roles
• Offering training and professional development opportunities to volunteers
• Adoption of recognition activities for volunteers

So how do you retain your volunteers, or how can you begin focusing on retention? Invest resources in your volunteer program. They bring knowledge, expertise, labor and future staff prospects to our agencies. We stand to benefit greatly from their time and talents by allocating even a small portion of the budget. Use your current volunteers to recruit new ones! They can be great advocates for your organization, but sometimes need a little nudge to get the word out. Encourage your volunteers to bring a friend and share with others about the impact your agency makes. Finally, just because you may be small doesn't mean that you can't have wonderful volunteers that stick around. Do what you can to make it worthwhile for volunteers and they will naturally commit to your organization and mission.

Resource: "Volunteer Management Practices and Retention of Volunteers," The Urban Institute, 2004. www.urban.org