It’s often hard to determine what to write about, especially when there are so many things happening in the world. I make a point of not sharing my personal beliefs on religion or politics, but I think we can all agree that the millions of individuals fleeing Ukraine in search of safety is heartbreaking.
It is also uplifting that these people are met with open arms, blankets, food, and shelter as they make their arduous journeys across borders into other countries.
For me, hearing about the kindness of strangers truly highlights the best of humanity. But I wonder why it sometimes takes a horrific event to bring out the best of us. Wouldn’t we all be better off if each of us took a few minutes every day to help someone in need?
I could go on and on about the importance of kindness, but I do have a couple of other things I want to share.
In our effort to help as many of our neighbors as possible, I am excited to share that Heidi Naranjo has joined the RTVOS team as our Community Revitalization Manager. Heidi comes to us with years of experience in helping others and will be a great asset to our organization. As part of her role, she will be having conversations with neighbors to find out how we can best serve their home safety needs. She will also be working with our corporate groups, city governments, and volunteers to plan and execute special events and community improvement activities. Two of her primary focus areas will be the Town of Gilbert and the Central City area of Phoenix. If you meet her while you are out and about, be sure to say hello!
And speaking of focus areas – our partnership with the Town of Gilbert has afforded us with funding to provide major home repairs for income-qualified Gilbert residents. These repairs can range from installing bathroom fall prevention equipment to replacing roofs and HVAC systems. All the services are free for those who are economically challenged, so please share this information with your Gilbert contacts.
In other news, we are planning to add one more new staff position and could use your help spreading the word. We are seeking someone who has some knowledge of construction and a heart for service to lead our Safe @ Home program. This position would be perfect for a new graduate or someone bored with retirement! You can read all the details at https://www.rtvos.org/careers.
Stay tuned for more exciting news in the near future! As always, you can support our work at rtvos.org. Until the next time, be kind.
