Advancing Vibrant Communities

MODESTO -- A Central Valley summer is brutal without air conditioning. But David Gonzales didn't have it until his caregiver, Sherri Caldwell, called Advancing Vibrant Communities.

AVC provided and installed the unit in the dead of summer.

"I am grateful for the air conditioner because we needed it badly," said Gonzales, pictured at left. "Now things are a whole lot better. Even though I joke around with my caregiver, Sherri, I feel we are friends ... I am happy and grateful."

This faith-based group connects volunteers from local churches with opportunities to serve neighborhoods in need, the poor, the elderly and the disabled.

Address: 3430 Tully Road, Suite 20-239, Modesto, 95350

Phone number: (209) 544-9571

Web site: www.vibrantcommunities.org

Services provided:

• Home safety equipment installations (ramps, grab bars).

• Graffiti wipeouts.

• Transportation to urgent medical and kidney dialysis appointments.

• Minor home repairs.

• Yard maintenance.

• Volunteer support for the County Office of Emergency Services.

• Donations of home items for those who can't afford them.

• Donations of basic medical equipment (wheelchairs, walkers, commodes).

How we help those in need:

AVC serves 80-100 individuals a month, in addition to serving other nonprofits and community organizations with support for their programs. Clients include seniors, the disabled, victims of domestic violence, the homeless, people being released from prison, single moms and dads, and families in poverty areas.

How a $10 donation can help:

1. Items for safety construction (nails, saw blades, screws, replacement electrical outlets).

$25 donation:

1. Discounted paint for graffiti wipeout operations.

2. Fuel for gas-powered lawn mowers and weed-whackers to help seniors and the disabled with their yards.

3. The cost of maintaining AVC's Web site online to post needs and to connect volunteers with those needs.

$50 donation:

1. Set of grab (safety) bars to help prevent deadly falls in a senior's home.

2. Tools for minor home repairs for the needy.

$100 donation:

1. Medical supplies for the AVC Health Bus (preventative health screening for poverty areas).

2. Lumber for building ramps for the disabled and elderly.

3. Parts to repair plumbing problems creating health hazards in homes.

Volunteer update: AVC invites partner-volunteers with generous hearts to serve others. We need volunteers who can provide rides to medical appointments, medical professionals to staff the AVC Health Bus on missions, and people with construction knowledge and experience, excellent telephone skills, mentoring and tutoring skills, and the capacity to deliver appliances and furniture to needy families.