OFA HQ Posts

"We're in this together"

Jon Schuster — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:49:30 EDT

Here's a look at more coverage from last week's Health Care Day of Service events:

Residents of Evansville, Indiana, volunteered to help a community health center. The ECHO Community Health Center -- which provides health care to people without insurance, including the homeless -- was in the process of relocating and needed help. Volunteers carried boxes of medical records to the center’s new facility. WTVW FOX Evansville reported:

The local chapter of Organizing for America is helping ECHO Community Health Center move to its new location. Evansville for Change helped with the move as part of OFA's National Health Service Day. The move was from ECHO's former headquarters at 501 John St. to a new facility at 315 Mulberry. A local moving crew transported most of the heavy medical equipment for the new facility. Volunteers loaded and unloaded boxes of medical records... The new facility will be open to the public July 6.

Residents of Central New York provided free rides for people with medical appointments. These organizers provided relief to people who are affected by the changing economy and may by uninsured. The group also put up fliers with information about SCHIP. By providing free rides and raising awareness of health care reform, these organizers helped people get the care they need. News 10 Syracuse reported:

One Central New York group answered President Obama's call for a National Health Care Day of Service by launching a new project in the community.
Organizing for America volunteers from around the region are introducing "Rides for Reform," which will offer free rides to medical appointments for people in need. Organizers hope the program brings more people to their cause of reforming health care.
"If we're going to ask the government to reform health care and do something good for our community here, then we need to do some service that shows we're in this together," said event organizer John DeSantis.
The group will also distribute fliers to let the community know about low-cost children's health care.

Jeff from Columbiana County, Ohio, volunteered at a healthy food drive. Not only did Jeff help feed the hungry, he encouraged preventative care. He felt especially passionate about donating food due to the economic difficulties in Ohio. Along with the other volunteers, he collected food outside several grocery stores, and all food was donated to local food banks. From WYTV ABC Youngstown:

A group of people in Columbiana County wants to make sure everyone can eat right. The group asked for health food donations like pasta and tuna. They organized the food drive to help people in need, and at the same time, promote good nutrition and wellness. Everything collected gets donated to Columbiana County Food Banks.
Jeff Martin, from the Healthy Food Drive, said, "This is National Service Day, and we are working with a group called Organizing for America. Our local food banks are depleted down in this area because of hard economic times and we are just trying to help people out; get some food to the people who need it."
The group collected food at four different locations on Saturday, including Giant Eagles in Salem, Calcutta, and East Liverpool.

Another food drive took place in Savannah, Georgia. Residents of Savannah volunteered for Second Harvest Food Bank, an organization dedicated to providing nutritious food to the hungry. From The Coastal Source:

Savannahians lend a helping hand to Second Harvest Food Bank. Saturday afternoon as part of Citizens for Better Health Day, a food drive was held in front of the Brighter Day health food store on Park Avenue.

Residents could bring any kind of non-perishable food with them and donate it to the Second Harvest Food Bank, who never has any shortage of people looking for food.

"Because of the changing economy, people don't have as much money to spend for food," said Organizing for America volunteer Marie Simpson. "Some people maybe homeless and Second Harvest has a goal to help end hunger and that's what we're hoping to do."

Citizens for Better Health Awareness Day is part of National Health Care Day of Service taking place across the country.

Finally, here's a look at photos from events across the country:

National Health Care Day Of Service

Jon Schuster — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 14:07:40 EDT

The National Health Care Day of Service is today, and volunteers across the country are taking place in thousands of events designed to raise visibility for health care reform in their communities. These health care service projects give volunteers a chance to make an impact in their own communities and improve the lives of their neighbors in the short term -- and they are just one step forward in the larger fight for long term, comprehensive health care reform.

Shonda from Greensboro, North Carolina, is making an impact on her community. Her National Health Care Day of Service event this Sunday will provide materials to local parents about State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). She is expecting about 70 people to attend, including families she met at schools, churches, day cares and summer camps.

The Family Fair is being held at the Greensboro Public Library. The focus of the fair is providing information and applications for SCHIP to families in need. There will be tables with SCHIP information and applications, as well as food and entertainment for the kids. Two guest speakers, whose families are enrolled in SCHIP, are set to speak at the fair. Shonda has even arranged for a Spanish translator. Despite her busy schedule, Shonda is passionate about the impact of her community service.

"We are really trying to make a difference and help out as much as we can," Shonda explained. "Even with our personal lives and schedules, we find ways to make it work."

Meanwhile Pat from Chesapeake, Virginia, is planning a similar event. This Saturday, Pat will provide SCHIP information and applications to customers at local businesses, such as shopping malls and grocery stores. He is expecting a diverse crowd of around 30 volunteers to help him. The group will include health care professionals, educators, and people who are struggling with their own health care.

These are two of the many of events taking place today, and with more events scheduled tomorrow as well. There may still be time to find a service event in your area this weekend. If you attended an event, let us know how it went in the comments below.

Iowa Health Care Organizing Kick-Offs

Jon Schuster — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:52:55 EDT

About 30 Iowans met at T-Bock's Sports Bar and Grill in Decorah to talk about health care. People at the meeting talked about the need to change the current health care system and President Obama’s principles of reform. They also spent time planning health care service projects, such as a food drive. The meeting was part of the health care organizing kickoff, and was one of thousands of neighborhood meetings in Iowa and around the country. The Decorah Journal reported:

Twenty-seven Decorah area residents met recently to discuss healthcare reform legislation as it is developing in Congress.

In attendance were healthcare providers, representatives of the health insurance industry, and consumers of healthcare in a variety of its forms.

The Organizing for America network encouraged such events nationwide and provided information and suggestions for consideration.

Meeting in the back room of T-Bock's Sports Bar and Grill, local participants first looked at President Obama's principles for the plan that will emerge from Congress, including reduced costs, guaranteed choice and ensuring that all Americans have quality, affordable health care.

Each attendee spoke of his or her own experiences with the current healthcare system and expressed views concerning the changes needed.

Organizing for America asked each of its participating groups to become involved in healthcare service projects in their local communities in addition to lobbying their Congressional representatives for passage of reform legislation. Projects that Decorah attendees plan to aid include the local food pantries, the free clinic, and upcoming Habitat for Humanity builds.

Pictured below are residents of Ames, Iowa, discussing the need for healthcare reform. The meeting was hosted by local organizer Jan Bauer.