Volunteer WV Blog | West Virginia Volunteerism

Licensed Beauty Professionals (cosmetologists, estheticians, nail technicians), Create Magic for Cancer Patients

submitted by Michelle.Chappell@cancer.org

 

When a woman has cancer, she has to deal with not only the physical and emotional trauma of the disease itself, but also the debilitating effects of cancer treatment on her skin, hair, nails and general appearance. The war against cancer is one of the most life-altering challenges a woman will ever face; how much easier it might seem if she is at least winning the battle to retain her physical appearance and self-esteem. Licensed beauty professionals (cosmetologists, estheticians, nail technicians) from all parts of the country are using their skills and positive energy to make a difference in these women’s lives. Working with the Look Good…Feel Better® (LGFB) program, specially trained licensed beauty professionals (cosmetologists, estheticians, nail technicians) help women with cancer rescue their appearance and self-image from the ravages of cancer treatment by teaching them hands-on beauty and skincare techniques.  

According to the American Cancer Society, one of the program collaborators, there are a number of anti-cancer drugs in use today, each with its own set of side effects. Possible appearance-related effects of chemotherapy and radiation include: hair loss on the scalp, eyebrows, or lashes; weight gain or loss; changes in skin pigmentation and texture; skin oiliness, itchiness or peeling; and alterations in nail texture and growth rate.

Imagine a woman you know—a client, friend, or family member—is diagnosed with cancer. On top of the daily grind of career, home, children, and community duties and now a major health problem, she looks in the mirror and sees a tired, discolored reflection. She rubs a finger across a memory of thick, black eyelashes and wonders if the rest of her thinning hair will “disappear” as well. Although temporary, these side effects can be devastating. Patients who have participated in Look Good…Feel Better® call the program an emotional lifesaver.

As a licensed cosmetologist, you can help by becoming a certified LGFB volunteer and facilitating one 2-hour patient session per month or quarter. Small group sessions, offered at hospitals and community settings, include make-up, skin, and nail care techniques.  In addition, patients learn how to disguise hair loss using wigs, turbans and scarves. 

Founded in 1989 by the Personal Care Products Council Foundation, the Look Good…Feel Better® program is offered through a collaboration between the American Cancer Society, the Personal Care Products Council Foundation, and the Professional Beauty Association | National Cosmetology Association. The program does not endorse any particular products, manufacturers or salons, and classes and materials are provided free of charge.  

The American Cancer Society offers a free 4-hour Certification Class for licensed beauty professionals (cosmetologists, estheticians, nail technicians) who wish to join LGFB as a volunteer.  The next training date is July 22nd from 10 am - 2 pm - BECKLEY American Cancer Society office.

 For volunteer or patient information, call 1-800-395-LOOK (5665), 1-800-ACS (227)-2345, or your local American Cancer Society offices: Charleston 304-347-5850; Huntington 304-523-7989; Morgantown 304-296-8155; Parkersburg 304-422-1472 or Beckley 304-252-5521

 

 

What is Vet Corps?

LifeBridge programs utilize the talent and leadership skills of West Virginia’s veterans and gives them a chance to again serve their country through the LifeBridge Vet Corps program. Each branch of military service is represented and they work to address West Virginia’s most critical needs by serving at a number of sites in our community by:

 

• Advising students at West Virginia State University, ensuring that veterans using their post-9/11 GI Bills have the most accurate and up-to-date information, providing a Veterans Lounge where students can relax or study, and identifying adult students’ unique needs.

• Working with the Roark-Sullivan Lifeway Center to help individuals from the local community obtain employment. The members help build resumes, teach interview skills and job search tactics, and work with the individuals to manage the job search process. They also provide peer support to those who are homeless and in recovery.   

   

• Serving with the Red Cross, providing relief to the victims of natural disasters, supporting America’s military families, and assisting returning veterans with their transition to civilian life. They also provide needed health and safety training and education in our community.   

   

• Providing services to families of West Virginia National Guard members through the Child and Youth Program. Vet Corps works to educate the public on the impact deployment on families and the community and to reduce risky behavior among children of deployed Guard members.   

   

• Providing information and referral services at the Covenant House Drop-In Center in downtown Charleston. They assist those in need with avoiding termination of utilities, help to provide financial help to prevent eviction and homelessness, and offer access to a family clothing closet.
  

If you would like to know more about Vet Corps, please contact Betsy Southall at bsouthall@unitedwaycwv.org.

 

 

 

 

Join the 2013 Garlic Mustard Challenge!

 

Jasmine Sherman Proudly Presents Her First Garlic Mustard Plant

You can join with Appalachian Forest Heritage Area AmeriCorps members, along with site sponsors from the Monongahela National Forest and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, who are trying to stop non-native invasive plants.

Are you looking for an opportunity to get the family outside for a day of fun? Then look no further than the 2013 Garlic Mustard Challenge! The Garlic Mustard Challenge is a series of events that seeks to provide your family with a day of free, outdoor fun while working to protect the beautiful public lands that we all love. This year, our goal is even bigger! We want to remove 50,000 pounds of garlic mustard to help protect our native forests, wildflowers, and wildlife.

Garlic Mustard is a particularly nasty, non-native invasive species. It rapidly spreads, often using waterways, into disturbed wooded habitats, and is making its way throughout the beautiful and diverse forest ecosystem of West Virginia.

 

Garlic mustard can quickly take over an area pushing out our native plants. Many wildlife species, including species of wild game, depend on spring native plants for their pollen, nectar, fruits, seeds, and roots. Garlic mustard deprives wildlife of these important food sources when it becomes established.

Only an army of volunteers can help get rid of this invasive species! Please join us for the 2013 Garlic Mustard Challenge and together we can stop the spread of one of the most invasive species found in our state! The dates and locations are:

• May 11th-12th—Blue Bend Campground*
• May 18th - Pocahontas 4-H Camp

*This event will offer free camping in exchange for your hard work and dedication!

Garlic Mustard Challenge events are from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. except the Davis and Elkins College pull which is from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information please check out our website at: http://www.phcwpma.org/GarlicMustard.cfm or contact Rebecca Urbanczyk, AFHA AmeriCorps Volunteer, at (304) 636-6182 or rrurbanczyk@fs.fed.us.

 

Weed Warriors at the Seneca Rocks Discovery Center

The Garlic Mustard Challenge is an enjoyable and memorable experience for all who participate, and we will have lots of great PRIZES to give out thanks to our generous partners and sponsors: All Creatures Great and Small, American Mountain Theater, Applebee’s- Elkins, Bob Evans- Elkins, Brewstel: Microbrewery and Hostel, CJ Maggies, Good Energy Foods, Judy’s Drug, Kroger’s- Elkins, MeeMee’z Café and Cakes, Peebles, Seneca Caverns, Sheetz-Petersburg, Smokehole Caverns, Snowshoe Mountain, South Branch Valley Liquidators, Southside Depot, The Greenbrier Resort, The Wellness Center – Parsons, Timberline Resort, Tri-County Honda, Wal-Mart, and YMCA-Elkins.

The Garlic Mustard Challenge is brought to you by the Monongahela National Forest, Appalachian Forest Heritage Area, and the Potomac Highlands Cooperative Weed and Pest Management Area. 

 

 

Letter of Appreciation for Appalachian Forest Heritage Area’s AmeriCorps Program

The following letter was sent to the Program Director of Appalachian Forest Heritage Area’s AmeriCorps program:

 

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Phyllis and Logan,

 

Yesterday we hosted our 2^nd Annual Discover Invasive Species Day and what an amazing day!  We had a garlic mustard pull in the morning, lunch featuring garlic mustard cuisine, skits by local elementary school students, a guest ambassador (Ms. WV Junior High), and nine activity booths for kids and their families.  The day would not have been possible without the AFHA AmeriCorps.  Rebecca, Woody, Kris, Kristin, and Caroline all led activities.  And, they were amazing!

 

It was absolutely heartwarming to see these folks working with so many children and sharing their knowledge.  I know I don’t stop and say it enough, so let me do that now.  Our partnership and the ability to utilize AmeriCorps has allowed the Forest  to accomplish work that would otherwise be impossible.   The AFHA AmeriCorps program has been absolutely vital to allowing us to do outreach and education and to start growing future stewards of our public lands.

 

Thank you both for all that you do to make this program possible!   We are extremely grateful.

 

Thanks,

Cynthia M. Sandeno

Monongahela National Forest

 

Making it Easier to Donate Food

Has your organization considered doing a food drive, but then hesitated due to the logistics? Now, a new website called “You Give Goods” handles the logistics for you. Any food bank or pantry can set up an account on the site which enables them to choose what food they need, create a branded landing page for their organization and receive all donor information for anyone that contributes to a drive. You can even run a contest on the site.

For example, The College of Charleston, in South Carolina, raised over 40,000 lbs. of food.  Over 60% of that total was donated online and delivered directly to the food bank for them. 

For more information how you can take advantage of this service, click here.  For more information about You Give Goods, click here.

 http://www.yougivegoods.com