Extended Hours at Kare Bears House
Dee-Dee Patrick, MS, RN, Director, Kare Bears’ Health & Wellness
Beginning Friday, Oct. 1, the Kare Bears House will extend the hours the building is open until 3 p.m. in the afternoon. The hours of operation will be Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Weekend hours will remain the same as now—Saturday 9 a.m. to noon and closed on Sundays.
You will notice a sign on the front door of Kare Bears House stating that face masks are required to enter the house. If you do not have a mask available, one will be provided to you. This precaution has been taken due to the ongoing pandemic, with the increased transmissibility of the delta variant of COVID. The board of directors of Kare Bears aims to protect both those residents visiting the Kare Bears House and the volunteers working there.
All are to wear a face mask (that covers both your nose and mouth), whether you are vaccinated or not. Kare Bears would like to thank you in advance for cooperating with this and demonstrating respect for the well-being of your neighbors. It is everyone’s responsibility to keep one another safe and healthy. Kare Bears desires to demonstrate that we care about PebbleCreek and its residents.
Kare Bears Drivers Say, “I Love Driving for Kare Bears and My Riders Love It, Too!”
Tom Meek, President, Kare Bears
How do I begin? I am here to present a Kare Bears driver, Leticia Johnson, and her wonderful service to the Kare Bears. Tish, as we call her, devotes hours driving and works in the Kare Bears office. Many people know Tish because of her desire to help and her upbeat attitude and smile.
The Kare Bears staff, and especially our drivers, have been providing the residents of PebbleCreek continued service, even through the pandemic. Tish and all Kare Bears volunteers will continue serving PebbleCreek for as long as we can.
Tish came to PebbleCreek after visiting her longtime friend. Tish and her husband, Ron, arrived back in the early 2000s and purchased a home in 2012. She and Ron tried the Robson sales promotion and were sold on PebbleCreek.
She told me that they wanted to be active and help other residents, and they discovered our Kare Bears. Kare Bears, in her eyes, was an organization that helped people. Tish wanted to meet people, work in the Kare Bears office, and provide rides to PebbleCreek residents. Therefore, she was a natural fit for the Kare Bears.
I asked Tish some questions about her life here. She and Ron especially enjoyed rising in the fall and winter mornings in their Eagle’s Nest home on those cool or brisk mornings. Unfortunately, Ron passed away from a long-term illness. Suffering a traumatic episode caused Tish to think how much others could benefit from her help, so she decided to remain a Kare Bear volunteer, knowing that she was giving back to the residents.
Tish is a St. Thomas Aquinas parishioner and enjoys helping her fellow parishioners, as she does for the PebbleCreek residents. She tells me, “For me, giving my time driving or volunteering helping others in PC took little effort and it feels great!” She commented, saying that those residents she has driven express their gratitude and keep commenting, “I can’t believe that this service is provided, and it is wonderful.” Actually, I believe she meant Tish first and Kare Bears second.
I asked Tish how it makes her feel each day to drive people to their appointments? She told me that she enjoys the gratitude that residents display for her help. Riders have tried to tip, but Tish simply says, “Give to the Kare Bears and you will be helping provide services for others.”
I asked Tish about the never-ending need for volunteer drivers to continue the Kare Bares driving services. She told me, “Each person finds how they can contribute,” and she continued, stating, “driving takes an effort but is so worth it!” You see how much it contributes to that resident’s health and well-being, and that brings a smile to Tish’s face.
I said to Tish, “Thank you for your service… great job!” Kare Bears drivers are in great need, so if you can, join us!
Visit karebears.org for volunteer interest sheets, contributions, resources, and our mission statement. We are here for as long as you need us. Please visit the website! Visit the Kare Bears’ office for additional information and please contribute, as it helps keep our services going.
Kare Bears Board Openings
Rayma Scalzo
If you would be interested in working and serving on the Kare Bears Board of Directors, we have two openings. A board member’s term is for a minimum of two years and a maximum of four years.
We are looking for energetic and enthusiastic team players with the commitment and skill to serve their friends and neighbors right here in PebbleCreek. The two positions open are first vice president and a marketing/communications director.
The first vice president is, perhaps, the most fun and rewarding position on the board. It requires people and communication skills. This board member recruits and trains residents who are the contact people for specific lots in their unit or in a neighboring unit. The contact people are called unit coordinators and work on behalf of Kare Bears to educate residents on Kare Bears services and be there for their neighbors in time of need. (They are different from the unit contacts through the HOA.)
The marketing/communications director oversees advertising, promotion, and publicity. This director also is responsible for investigating new products and services.
Our community is growing so fast, and this person will be instrumental in educating the community on the services that Kare Bears provides.
If the director positions are something that you are not interested in, there are several special volunteer positions needed. They are as follows:
1. Assisting the treasurer. Must be familiar with QuickBooks, Microsoft Word, and Excel.
2. Organizer and director of the annual distribution of the PebbleCreek Source Book, provided by Robson.
If you are looking for a way to meet people, become involved, and make a difference in the lives of others, Kare Bears want you! Contact Rayma Scalzo, nominating committee chair, at 623-935-1819 or send an email to [email protected].