Community Impact
The AVUS Connect® intergenerational volunteer program that was founded by Shawn Martinez and integrated by a group of youth volunteers has enhanced the quality of life of older adults through the following community projects:
SUMMER 2023 IMPACT VIDEO
Projects
- Distributed over 7,300 Hurricane Shelf Stable Meals donated by Florida Power and Light/NextEra Energy and Florida Council on Aging in 2022: AVUS Connect® volunteers distributed meals to 815 Seniors living in underserved communities of Miami-Dade County, including Allapattah, Hialeah, Florida City, and North Miami in collaboration with the Village of Allapattah YMCA Family Center, Hialeah Housing Authority, City of Florida City, and Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center.
- Distributed 7,290 Hurricane Shelf Stable Meals donated by Florida Power and Light/NextEra Energy and Florida Council on Aging in 2021: AVUS Connect® volunteers distributed meals to 810 Seniors living in 10 critically underserved communities, including Miami Gardens, Opa-Locka, Coconut Grove, Hialeah, North Miami, Liberty City, Little Haiti, Palmetto Bay, and Homestead in collaboration with Florida Memorial University, Thelma Gibson Health Initiative, Hialeah Housing Authority, Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center, Notre Dame Catholic Church, and Bridge to Hope.
- Distributed 120 Thanksgiving Baskets donated by Humana Health and the Greenberg Family Trust to the Senior population in Hialeah in collaboration with HOPE (Helping Our People Everyday). These baskets were delivered in Miami-Dade County District 13 – Senator Rene Garcia’s district.
- Distributed 1,050 meals to 50 residents of South Miami Plaza, a Senior Housing Community, in partnership with the Thelma Gibson Health Initiative.
volunteering
As an integral part of United HomeCare®’s volunteer platform, AVUS Connect® intergenerational youth volunteers have helped to address social isolation and loneliness in older adults who live by themselves, are homebound, or are waiting for services on United HomeCare®’s waitlist. A total of 6,937 direct volunteer hours were provided in 2021 by the United HomeCare® Volunteer Department, of which 840 volunteer hours were provided by the AVUS Connect® Youth Volunteers. The economic impact value of the hours provided by AVUS Connect® amounts to $8,400; however, the social value of this program is priceless.