Consider this life enriching opportunity

Do you enjoy spending time with seniors? Do you have a few hours a month to give to the elderly in your community? Consider becoming a volunteer Resident Advocate at Orange City Area Health System’s Long Term Care or Heritage House.

Volunteers are asked to visit residents three hours a month and attend quarterly committee meetings. During visits, volunteers assist residents to understand and exercise their rights. They also work as a team to find solutions to resident and/or family concerns. Beginner orientation and on-going education are provided.

People who live in long-term care facilities need to speak with compassionate and objective adults who care about their rights. You may be eligible to serve even if you have a relative who is a resident of Orange City Area Health System’s Long Term Care or Heritage House.

For an application or more information on becoming a volunteer, contact Katie Mulford, Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman at 800-532-3213.  Or visit www.state.ia.us/elderaffairs/advocacy/rac.html.

Become a volunteer today and see how you can make a difference with our senior citizens.

Food, fun, and learning for all ages in downtown Orange City

Orange City Area Health System (OCAHS) — along with the City of Orange City and the Chamber of Commerce — will be hosting its second Family Safety Fair on Thursday, May 5 from 4:30-7:30pm in the Windmill Park, downtown Orange City. This fun and interactive event is designed for all ages and will include the Fire Safety House, Citizen Hands-Only CPR instructions, Bicycle Safety Rodeo (children are asked bring their own bike helmet; free helmets will be given as needed, while supplies last), Kids’ Obstacle Course, Stranger Danger Puppet Show (5:30 and 6:30), Sioux County Sheriff’s K-9 Unit, Sanford/Great Plains Zoo Express, Children’s ID Cards and 911 Calling Station, Dermascan Screenings, Mercy Air ambulance (4:30-6:30), Jaws of Life Demonstration (6:00), and much more. In addition, the Household Hazardous Materials collection trailer will be on site to accept  items including solvents, lacquers and thinners, caustic household cleaners, pesticides and herbicides, and paints (please OrangeCityIowa.com for a list of acceptable and non-acceptable items). Hamburgers and “walking tacos” will be for sale by Don’s Food Center in the shelter house, and poffertjes will be for sale by the Dutch Heritage Boosters in the Little White Store. For a map and a complete list of displays and activities, visit ocHealthSystem.org.

Orange City Area Health System is participating in the nationwide “Flags Across America” campaign by flying the Donate Life flag during April as part of an organ and tissue donor awareness initiative. The goal of this effort is to honor and celebrate the hundreds of thousands of donors and recipients whose lives have been affected by organ, eye, blood, bone marrow, and tissue donation. Last year, more than half of the 120 hospitals in the state of Iowa committed to flying the Donate Life flag. Iowa Donor Network, the organ procurement organization spearheading this campaign, invites Iowans to view these flags locally and to register their intentions to be donors by visiting IowaDonorNetwork.org.