STAY INFORMED
SENIOR CONNECTIONS HAS A NEW LOCATION
On Monday, Jan. 9, Senior Connections – The Capital Area Agency on Aging moved to their new location at 1300 Semmes Ave., Richmond, VA 23224. The new location has more modern amenities, parking, and accessibility. Public transportation is available to the new location. Clients can take the 2A, 2B, or 2C to the bus stop at Semmes and 14th to get to the office. The location has changed, but Senior Connections’ phone numbers, email addresses and other contact information remain the same. For more information about the move, contact Senior Connections at 804-343-3000 or [email protected]
VIRGINIA MEDICAID LAUNCHES CARDINAL CARE
On January 1, 2023, Virginia Medicaid launched Cardinal Care, a new brand that includes all health coverage programs for all Virginia Medicaid members. This new program will help connect members to the care they need, when they need it. This program also will eliminate gaps in care as health needs change over time. Cardinal Care also will streamline the enrollment process and simplify program information.
There is nothing Medicaid members need to do to take part in this program. They will continue to have the same benefits and services, and will see the same doctors and providers. They will begin to see the Cardinal Care brand on some materials, such as member ID cards, websites, and other materials from their health plans or from Virginia Medicaid.
Cardinal Care is the same Virginia Medicaid program that members currently have, with some improvements to make it easier to understand and access coverage. To learn more, visit the website for members.
NOMINATE INSPIRING INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZATIONS OR BUSINESSES FOR THE 2023 SPIRIT OF VOLUNTEERISM AWARDS!
Nominations are now open for the 2023 Spirit of Volunteerism Awards, an annual program that recognizes individuals or groups who have made major contributions to the quality of life in Hanover County through their volunteer efforts.
Nominations may be submitted in the following eight categories:
Spirit of One
Spirit of Youth
Spirit of Youth – Team
Spirit of Dedication
Spirit of Team
Spirit of Family
Spirit of Inspiration
Commitment to Community
The nomination deadline is Friday, March 10. For more information, visit https://www.hanovercounty.gov/1228/spirit-of-volunteerism.
HANOVER SENIOR RIDES SEEKING VOLUNTEER DRIVERS!
Hanover Senior Rides gives seniors and people with disabilities the mobility they need to live independently by providing free rides to those who can no longer drive. The program is operated in Mechanicsville by Mechanicsville Churches Emergency Functions (MCEF) and in Ashland by Ashland Christian Emergency Services (ACES). Hanover Senior Rides is currently seeking ride coordinators and volunteer drivers. The volunteers use their own vehicles to take people to medical appointments, grocery shopping and for personal business. Drivers are paid 50 cents per mile to reimburse them for the cost of gas. For more information, contact MCEF at 804-357-9360 or ACES at 804-543-6115 or visit https://4mcef.com and https://aceshanover.org/services.
THRIVE VIRGINIA 2023 COMMUNITY NEEDS SURVEY!
Thrive Virginia is a community action agency dedicated to supporting and uplifting communities. Its 2023 Community Needs Assessment Survey collects information to identify gaps in services and identify new resources for their community members. The survey is available to any adult (18+) within their service area, including Hanover and several surrounding counties. The survey is open through January 31. To complete the survey, visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CommunitySUrveyforThriveVA.
INTERESTED IN JOINING THE HANOVER COUNCIL ON AGING?
The Hanover Council on Aging is looking for representatives for the Ashland, Chickahominy, Cold Harbor and Henry Districts. The council serves as a consultative and advisory body on issues pertaining to the quality of life of Hanover County citizens age 50 and over. The council plans and hosts several special programs during the year to share information on services and resources for older adults. Visit www.hanovercounty.gov/470/Hanover-County-Council-on-Aging to learn more.
PAPPY’S PANTRY SEEKING DONATIONS OF DIAPERS AND FORMULA!
Pappy’s Pantry, located at 8492 McClellan Road, Mechanicsville, is currently seeking donations of diapers and baby formula to give to their clients. Diapers are needed in sizes ranging from newborn to size 7. Any brands of formula are accepted. For more information on pantry needs and how to donate, visit https://pappyspantryministries.org or call 804-387-4226.
SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
Are you looking to get involved? Here are some ideas for ways you can give back to your community, support local organizations and get community service hours!
January Volunteer Events
Monday, Jan. 23, 2:45-4:15 p.m. – Recreational activities with adults with disabilities in Montpelier
Hanover County Parks and Recreation is seeking caring, patient, and enthusiastic volunteers to lead recreational activities for adults with disabilities or special needs. Volunteers are needed to help lead participants in activities such as chair fitness exercises, games, music and movement, crafts and more. Dress is casual. Be prepared for outdoor activities. For more information or to sign up, visit HandsOn Greater Richmond | Assist adults with disabilities in recreational activities (Montpelier, VA) (handsonrva.org).
Tuesday, Jan. 24, 9:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. – Recreational activities with adults with disabilities in Mechanicsville
Hanover County Parks and Recreation is seeking caring, patient, and enthusiastic volunteers to lead recreational activities for adults with disabilities or special needs. Volunteers are needed to help lead participants in activities such as chair fitness exercises, games, music and movement, crafts and more. Dress is casual. Be prepared for outdoor activities. For more information or to sign up, visit HandsOn Greater Richmond | Assist adults with disabilities in recreational activities (Mechanicsville, VA) (handsonrva.org).
Thursday, Jan. 26, 4:30-8:45 p.m. – Winter Beach Party at Church of the Redeemer
Hanover County Parks and Recreation is hosting a fun night of dancing, socializing and more in a beach-themed Winter Beach Party program for adults with special needs. Volunteers are needed in various areas, including setup and takedown, food preparation and serving, greeting, and party people. Most volunteers will participate in various roles throughout the night. For more information or to sign up, visit HandsOn Greater Richmond | Winter Beach Party for Adults with Disabilities or Special Needs (handsonrva.org).
Tuesday, Jan. 31, 9:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. – Cake Pops like a Cake Boss at Pole Green Park
Hanover County Parks and Recreation are seeking volunteers with a passion for baking to assist with a fun day of decorating cake pops for adults with disabilities. Volunteers are needed to help with supplies, setup and takedown – and to provide encouragement and assistance throughout the event. No prior baking or decorating experience is needed. Please dress in casual clothes that can get dirty. For more information or to sign up, visit HandsOn Greater Richmond | Cake Pops like a Cake Boss for adults with special needs (handsonrva.org).
Ongoing Service Opportunities
The Arc of Hanover Thrift Store is an organization that advocates for the rights and full participation of children and adults with intellectual and other developmental disabilities. They are seeking individuals who want to make a difference in their community to work in their store. Volunteers are needed for cashiering, cleaning and pricing items, replenishing shelves and receiving donations. Store hours are Thursday and Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Arc of Hanover is seeking volunteers to work split shifts or full days, particularly on Saturday. For more information, contact 804-798-2400 or [email protected].
CJ’s Thumbs Up Foundation is an organization that provides assistance to families of children with chronic and life threatening illnesses. On the first Tuesday and Wednesday of each month, they make meals for these families. For more information, visit CJ's Thumbs Up Foundation - Home (cjstuf.org) and CJ's Thumbs Up Foundation: CJ's Sandwich Making Crew (signupgenius.com).
Hanover Christian Firewood Ministry is an organization that provides firewood to more than 35 Hanover families who rely on firewood as their primary source of heat. They split and deliver wood every Saturday, from 8:00 a.m.-noon or 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. depending on the time of year. For more information, contact Carl Heckel at 804-559-8824.
Hanover and King William Habitat for Humanity Faith Build is a partnership with local faith-based organizations and businesses. Local churches and friends of the faith community will gather to help build and fund a home for a local family. For more information, visit Faith Build - Hanover & King William Habitat for Humanity (hkwhabitat.org) or email Amanda Gunter at [email protected].
YMCA Feedmore Food Pantry is seeking volunteers to help with food distribution on the first Tuesday of each month from 10 a.m.-noon Distribution takes place in the Ashland Junction shopping center (located at 123 Junction Drive, Ashland, VA 23005). For more information, contact Bri Kropinack at [email protected].
YMCA Tutoring Buddies is seeking enthusiastic volunteers to assist students with homework. The program runs Tuesday evenings from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at 123 Junction Dr., Ashland, VA 23005 with two sessions: Feb. 21 through March 28 and April 18 through May 23. For more information and to sign up, contact Bri Kropinack at [email protected].
Databases for Finding Upcoming Service Events in Your Community
HandsOn Greater Richmond (handsonrva.org)
JustServe: Home
Other Ways You Can Get Involved
Inquire about volunteer opportunities at your local nursing home!
Reach out to your local food pantry and ask if they are in need of any specific food items or volunteers!
If you are part of a local organization and would like to share your service events in an upcoming Community Resources E-Newsletter, email [email protected].
SERVICES & PROGRAMS
Our team at Hanover Community Resources is here to assist you or your clients in finding available resources. We are here 8:30am-5:00pm Monday-Friday. Call us at 804-365-4300 or email [email protected].
Financial Resources
Crisis Assistance: Heating
Crisis assistance for heating is intended to meet a household’s emergency heating need, when no other resource is available.
Applications are accepted for a one time only heat security deposit and/or heating equipment repair/purchase online at https://commonhelp.virginia.gov/access/, through the Enterprise Customer Service Center, and at local departments of Social Services from Nov. 1-March 15. Assistance is based on the availability of funds.
Applications are accepted for the purchase of home heating fuel and the payment of heat utility bill online at https://commonhelp.virginia.gov/access/, through the Enterprise Customer Service Center, and at local departments of Social Services from the first workday in January through March 15. Assistance is based on the availability of funds.
EnergyShare-Heating
EnergyShare-Heating is a crisis program of last resort that helps pay energy bills for any type of heating (wood, oil, natural gas, propane, kerosene, electric) for those who qualify. EnergyShare is not income based, so any customer in crisis is eligible to apply. Applications for heating are accepted from Oct. 1-May 31. Customer applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine eligibility. If approved, the benefit is paid directly to the customer’s energy provider. Individuals 60 and older may be eligible for additional assistance. Military veterans and those individuals living with disabilities may qualify for an additional $500 benefit if participating in the voucher programs of the Department of Veteran Services or the Centers for Independent Living.
Hanover and King William Habitat for Humanity Critical Repair Program
Habitat envisions a world where everyone has a decent place to live - that includes a home that is accessible, dry, safe and energy efficient. Habitat's Critical Repair program offers reduced-cost repairs to address safety issues and code violations. Habitat is taking applications for Hanover and King William residents. To learn more about this critical repair program, visit https://hkwhabitat.org/critical-repairs or contact Kimberly Bell at 804-569-6108, x105.
Hanover Real Estate Tax Relief Program
Hanover County has a real estate tax relief program available for residents who are elderly or permanently disabled and who have a net worth of $300,000 or less and a combined household gross income of $55,000 or less. The application is due March 1, 2023 for the relief to be applied to the tax bills due on June 5, 2023.
Applicants must be 65 years or older or permanently disabled and must own or partially own the property and have lived in it on December 31. If the applicant is in a hospital or extended care facility, he or she may still qualify as long as the house is not rented or leased.
For more information or to access the application forms, call the Office of the Commissioner of the Revenue at 804-365-6128 or visit www.hanovercounty.gov.
Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP)
Customers of the Hanover County Department of Public Utilities are now able to apply online for assistance from Virginia’s Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), a temporary federal-funded program created to assist low-income households with water and wastewater bills. To be eligible for LIHWAP, your household must have a past due water or wastewater balance and a household income below the LIHWAP guidelines based on household size. Priority will be given to households whose water or wastewater has been disconnected or is at a risk of disconnection.
Customers can get more information or apply online by going to https://virginialihwap.com/lihwap or by calling Promise at 1-888-373-9908.
Thrive VA Crisis Assistance
Thrive Virginia is an organization that seeks to empower individuals and families to become self-sufficient, live with dignity and achieve optimum health. They offer utility assistance with limited available funding. Individuals and families are eligible for emergency financial assistance if they have met the income guidelines for the past 30 days. The guidelines are located at https://www.thriveva.org/emergency-financial-assistance. For more information, call 804-966-8770 or email [email protected].
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) administers the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). WAP reduces household energy use through the installation of cost-effective energy savings measures, which also improve resident health and safety. Common measures including sealing air leaks, adding insulation, and repairing heating and cooling systems. DHCD works with a network of nonprofit organizations around the state, who directly implement the program. More information is available at https://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/wx.
Parent Resources
Free In-Home Parenting Education
Do you know a parent or parents who could use additional parenting education and support? This service is available to pregnant women or mothers with children up to 5 years old who live in Hanover County, and is provided in the family’s own home at no cost. It is designed to offer education related to healthy pregnancies, positive parenting skills, child development activities and knowledge about child developmental stages. The program also assists families to connect with various community resources to help address the needs of parents and children during the stages of early childhood. The program is a partnership between Hanover County and Family Lifeline. For more information or to make a referral, contact Family Lifeline at 804-249-5414 or [email protected].
Glowing Smiles Dentistry: Give a Smile Event
On Saturday, Feb. 4, Glowing Smiles Dentistry will host their second annual Give a Smile Event from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at 9097 Atlee Station Rd., Suite 120, Mechanicsville, VA. The event provides free dental care for children ages 13 and younger from low-income families. For more information, call 804-559-3250.
Hanover Community Services Board: Virtual Parent Education Series
Hanover County Community Services Board and Hanover County Public Schools are partnering on a free virtual parent education series that takes place throughout the 2022-2023 academic year. Registration links for the series are distributed monthly through the E-Connect system. For more information, contact Dana Gaskin, Child and Family Specialist at Hanover Community Services, at 804-365-4238.
Senior and Caregiver Resources
Alzheimer’s Association Support Groups
The Greater Richmond Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association hosts monthly support groups for friends and family to share valuable information, caregiving tips and concerns throughout the Alzheimer’s journey. The Alzheimer’s Association is an organization that strives to end Alzheimer’s and all other forms of dementia by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection and maximizing quality care and support. Participants are encouraged to register in advance for every meeting by calling 800-272-3900.
Virtual Hanover Meeting:
- Held the 3rd Monday of every month at 7 p.m. on Zoom
- To join the meeting by phone, call 833-548-0282.
- Meeting ID: 952 7207 6248
- Passcode: 789535
In-Person Hanover Meeting:
- Held the 2nd Wednesday of every month at 9:30 a.m.
- At Hanover Adult Day Center
- 7231 Stonewall Parkway, Mechanicsville
Hanover DASH:
Hanover DASH will take you where you want to go this winter.
Hanover DASH provides personalized transportation to medical appointments, grocery stores, errands, employment and formal social programs for those aged 60 and up and persons with a disability.
To apply to be a Hanover DASH rider, simply fill out a short registration form with documentation to confirm Hanover County residency and proof of age (65 or over) or disability (short or long term). Rides are offered in collaboration with UZURV, an adaptive transportation network company.
Contact Hanover DASH with questions at 804-365-3274 or visit www.HanoverDASH.org for more information.
Virginia State Bar: Senior Virginians Handbook
The Senior Virginians Handbook is a resource for seniors, their families and their caregivers to provide overviews and contact information for issues, opportunities, and choices facing senior citizens today. It also provides summaries of how specific laws affect Virginia’s older citizens and practical advice on issues such as Medicaid, Alzheimer’s Disease, landlord-tenant relations, and much more. There also is an extensive list of community service organizations that provide services to senior Virginians.
Manual para Adultos Mayores de Virginia, the Spanish version of the Senior Virginians Handbook, also is available.
Order a single Senior Virginians Handbook, or by the box here.
CERT Emergency Preparedness Class
The Hanover Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), a volunteer unit of Hanover Fire/EMS will be hosting a five session class on basic emergency preparedness. The sessions will be held on Thursday nights from 6:30-9 p.m. (at the latest) beginning Thursday, Jan. 19 and ending Thursday Feb. 16. They will take place at Fire Station #13 in Mechanicsville off Rt. 301.
Twelve spots are available, with no physical requirements for participation. The youngest age accepted in the class is 17, and a parent must attend with the minor. Attendance at all five sessions is required for graduation. The sign-up deadline is Friday, January 13 by 5:00 p.m. Email [email protected] with your name, email address and phone number to sign up.
Walnut Grove Baptist Church: Free ESL and Citizenship Classes
Walnut Grove Baptist Church offers free English as a Second Language (ESL) and Citizenship classes on Wednesday mornings from 9-10:30 a.m. at 7046 Cold Harbor Rd., Mechanicsville, VA 23111. The classes have open enrollment through May 17, 2023. Students are only required to purchase the books needed for the course. For more information, call the church office at 804-746-5081 or contact Frank at 804-402-7701 or [email protected].
YMCA Social Needs Navigator
The YMCA’s Social Needs Navigator shares information about free and reduced price resources in Hanover, such as food, clothes, childcare, housing and healthcare. For more information, visit https://help1rva.org or call 804-798-0057.
Food Network Meeting
The Department of Community Resources is having a Food Network meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023 at 2 p.m. in the DSS conference room. For more information, call 804-365-4300 or email [email protected].
Hanover Community Services Board: Mental Health First Aid Training
Hanover County Community Services Board is offering Mental Health First Aid training for people who work with adults and youth. Participants will learn common signs and symptoms of mental health and substance abuse challenges, how to interact with a person in crisis and how to connect a person with help. You also will gain expanded knowledge about trauma, substance use and self-care. For more information, contact Hanover County Community Services Board at 804-365-4222.
Mental Health First Aid Training for those who work with Adults:
- Thursday, March 9, 2023, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (Virtual)
- Monday, May 22, 2023, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (In-Person)
Mental Health First Aid Training for those who work with Youth:
- Monday, Feb. 13, 2023, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (Virtual)
- Monday, June 5, 2023, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (In-Person)
To register for Mental Health First Aid Training, visit www.tinyurl.com/bhwmhfa.
For additional questions contact the Department of Community Resources at 804-365-4300 or [email protected].
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