Hello everyone!

Spring is in the air and Lifelong is waking up to a beautiful new season here in

Washington. We hope you enjoy the second issue of the Volunteer Newsletter.

In this issue:

Inside Scoop: Chicken Soup Brigade programs

Volunteer Spotlight: Josh G. and Curtis B.

Upcoming Events: Dining Out for Life and Lifelong Lager Launch Party

Inside Scoop: Chicken Soup Brigade

Since its beginnings in 1983, CSB has been committed to serving clients with specific health

challenges. Today, this includes people with HIV/AIDS, diabetes, kidney disease, cancers, or

disabling arthritis. Other clients are home-bound seniors. Most are living below the federal

poverty level, and all require assistance in managing their nutritional health.

In the last eight years, CSB has tripled the number of clients they serve - from 675 to over

2,100! Now let’s learn about the programs…

Meal Program

Each week the kitchen team prepares and packages

4,000 fresh meals. All meals are made from scratch,

using whole ingredients. They are heart-healthy,

American Heart Association certified, and quite tasty

if you ask me! In 2015 alone, they distributed

169,000 meals to client’s homes. WOW!

Grocery Program

CSB packs around 700 bags of groceries for delivery

each week with delicious and nutritious whole foods

like grains, beans, fresh produce, dairy and meat.

Last year, we distributed 36,000 grocery bags. In

their birthday month, clients are given a homemade

birthday cake!

Nutrition Counseling

The two registered dietitians on staff provide

nutritional counseling to clients (for free!) as well as

helping to tailor the meals to the nutritional needs of

clients, making them heart-healthy and delicious.

Volunteer Spotlight - Josh & Curtis

From Seattle to Ecuador: Taking Volunteerism Overseas

Josh Griffin and Curtis Bartell are two of CSB’s delivery drivers, and as luck would have it, they

are both moving to Ecuador with the Peace Corps this summer! Because of such a fun

happenstance, we had no choice but to highlight them.

After coming across CSB in an internet search, both Josh and Curtis quickly became involved

with their delivery routes in the Seattle area. Curtis began volunteering in December 2014 and

was eager to get involved because it fit with his lifestyle and personality. He loves the

interactions with clients and enjoys building on those relationships every week. Plus, he added,

he gets to explore new parts of Seattle whenever he takes on a new route.

Josh began volunteering in July 2015. When asked why he volunteers, Josh responded,

“Helping others lasts a lifetime. You never know if you’ll be in the same situation, so

you might as well help.”

Both Josh and Curtis agree that when they see their clients, they don’t see their illnesses.

They see them as average people who need a helping hand. When asked about the most

rewarding experiences of their job, they say that meeting, talking to, and forging relationships

with clients is the best part.

“My clients are so amazing,” Curtis says. “They’re 99% of the reason that I volunteer for CSB. I

love my clients and I love my girlfriend and they love us, so we volunteer together to see

them.”

“I love seeing the smiles on their faces every week and hearing their stories,” says Josh. “The

most challenging part,” he adds, “is finding parking!"

Why the Peace Corps?

It’s all about fulfillment from helping others.

“Being selfless will create an amazing life,” Josh says. Because of Lifelong, he sees the

value in prevention of HIV-AIDS. Oddly enough, Josh’s role in Ecuador will be a Health

Outreach Coordinator, working with those in the HIV-AIDS community while also

teaching about nutrition and water safety.

Curtis was inspired to join the Peace Corps because he wanted to do something big with

his life and to use his degree in a useful way. His role in Ecuador is with Youth &

Community Development. He’ll work with the Boys & Girls Club in the local area.

Thank you Josh and Curtis! What an exciting time ahead. We wish you luck in Ecuador and

thank you for all that you do for Chicken Soup Brigade and our wonderful clients!

THANK YOU!!! That’s all for now! Once again, thank you for all that you do to make Lifelong thrive! We

truly couldn’t do this work without the help of our volunteers. Hope to see some of you at

the Lifelong Lager Launch Party and Dining Out for Life!

Donate

Copyright © 2016 Lifelong, All rights reserved.

You're a volunteer!

Our mailing address is:

Lifelong

P.O. Box 80547

Seattle, WA 98108