LEXINGTON, Ky. - The founder of an organization that helps empower low-income women in Appalachia feels she's just won the lottery after finding out she's the $10,000 grand prize winner of a national contest by AARP. Jane Stephenson founded the New Opportunity School for Women in Berea nearly a quarter-century ago, and a prize of ten grand was announced last week for her charity as part of AARP's Create the Good "Win and Do Good" contest honoring community service by or for people age 50 and older.

Stephenson says the sweepstakes has drawn great publicity to her cause, while reinforcing a key mission of the New Opportunity School for Women: volunteering.

"And, it ties in so well with one component of our leadership development, because we are encouraging the women that come through our program to volunteer."

The executive director of the New Opportunity School for Women, Lori Sliwa, is overjoyed by the exposure it's given the organization, as recruitment has been a major problem. The program gives middle-aged women in Appalachia tools to improve their personal, financial and educational circumstances.

"It is giving them back their own power. Self-esteem is key; it's a core component to what we do. And we really help women re-ignite that fire within and realize their full potential."

Nearly 700 women have graduated from the program in its nearly-25-year history. And within those numbers, Sliwa boasts, there's a lot to brag about.

"79 percent of our graduates are employed, in school, or both. And the really incredible statistic is that 80 percent have completed some form of higher education; everything from an associate's to a master's degree, and we even have, I believe it's two, with PhDs."

Mimi Castaldi, vice president for volunteer engagement at AARP, says Jane Stephenson's record of commitment with the New Opportunity School for Women is a model of volunteerism the national contest sought to recognize. Castaldi hopes stories like Stephenson's will inspire other older Americans to "create the good" in their own communities.

"She started it 24 years ago. She was just about AARP's membership age when she started, just a little bit under 50. And, she's been going strong every since. And, what a difference she has made in that time period."

The New Opportunity School for Women is a free three-week career and leadership development program that teaches essential workplace skills for low-income women in the central Appalachian region.

Stephenson had already won $5,000 in AARP's regional volunteer contest. There were 1800 total entries in the sweepstakes, and public on-line voting determined the grand prize winner.






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A California group formed after the firestorm that leveled the town of Paradise is stepping up to help Maui recover from its own disaster last month. Leaders from the Medspire nonprofit mobile clinic in Paradise donated money and expertise to medical staff on Maui.

Elisabeth Gundersen, Medspire co-founder, said a mentor program is being formed to pair survivors from Maui with people from Paradise who can help people deal with insurance companies, aid programs and post-traumatic stress.

"When something like this - it's unprecedented, two groups of people who've experienced something so similar, I think it's really helpful and healing on both sides to have that connection," she explained. "Be able to ask questions and talk through really unique and traumatic experiences."

Medspire donated $7,500 immediately after the fire to help with medicines, durable medical equipment, and flights to bring in extra medical personnel. The group also put the team on Maui in touch with the organization Direct Relief, which provided more than $200,000 in grants and sent planeloads of medications and personal protective equipment.

Dr. Trina Chakravarty, an OB-GYN physician who practices at Malama I Ke Ola Health Center in Lahaina, and at Maui Memorial Hospital, said this type of care is critical.

"Medspire set our expectations that it takes a while to have an organized assessment and control," Chakravarty explained. So, they gave us the resources that we needed to be able to actually offer some type of organized care."

Medspire also connected the Maui team with the International Technology Disaster Resource Center, which provides no-cost emergency communications and technical resources that help communities begin recovery after catastrophic events.


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A shortage of volunteers is taking its toll on food banks in Washington state.

Joe Gruber, executive director of the University District Food Bank in Seattle, said they have about 300 weekly volunteers who make their operations possible. But with COVID-19 worries subsiding this summer, their usual volunteer base has been getting out and traveling more than past years.

Gruber pointed out the shortage comes at an unfortunate time because they are busier than at any point during the pandemic, seeing 50% more people in 2023 than 2022. He acknowledged the increased need stems from a confluence of issues.

"The inflation that folks have experienced over the last few years, and then we've also seen an erosion of some of the enhanced benefits like SNAP had received some extra dollars," Gruber outlined.

An increase in funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during the pandemic ended in March. A recent study found SNAP recipients experienced a 21% increase in food insufficiency after the increase ended.

Gruber emphasized the lack of volunteers is hurting not just inside the food bank but in other operations, such as their home delivery program. He added they have also seen a 10% to 15% decline in food donations, which means they have to buy more food.

"We're needing to fundraise more money to make sure that we've got those resources available, and that's another way that volunteers have helped us in the past," Gruber stressed. "We have an annual fundraising auction where we'll hope to raise $250,000 or $300,000, and it happens because volunteers commit."

Gruber noted fortunately for his food bank, students at the nearby University of Washington campus lend their assistance.

"They've engaged deeply in our work and supported it," Gruber observed. "Hopefully for us, we'll have a resource that not every food bank will have available to them; an abundant pool of interested and engaged students starting back in the fall."


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The burden of medical debt is not so heavy anymore for some lucky North Carolina residents.

The Coastal Credit Union Foundation partnered with the nonprofit RIP Medical Debt to wipe away some medical bills for about 1,200 people in central North Carolina. A grant of $17,000 was used to settle nearly $2.2 million in debt.

Joe Mecca, vice president of communications for the Coastal Credit Union Foundation, said the ripple effect of medical bills can take a toll on individuals' financial and emotional well-being, so the credit union was happy to help provide a pathway to a fresh start.

"Once they're able to get back on their feet from an occupational standpoint, they still have that medical debt looming over them," Mecca observed. "Clearing that out might be enough to get them back on the path to stability."

The problem of unpaid medical debt is a pressing issue in North Carolina, which ranks among the states with the highest percentages of medical debt in the country, according to a 2022 study by The Urban Institute.

The impact of medical debt is not limited to financial strain. The stress and anxiety associated as the bills mount can affect mental health as well. Adults facing medical debt are three times more likely to experience mental health concerns, according to a University of South Florida study.

Mecca emphasized helping to clear these balances is a small investment that can make a big difference.

"For us, it's just an extension of our mission and helping people achieve overall financial wellness," Mecca added. "This is the first time we've worked with this organization, and we're just really pleased with the overall impact that they were able to achieve with a relatively small grant from Coastal."

A study by the American Economic Association, found medical debt relief not only improves a person's overall well-being, but also improves their access to health care.