Each November, Interfaith Volunteers hosts their annual meeting and welcomes new
board members. “There was a great deal to share at this year’s annual meeting with
our facility,” stated Interfaith Board President Ron Perry. In December of 2022,
Interfaith Volunteers moved into an independent facility after 34 years of being housed
at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. With the expansion of their Time for You Dementia
Respite program, and community needs, they outgrew that one-room office and have
now relocated to a 5,100-square-foot facility that houses their office staff, volunteer
programs, group respite program, and community outreach events. “In our 34-year
history, we have had over 100 different board members serve Interfaith. Each year we
elect two to five new members to help guide Interfaith as we continue to grow and serve
the aging population of Jackson County,” stated Perry.
This year, Interfaith Volunteers welcomed three new board members. New board
members for 2024 are Maggie Rewald, Nicole Schweitzer, and Mikala Hurd. “We are
always excited to welcome new board members. Each person brings us different gifts
or talents to help us with items like fundraising, marketing, program development,
facilities, and even strategic planning,” stated Lori Chown, Interfaith Executive Director.
“The expertise that each board member brings to our group has been instrumental in
allowing us to take the next steps in our growth.”
Board members completing their terms were Sue Millis, Robyn Matousek, and Brooke
Aldach. The Interfaith Board of Directors has fifteen total members who are elected to
three-year terms, and some serve two consecutive terms for a total of six years of
service.
Board members leaving were recognized for their years of service to Interfaith and for
helping with the critical growth over the last few years that led up to Interfaith kicking off
a capital campaign, facilities project, and moving into their independent facility.
Interfaith’s programs coordinate volunteers to provide transportation, friendly visits,
grocery delivery, a visually impaired program that provides digital copies of our local
newspapers, a youth mentoring program, a dementia support group, a Parkinson’s
support group, and their newest program the Time for You Dementia Group Respite
Program.
Interfaith’s Time for You program has helped 43 families since it began in 2018 and is a
big piece of Interfaith’s growth over the last five years. “We see firsthand the number of
families who are caring for someone living with dementia and the struggles they are
facing. We are thankful to be able to give them a small break. In 2024 we hope to add
a third day of respite. This change will rely on the number of volunteers we have for the
program and funding,” stated Chown.
In November, Interfaith Volunteers kicked off their Direct Mail Campaign which accounts
for over twenty-five percent of their yearly budget. All funds raised will be used for
Interfaith’s programs and will help ensure long-term sustainability for all Interfaith’s
programs.
With Interfaith’s program growth, they have also grown their program staff. Staff
members include Lori Chown – Director, Bethany Sartor – Volunteer Coordinator, Carol
Jarrett – Program Assistant, Laura Hansen – Bookkeeper/Assistant, Shawn Callisto and
Bev Zink – Time for You Program Staff. “While we have grown to six staff, total staff
hours only equate to 120 staff hours or three full-time positions between a team of six
staff members,” stated Chown. “We can do all that we do thanks to the nearly 10,000
volunteer hours that our 200-plus volunteers offer each year!”
“In 2023, Interfaith has added 52 new volunteers and 95 new care receivers,” stated
Bethany Sartor, Interfaith Volunteer Coordinator. “Each new volunteer is scheduled for
orientation and training to reflect the specific services they sign up to assist with, giving
them the right tools to flourish as a volunteer and help our clients to the best of their
ability. Our volunteers and care receivers are the true gift of Interfaith’s success.”
The Jackson United Mentor Program alone has over doubled the number of mentor
volunteers since the beginning of this year. Currently, JUMP has twenty-one mentor
volunteers and is continuing to grow as more people hear about the positive impact this
program has on our youth.
“Our staple programs are even more vital today as more and more families try to help
their loved one’s age in place. By helping with grocery delivery, transportation, and fall
and spring cleaning our volunteers can help over 200 families to remain independent
and, in their homes,” stated Chown.
Interfaith’s 2023 Board of Directors is as follows: President – Ron Perry, Vice President –
Kathy Potter, Treasurer – Greg Eddy, Secretary – Geri Allen and members Pastor John
Cowles, Mikayla Hurd, Pam Johnson, Barb Loomis, Buck Paulsrud, Dana Rave, Maggie
Rewald, Nicole Schweitzer, Brandi Shramek, and Pastor David Shudy.
For more information on Interfaith Volunteers, call us at 715-284-7058, email
interfaith@jcivc.org, or visit http://www.JCIVC.org. Interfaith’s Direct Mail Campaign is
running until the end of February. Gifts can be mailed to 1451 Tyler Street, Black River
Falls, WI. 54615.
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