1. Volunteer Chore Program
The Whatcom County
Volunteer Chore Program

2. The mission of this program is to keep our clients living independently in their own homes.

3. Volunteers helping with basic tasks can help prevent many from having to make that move into assisted living.

4. •In the past 10 years Whatcom county’s 55 and older population has doubled.
•VCP aims to serves clients per year
•As of 2015 VCP had 167 active volunteers

5. Our services include: Transportation to medical or other appointments
Mail reading
House cleaning
Our services include:
House searches
Dishes
Organization

6. Grocery shopping
Food Bank Deliveries

7. Cooking

8. Yard Work

9. Home repairs

10. Even wheel chair ramp construction…

11. ...To help those in need…

12. …live an easier life

13. Volunteer Chore Program Serves:
•Low income Older Adults
•Veterans
•Adults with disabilities

14. How Clients Qualify Low income Referred to by third party Case Manager
Counselor
Social worker
Limited access to help from family members

15. Who we work with: •The Volunteer Center of Whatcom County
•Northwest Regional, the City of Bellingham, and donations all contribute to our funds
•Partnerships with universities and local churches help fill the gap of needed volunteers

16. Funding
It costs approximately $500 per year per client to run the program…
It costs approximately $55,000 per year for someone to live in assisted living.

17. “The volunteers think that they are only cleaning and not really doing that much…
…But they make the difference between just existing, and living life”.

18. “It is a good feeling to know that I have helped someone
“It is a good feeling to know that I have helped someone. I don’t think I ever fully appreciated what it meant to volunteer until I did it.”

19. Rewards of Volunteering
•Creating new friendships
•Making a difference in another’s life
•Letters of recommendation
•Creating a safer community
•Becoming an active member of your community

20. Best of all, our volunteers develop meaningful relationships.
The pairing process is thoughtful and considers the compatibility of both individuals .

21. To Volunteer
Volunteer chore program matches volunteers with clients based on specific needs (age, gender, personality, general neighborhood) and availability
If interested in volunteering:
Contact Abby Lund, Program Director
Call (360) or