Quota Club of Northern Colorado

Meghan Abraham Au.D.
Doctor of Audiology

HAVE YOU HEARD???

Dr. Abraham, Audiologist with the Audiology Group of Northern Colorado was Quota NOCO September’s guest speaker and shared with us that hearing loss is a “public health concern affecting 466 million people worldwide, with over 40 million individuals in the US alone”.  And hearing loss isn’t just an older person’s concern.

Important facts and research Dr. Abraham shared with us:

• Loss of hearing can begin at around 35 years of age.
• 10% of individuals between the ages of 40-49 years have some form of hearing loss and 30% of people over 65 years of age are impacted by hearing loss as well and hearing impairment can be increased due to medical conditions. In a study conducted by John Hopkins’ Frank Lin, M.D., PH.D. and his colleagues, found people with severe hearing impairment were five times more likely to develop dementia.
• Hearing Aids and devices used in middle aged or older adults may help reduce risks of dementia.
• People impacted by a hearing impairment are also prone to becoming socially isolated, and may experience cognitive decline and may experience additional stress, depression and possibly high blood pressure.

What we can do…

• Regularly have your hearing checked,
• Maintain a healthy diet,
• Exercise regularly,
• Keep your mind active, read, take classes, socialize with others,
• Be cautious of medications that can directly impact your hearing health,
• Be aware of excessive wax build up in your ears,
• Limit or avoid time around loud noises.
• Be open with family and friends if they notice your inability to hear as you have in the past.

Dr. Abraham encouraged everyone to be proactive and have a hearing test as soon as possible.

Quota of Northern Colorado’s mission is to improve the quality of life for disadvantaged women and children to assist individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing. Through fundraising and service activities, members seek to develop and support programs throughout our community.

Once again Quota NOCO rocked it over this past year! We not only met our budgeted goal, but we also exceeded our fundraising efforts. As our current fiscal year ends at the end of September, were awarded and allocated totaling $35,550 earned through our estate sales held throughout the year.

2022-2023 Annual Allocations

Special Projects: 

• Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department-Fire mitigation Preventative Services
• Mobile Laundry Truck
• Loveland Youth Gardeners
• Ft. Collins Children’s Theater

Scholarships:

Scholarships were awarded to students attending a variety of colleges who are working towards degrees and certificates to assist individuals who are hearing impaired after graduation.

Women and Children:

• Project Self Sufficiency
• Alternatives to Violence-Loveland
• Partners Program
• Crossroads Safehouse
• Family Housing Network
• Poudre School System Scholarship Fund

Deaf and Hard of Hearing:

• Host Day-regional get together for elementary students in Northern Colorado
• Poudre School District D/HH program-specialized literacy program
• Individuals in need of hearing aids (don’t need to also list this under Women and Children)
• Colorado Hands and Voices-support for parents of Deaf & Hard of Hearing children

Quota members continue to work hard to keep supporting those in need, always check back for upcoming Estate Sale news…

Members, spouses, partners, as well as guests gathered for our annual picnic to celebrate the amazing accomplishments the members and “quotations” did this year. And boy what a year it was! Special thanks to picnic chairperson Judi D & the incredible committee Judy W. Linda J, Nan W. Barb L Kim M. and Carol B. for all the arrangements and hard work to make the evening a great success!

We also had two special celebrations during the picnic. The first one was to welcome our newest member Diana C. to Quota, and the second one was to wish Lenny a very happy special birthday.

Quota members who shared your special recipes and provided all the sides and desserts, you too outdid yourselves. Everything was delicious. And as usual, getting together and enjoying one another was the icing on the cake. Thanks everyone for an incredible year!

Every month Quota NOCO members are excited to learn more about programs and services within our community that benefit those in need. And July 2023 was no exception…

Our guest speaker this month was Vanessa Lewis representing Partners Mentoring Youth (Partners) who is the Resource Development Director. Vanessa shared with us the important and valuable services that the organization has been providing over the last 45 years.  The mission of this incredibly organization is to “empower youth and community members to achieve their full potential through mentoring, prevention education, and strategic partnership.”  

Programs Vanessa highlighted and discussed also focused on how volunteers can get involved;  

Mentoring: Partners provides high quality youth mentoring services to participants who are between the ages of 7-17.  For about 45 years they have served more than 500 youth every year! through community based and school based mentoring programs. The Mentoring program aims to reach and empower youth with the help of volunteers who provide thousands of hours each year building strong relationships and supporting at risk youth. The focus is ensuring services that are research-based that follow best practices through mentorship. After only one year in the program data collected found that the youth gain relationship and interpersonal skills, have increased confidence, and improved attitudes about substance abuse and a more positive outlook related to their future. Get involved!

Prevention Education: The Prevention Education program is one of the newest programs Partners has recently developed. This program provides resources and skills to the youths and families in northern Colorado.  The aim for this program is to address the challenges and risk-factors that lead youth to poor decision making, specifically related to substance misuse through group activities, presentations based on an” evidence-based social-emotional curriculum.” Get involved!

Vanessa also stressed how the Partners program takes pride in being a trusted organization that has developed effective programming and innovative strategies to impactfully serve local youth, families, and communities. By growing their involvement with dependable, forward-thinking people and programs, they are able to make a greater impact to help the children and their families. 

For more information and to volunteer visit their website at:  https://poweredbypartners.org/

Quota NOCO spent an engaging and educational evening learning about the non-profit organization International Hearing Dog, Inc (IHDI) on June 28, 2023. Leah Jacobson a Hearing Dog Trainer with IHDI also brought and introduced us to “Astro”.

Astro is a doodle breed and started his initial training when he was 8 weeks old. Astro began his early training at the Torrington prison in Wyoming. The initial training was conducted by inmates at the prison. After several months IHDI continued Astros training and Astro will be adopted with a hearing-impaired individual in the state of Georgia in early July, 2023.

International Hearing Dog, Inc (IHDI) a “small and mighty” organization was founded in 1974. IHDI’s mission is to “empower individuals who are d/Deaf and hard of hearing by purposefully training specially selected dogs to alert to sounds; carefully matching these dogs with handlers who are d/Deaf and hard of hearing; and supporting the paired teams throughout the lifetime of the match”.

The training method is based on “positivity and praise” and generally can take at least 6 months if not longer depending on the breed and age of the dog. Each dog is initially trained to be “alert” to 2-3 common sounds such as the fire alarm, baby crying and a/or a door knock. When dogs are placed with an adult, the adult is also given in-depth training to continue to confidently work and handle their service dog. IHDI maintains contact with the client to ensure the placement is working well, they also offer guidance and advice during their monthly visits as needed.

Since its inception, IHDI has partnered nearly 1,400 teams of people who are d/Deaf and hard of hearing and has customed trained dogs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and throughout Canada. Additionally, IHDI has helped support the development of similar programs in Norway, Japan, and Australia. For additional information about IHDI visit their website at: https://www.hearingdog.org/

Our evening continued with the introductions of two of Quota NOCO’s recent scholarship recipients. Kylie and Kaylie are both graduates of Poudre High School in Fort Collins, CO. Kylie will be attending Colorado College in Colorado Springs and Kaylie will be attending Montana State this fall. Congratulations to both amazing women and we are excited to remain in contact with you as you pursue your educational journey’s.

Quota puts its funds to good use locally!

Quota of Northern Colorado mission is dedicated to helping women, children, and individuals in need who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.  We are also proud to try and help local agencies and residents in the Northern Colorado area.

Quota recently funded hearing aids for two children who have never had hearing devices before. These siblings will receive $6000 of the $8000 needed to purchase the two sets of hearing aids they require. In addition, Quota helped a 62-year-old individual who has severe to profound hearing loss to replace his old hearing aids. He recently had a health crisis, is unable to work, and is facing large medical expenses. Quota also learned that he previously used a “streamer” which allowed him to connect to the TV through his hearing aids. Although he did not request this, we funded that as well.

Alternatives to Violence, a non-profit agency in Loveland that supports the needs of people facing domestic violence purchased beds to allow for 12 more people to stay in their facility. These beds will be placed where the current offices are, and the offices will move out of the house to a different location. Quota donated $1000 to aid in this project.

The Mobile Laundry Truck provides laundry services to low-income families, will receive a $1000 donation as well from Quota. Previously, Quota gave them $5000 for maintenance. The most recent donation will assist this organization to replace old laundry equipment.

VOLUNTEERING: Quota members volunteer recently financially supported and volunteered at the 2023 “Greely Host Day” assisting students who are hearing impaired have a fabulous and fun field day. What a GREAT event!

Have You Ever Heard of the Mobile Laundry Program? Members of Quota gathered for our May2023 dinner meeting and became reacquainted and updated about the Mobile Laundry program from founder Woody Carlson.  It was so great to hear about all they have accomplished since the program first began approximately 5 years ago when Quota NOCO assisted with significant seed monies at the onset of the program.

The mission of the Mobile Laundry program is to break down barriers to success for low-income families in Larimer County which also includes individuals experiencing homelessness in Loveland, through free, mobile laundry services.

Retired pastor Woody Carlson shared that the truck is equipped with six (6) washers and dryers and every week on Tuesday and Wednesdays in Ft. Collins and Thursday’s & Fridays in Loveland. After only 90 minutes, or at the end of the day, participants’ laundry is clean and dry, AND folded and is ready to be picked up! Woody reported they process up to 160 loads of laundry every week (rain, shine, sleet or snow) additionally, every week individuals can bring maximum of 5 loads per person.  Families who lack a fixed, regular place to live, struggle to meet their basic needs (including access to laundry), need help!

“Primary hygiene needs such as laundry are often overlooked and are often overlooked yet is essential for anyone trying to secure employment, seek affordable housing and regain their self-sufficiency.” Check out their 2022 statistics which state…4758 loads of laundry,1298 people were served,2987 volunteer hours logged!

Very meaningful questions posed by Woody during his presentation were poignant, how do we feel when we have clean sheets, and clean clothes? How does that affect how we interact with others? As adults and children how are we impacted by the lack of clean clothing and the social stigma and self-esteem issues associated with this? This is why Woody Carlson started Mobile Laundry!

For additional information or to volunteer or donate to the Mobile Laundry Program visit their website at: https://www.homewardalliance.org/hwa/mobile-laundry/.

Our evening ended with another special event, the induction of our newest Quota NOCO member Chris. Welcome Chris, we look forward to you being a part of this incredible organization!

An amazing Saturday with our amazing Quota NOCO volunteers! Once again, special thanks to our members of Quota NOCO who volunteered at the recently held MS Walk on Saturday May 13, 2023 in Windsor, Colorado.

Walk MS empowers supporters and those individuals who are living with a MS diagnosis and connects others who share a similar story. The “Living with MS” program is nationally sponsored by Sanofi-to celebrate and honor the resilience of those who live with this disease and by linking all with resources and tools available within the community.

Click on the link for additional information about MS: https://mssociety.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=cms.page&id=2024

Way to go Quota NOCO!!!

Pam Johannsen, Meals on Wheels Board President of Fort Collins, Colorado, taught members of Quota Northern Colorado about the tremendous work Meals on Wheels does in and for our community. Pam has been a volunteer with Meals on Wheels for 21 years.

Meals on Wheels was first established in Colorado in 1969.  The Organizations mission “is to support the dignity, well-being and independence of primarily homebound older adults and eligible clients in our community with a hot, nutritious meal and social interaction for up to 5 days of a week.” The Ft. Collins chapter relies on community support to complete its mission of ensuring no senior is hungry or alone. One of the many facts Pam shared with us is that the Meals on Wheels program only uses grant funds and donations for the program, they do not receive any federal funding. In addition to their incredible individual donors, Meals on Wheels partners with many community resources but especially with PVH/UCHealth Hospital.

Volunteers in the Ft. Collins area delivers hot meals to approximately 300 meals every week which are delivered by twenty-six (26) drivers. The volunteers not only deliver meals but make real personal connections with the individuals who receive the meals to ensure they are safe and well. The program also provides “blizzard boxes” which have non-perishable items in case inclement weather that may prevent the delivery of meals.

For more information on this tremendous program and/or to volunteer check out their website at: https://www.mealsonwheelsfc.org/

During our March 2023 dinner meeting Quota members were honored to have as our guest speaker the Operations Manager of Vindeket Foods, Emily Klee. The Vindeket Foods organization is a remarkable and innovative organization that truly does so much for our community.  

The word “Vindeket” is a made-up word that is a combination of “vindicate and advocate” – which speaks to the purpose of Vindeket’s mission of being “advocates of food vindication” to work towards reducing food waste. Participants, shoppers, donors, and volunteers join together to make their mission a reality.  Did you know last year Vindeket rescued over 1 million pounds of food? Yes, over 1 million pounds of food that would have landed up in our local landfills.

Vindeket is a non-profit food rescue program located in north Fort Collins, Colorado. The organization partners with local grocers, farms, restaurants and businesses to “rescue” soon-to-expire or excess foods that would normally be thrown away. Vindeket then provides those items such as frozen goods, bread bakery items, yogurt, eggs pasta, produce, milk, etc. (items vary on a weekly basis) to the community.  Shoppers select what they would like to “purchase” however are asked to only pay what they are comfortable paying. The “no-cost” market is open to anyone and is staffed by volunteers.

Check Vindeket out today to pick up items you may need or better yet volunteer!

• Sundays: 12pm-3pm
• Tuesdays: 2pm-7pm
• Thursdays: 11am-1pm

For more information visit their website at https://www.vindeketfoods.org/