Basket Village USA
(Photo by Michele Newbanks) June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month and the color purple is worn to show support for the abused. Elisha Congleton, Deanna Green, Lori Hart and Kaleena Kelly wore purple at an awareness event Saturday at Buckeye Hills Regional Council.
An elder abuse awareness event was held Saturday morning at Buckeye Hills Regional Council.
One of the big draws was a quarter auction, with proceeds going to Adult Protective Services, the Humane Society of the Ohio Valley and the Marietta Community Foundation to help APS clients with pet needs.
APS director Deanna Green said the event went very well, although she didn’t know how much was raised.
“I still have to count the quarters” she says. “I feel like we had a very good turnout.”
There were 10 vendors and sold 60 of the 75 paddles.
“We had a lot of fun. It was a good day,” said Green.
There were 28 items up for auction, several of which stood out.
APS worker Lori Hart said there was a large gardening basket worth over $100.
Green said a Marietta College swag bag was highly sought after.
“It was adorned with autographed signatures and balls and a photo of the stadium,” she says.
A Cincinnati Bengals shirt and hat were also quickly recovered.
“It was a good thing because the Bengals were going to the Super Bowl,” said Hart.
A dozen merchants set up kiosks to provide resources to seniors.
Gerri VanNoy, Information and Assistance Specialist at BHRCC, helped run the council booth. She said it was important for people to recognize elder abuse.
“Most of what we come into contact with is self-neglect,” she says. “They don’t have running water. They don’t have a grocery store and they call us for help.
In these cases, they should call APS and inform them of the situation.
Chrisy Heiss, owner of Right at Home, had a booth and said her company provides non-medical, personal home care for seniors.
“I help a client walk his dog in the morning because he is afraid of falling outside and needs security,” she says.
Its employees aren’t nurses, so they can’t administer medications, but they can help with reminders to take them.
“We are thrilled to be another resource in the area for seniors,” she says. Right at Home provides services such as meal preparation, light housekeeping, laundry, bathing, dressing, feeding and companionship.
Green said Saturday’s resource fair was APS’ big event for Elder Abuse Awareness Month, but the signs will remain up for the rest of the month at the Armory, Peoples Bank, Children’s Services, and the Washington County Department of Employment and Family Services office on Gilman Avenue. .
She said this was not the only event organized by the APS. Many revolve around vacations.
Hart said they give out meals at Christmas to the elderly and Green said they partner with Belair’s Bistro in Belpre to distribute meals to elderly people who cannot go out.
Elderly veterans were honored with soup, buns and cookies on Veterans Day last year, Hart said. They hope to do it again this year.
Green said they were also having a senior Christmas “to make sure people who don’t have family get something for Christmas.”
Community members and businesses donate goods that are donated. Hart said they call their customers and ask what they need for Christmas.
Green said customers made a wish list.
“Do you need a pair of shoes?” Do you need a coat? said Hart.
Green said it was amazing how many people asked for standard clothing.
Some things were more unusual for a Christmas present.
“I have a vacuum cleaner for someone” said Green. “There are things you take for granted until you have a fixed income.”
A company bought a pair of glasses from a woman, Hart said.
Michele Newbanks can be contacted at mnewbanks@mariettatimes.com.
In one look
• Proceeds from the quarter’s auction are used to help APS customers with pet funds.
• Proceeds will be set up in a fund at the Marietta Community Foundation.
• They will be used to help care for short-term pets if APS clients are unable to do so.
Source: Adult Protective Services.
