PAWS for People Community Newsletter: Early January, 2022 |
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Executive Director, Lynne Robinson,
Wins Governor's Outstanding Volunteer Award
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For PAWS Executive Director, Lynne Robinson, Christmas came early last month! Throughout the month of December, staff members from the State Office of Volunteerism worked with nominators to surprise honorees with the news of their selection for the 2021 Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Award. A “SurPRIZE Patrol” delivered a custom cake and certificate to Lynne early in December at the PAWS office. The names of all recipients were announced during a Facebook Live presentation on December 23rd.
“I salute these worthy recipients and all those who volunteered their time and energy this year to help improve the health and well-being of their neighbors in need,” said Governor John Carney. “The coronavirus pandemic has brought special challenges for many of our residents in 2021, which is why I am doubly grateful for the generosity and selfless commitment of these volunteers.”
The Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Service Awards, administered by the State Office of Volunteerism, honors the contributions of individuals and groups in Delaware that have made a positive impact in their communities or across the state through service and volunteering. Forty-eight individuals and 13 groups will be honored during a virtual ceremony to be held at 7 p.m. Jan. 17, 2022.
Congratulations, Lynne, for this well-deserved honor!!
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Doodles in Dewey Joins the PAWS Event Portfolio! |
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PAWS for People is excited to announce that the founder of Doodles in Dewey has selected PAWS for People as the new charity partner for the event!
This event began in 2005 (The same year as PAWS for People) and it has steadily grown each year. The last event which was held in 2019 hosted a gathering of over 800 people and 600 doodles and raised $15,000 for Food & Friends!
The founder and original charity benefactor are located in Washington DC which made it challenging to manage this expanding event in Delaware. PAWS for People emerged as the perfect partner to take the reins of the event carry on the tradition of the Doodle Romp on the beach, Yappy Hours, and Costume Parade. We are honored to have been chosen and are looking forward to this new adventure!
This year's event will be held in Dewey Beach, Delaware on Saturday, April 30th (with supplementary events throughout the weekend.)
Look for additional details and registration information coming soon!
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Long time animal advocate, Betty White, passed away on December 31st, just 17 days shy of her 100th birthday. The Betty White Challenge encourages people to donate to their favorite animal-oriented charity in her honor on her birthday, Monday, January 17th.
Betty truly understood the benefits of animal-assisted therapy and the healing impact of programs like those of PAWS for People. Please consider making a donation in her honor to continue this life-changing work.
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PAWS Participates in PENN Study |
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Delaware’s Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities received grant funding from the Penn Center for Mental Health to provide Animal Assisted Therapy to individuals living in long term care, particularly those with dementia. An 8-week pilot program was created at the DE Hospital for the Chronically Ill in Smyrna incorporating PAWS for People pet therapy teams, yoga, and art therapy. The first session of 8 weeks has been completed and a second set of sessions is about to begin.
We thank our PAWS teams Janice Baldwin-Hench & Sylvie, Clementine, Arlo, Luka, and Governor, Edie Kurzweil & Jasper, and Tawanda Harbison & Mr. Gibbs for giving their time and commitment to this study. Through all the requirements, testing, and other constraints of doing this with Covid as a unfriendly companion, our PAWS folks have done an amazing job of lifting spirits, reaching the unreachable, and showing the importance and impact of pet therapy.
Pictured above: Janice Baldwin-Hench & Governor and Nicole Jingozian, DHCI’s representative for the study.
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Pet Therapy in Action this Week |
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Tinker (Myra Reid) enjoyed giving a relaxing break to students at a recent DeStress session at Radnor High School in Wayne, PA. |
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Fred (Lois Brooks) attended the vaccine clinic this week at Linden Hill Elementary School in Bear, DE to DeStress kids waiting for shots. |
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Did You Know? The Puppy Pandemic Effect |
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Researchers have started to look into the consequences of all the mid-lockdown dog adoptions/purchases, and their findings reveal some important ways dogs affect humans’ mental health. (but you PAWS teams knew that already, right?)
A study published in December ‘21 (journal PLOS ONE) found a major mental-health benefit for dog owners compared to people contemplating getting a dog. The findings confirm that dogs really are people’s best friends, enabling humans to weather the mental hurdles of unprecedented times.
“Our results suggest that dog ownership may have provided people with a stronger sense of social support, which in turn may have helped buffer some of the negative psychological impacts caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.”
The research also shows that dog owners have a lower depression score compared to potential dog owners.
It’s always reaffirming when the professionals publicly conclude what we pet therapy team folks have known all along: having a pet (and sharing a pet) is good for you for SO many more reasons than most people think of. And in the case of the Pandemic Puppy Effect, our pets have proven to provide us with social support needed but not available to us in times of isolation. Besides that, they give us a little sprinkle of structure, comfort, and lots of joy.
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Meadowcrest at Middletown Welcomes PAWS |
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The weather outside was frightful, but the fire in the expansive activities room in Meadowcrest at Middletown was delightful, as John Weber and Gizmo, along with First Visit Assistant Steve Bruchey, prepared for the official start of PAWS visitation at this new partnering site.
Meadowcrest at Middletown is an eldercare facility on Middletown Odessa Road, just off the Route 1 interchange. It features Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care. The building is impressive and modern with a sleek, well-appointed interior. PAWS teams will be visiting with residents in Assisted Living and Memory Care.
PAWS was warmly welcomed by Stella, the receptionist. She brought in a huge tin of dog treats for the occasion. John Weber allowed Gizmo to try one and it passed the taste test with flying colors. After engaging with the residents in Memory Care, our PAWS team returned to the activities room to visit some of the Assisted Living residents just before their exercise class started.
John & Gizmo left lots of smiles behind as they exited the building and crunched along the sidewalk and parking lot, freshly cleared of snow. It was the first visit at Meadowcrest at Middletown, after the first snowfall of the year, on the first Tuesday of 2022. A first-rate way to start the year!
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Thank You, Barnes & Noble - You Are PAWSome! |
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We are so grateful to Barnes & Noble for welcoming PAWS back into their stores (Christiana and Exton) during the month of December. Pet therapy teams and volunteers excitedly returned to bring PAWS' special brand of tail-wagging comfort & joy to everyone during a hectic and stressful time of the year.
The squeals of delight rang through the store as people of all ages visited with PAWS' dogs, cats, and bunnies. Generous shoppers in great appreciation of the special holiday pet therapy donated over $5,000 to PAWS!! The Barnes & Noble staff could not have been more welcoming, and we know they enjoyed some special time with all of PAWS' pets.
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Lise Lavender and her sweet Goldendoodle, Luna, joined PAWS for People in January 2020. This wonderful team got right to work and were able to have a handful of visits at Cadia Broadmeadow before everything shutdown.
They joined the Walkin’ & Talkin’ program while waiting for the return to in-person visits. When Cadia Broadmeadow began outdoor visits, Lise and Luna were the first team back. They added Social Emotional support visits at Clayton Elementary School this fall and help out regularly at PAWS Community Events. The team is working on their PAWS Master’s Certification so they can share their furry magic with patients at Nemours Hospital for Children.
Thank you, Lise and Luna, for giving so generously of your time and sharing your sweet snuggles and affection with all you visit.
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Stew Constance first volunteered with PAWS for People in 2020 with his two lovely dogs - Cassie, an English Goldendoodle, and Piper, a Goldendoodle, both of whom have just completed their Master's Certificates.
Stew enjoys working with his dogs. It gives them a job to do, and they eagerly look forward to it. Cassie and Piper get very excited when they hear “go for a ride” and “ready to work."
Stew and his pups visit at Somerford House Assisted Living, Season’s Hospice, and have represented PAWS at many Community Events including supporting Cecil County Department of Social Service.
Thank you, Stew, Cassie, and Piper for your important work brightening the days and bringing joy to so many!
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One of the bright spots during 2020 was the wonderful new teams that joined PAWS for People even when we could not visit in person. Julian Wolfenbarger & and his friendly, handsome French bulldog, Frazier, were one of those teams.
Julian and Frazier joined in July of 2020 and were among the first teams to complete our PAWS for Reading training remotely. They quickly got to work, doing several virtual Reading visits each week with libraries from Philadelphia to Selbyville. Once in-person visits resumed, Julian and Frazier continued their library visits closer to home at Kennett, Parkesburg, Avon Grove, and Downingtown Libraries and added school visits at Avon Grove Charter School. This dynamic duo supports Community Events in addition to their busy visit schedule, and is a big hit wherever they go.
Thank you, Julian & Frazier, for sharing your gifts so generously with everyone you visit.
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Liz Ford came to PAWS for People in the summer of 2020 with extensive experience working with dogs; she was a volunteer with Canine Partners for Life and decided to join PAWS with her sweet Black Labrador, Stephie, a retired breeder dog with CPL.
With COVID still wreaking havoc, Liz and Stephie were somewhat delayed in getting started with visitation. They signed up for a special event at Sean’s House in the spring of 2021, then wanted to look into visiting for hospice. They became volunteers with Willow Tree Hospice, and per Christine O’Brien, the Volunteer Coordinator, “Liz is amazing, and I know it is so rewarding for her!!!” Along the way, Liz brought another Labrador, Arvot, into the PAWS fold. He received his Please Pet Me tag last summer and has participated in Community Events.
Thanks bunches to Liz, Stephie, and Arvot for joining PAWS for People and spreading joy with tail wags and furry hugs.
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Thanks to our PAWS Partners |
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Donate While You Shop
The AmazonSmile Foundation donates 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases when selected by customers. Choose PAWS for People when you log in: smile.amazon.com
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