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February is not only the month of love and red paper hearts, it is also, appropriately, American Heart Month. This is a time to realize how very important our heart health is and learn what you can do to prevent a heart attack. We are fortunate in Lubbock to have a regional office of the American Heart Association (AHA) and their mission is to reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke. The organization's strategic driving force is to provide credible heart disease and stroke information for effective prevention and treatment. They are focused on three areas: cardiovascular science, cardiovascular education and community programs, and fund raising efforts. In the last few years, AHA’s national achievements include stricter research standards, new healthcare site modules, and development of several new cookbooks. The research they have funded includes CPR, life-extending drugs, pacemakers, bypass surgery, and surgical techniques to repair heart defects.

Public education programs to inform people how to reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke are another priority of the American Heart Association. Heart and blood vessel diseases are the nation’s number one killer and the aging population is at a greater risk than ever. The agency acts as an advocate to promote health by focusing on the tobacco issue, emergency medical care, acute care and physical activity, employee wellness programs, and CPR training. The Lubbock Division of the AHA has successfully reached thousands of people in Lubbock with heart-health programs this year. A few highlights include serving high-risk and under-served markets through Hispanic and African-American Outreach Task Forces addressing the needs for early prevention of heart disease, their 5th Women and Heart Health Conference, and 40 other community activities targeted toward heart-health education. The Lubbock American Heart Association office hopes to raise $300,000 this year from various fundraising endeavors. This money will come back into our community in the form of grants for education and research to be performed at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.

Needless to say, much of the work of the American Heart Association could not be accomplished without dedicated volunteers, both in various office work jobs and in special events and fundraising. This is a very busy, but fun environment. Help is needed to work on events such as the Heart Ball, Heart Walk, Mass CPR, Women and Heart Health Conference and the Corazon Gala by helping with mail outs, phones, copying assembling packets, running errands, shopping, manning health fair booths, and possibly some light computer work. Training will be provided. There are three ladies in the office who work very hard, but have a good time while they do so. Would you like to join them?

OTHER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:

HIGHLAND MEDICAL CENTER AUXILIARY, 2412 50th St., needs volunteers to work both morning and afternoon shifts. Volunteers would deliver flowers and mail to patients, do messenger service for hospital departments, answer phones and assist the families of patients in the Surgery Waiting Room. This is a small medical center that would allow you to help in a hospital setting without an extensive area to cover and the parking is close to the door.

SHALOM READERS ENRICHMENT PROGRAM, 20th and Avenue T (Asbury United Methodist Church), would love to have volunteers who are skilled in crafts or woodworking to work with children in this community outreach after school program. Instruction would take place somewhere between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Tuesdays or Thursdays according to the time you would like to schedule. Would you like to teach a child to knit or crochet, to paint, to write, help him/her to make a birdhouse, etc.? If you have a craft to share, how about sharing it with a child!

To volunteer, or for more information about these or other volunteer positions, please call the RSVP office at 742-2423.

HOW do I join RSVP?
Becoming a member of RSVP is simple as long as you are at least 55 and have some time to volunteer. Just call the office at 742-2423 and chat with Ronda Casey or Bonne Phillips about your interests. If you are not certain what you would like to do, we can mention several current volunteer opportunities and send you a list of the sort of jobs which RSVP members are presently doing to whet your appetite. If you have a special skill or talent that you would like to utilize, we will search to find just the right job for you. Just mail in the enrollment form (requires Adobe Reader) and we will call you!