Short on volunteers, local food bank turning away some in need. Help needed now!

From our member Patience Milrod:

My husband came home tonight from a CropWalk meeting, at which Dana Wilkie, executive director of the Fresno Food Bank, reported that today -- just today! -- the Food Bank had to turn away 500 people because there weren't enough volunteers to hand out the food.

This hit me pretty hard. They had the food, but they didn't have the volunteers. 500 people!

I wonder... can we get more of our V4CF members out there to help? Dana told us people can volunteer by calling Hands On Central California at 559-237-3101, or by sending an e-mail message to vols4disaster@handsoncentralcal.org. They need volunteers for the following shifts:

• 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; and
• 1-5 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

This is our community... let's get out there and help!

Thanks for the information, Patience! Let's Be the Change and do this!

The details on President Obama's healthcare reform guarantees

Yes, Volunteers For Change-Fresno remains nonpartisan. But we thought it informative to share this note from Kate Folmar, Communications Director for the California Democratic Party.

Titled 'President Obama’s Eight Health Insurance Reform Guarantees,' the note explains what is included in the President's healthcare reform plan.

#1- No Discrimination for Pre-Existing Conditions

In the past three years, 12.6 million of Americans were discriminated against because of a pre-existing condition, which could include anything from diabetes, to chronic asthma, to bi-polar disorder. Millions who want health insurance but can’t get it because insurance companies are allowed to deny coverage and cherry-pick their customers, leaving people who need insurance the most out of the system.

Health insurance reform will prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage based on a pre-existing condition.

#2- No Exorbitant Out-of-Pocket Expenses, Deductibles or Co-Pays

Right now there is no set limit on the amount your insurance company can charge you for out-of-pocket expenses, deductibles and co-pays. High costs make it harder - even for people who have good insurance - to actually use their coverage.

Health insurance reform will require insurance companies to abide by yearly caps when it comes to how much they are allowed to charge for out-of-pocket expenses.

#3- No Cost-Sharing for Preventive Care

Right now when you go to the doctor for a check up or to get a standard test, like a mammogram, the patient pays a fee (a co-payment). Even if you have good insurance, co-pays of $15 or $20 or $25 a visit can add up fast. Many people skip regular check ups and delay standard tests because they are too pricey, even though preventative care is one of the best ways to catch health issues before they become more serious.

Health insurance reform will require insurance companies to FULLY COVER preventative care. That means you don’t pay a dime for your yearly check up.

#4- No Dropping of Coverage for Seriously Ill

Right now there’s no law stopping insurance companies from watering-down your coverage or dumping you all together if you get sick. That means if you fall ill with cancer, diabetes or heart disease, your health insurance provider can abandon you just when you need the help the most.

Health insurance reform will prohibit insurance companies from dropping coverage when you get sick.

#5- No Gender Discrimination

Right now - unbelievably - insurance companies are permitted to discriminate on the basis of gender. Usually that means women in America pay more for health insurance than men.

Health insurance reform will prohibit that practice. Men and woman pay the same price for the same plan - no ifs, ands or buts.

#6- No Annual or Lifetime Caps on Coverage

Right now your insurance company has the power to limit the amount of coverage you can receive per year, or over the course of your lifetime. So, for example, if you hit your coverage “limit” in November, but break your ankle in December, you might be out of luck. Talk about rationing care!

Health insurance reform will prevent insurance companies from placing annual or lifetime caps on the coverage you receive. If you have insurance, and you need medical treatment, you’ll be able to access it - no matter what.

#7- Extended Coverage for Young Adults

Right now under most plans the day your child turns 18 is the day you - as a parent - lose the ability guarantee your child access to health insurance. That’s why young people are among the largest uninsured groups in America. Your son or daughter is more vulnerable than ever, just as they strike out in the world.

Health insurance reform will make children eligible for family coverage through the age of 26.

#8- Guaranteed Insurance Renewal

Right now if you switch jobs or become ill - right around the time your plan is set to renew or expire - an insurance company is allowed to terminate your coverage.

Health insurance reform will require insurance companies to renew any policy as long as the policyholder pays their premium in full - and they won’t be allowed to refuse renewal if the holder becomes ill.

V4CFers: What are your thoughts on this? Please leave us your thoughts by clicking the 'Comments' link below.

Rep. Devin Nunes hosting a healthcare town hall tomorrow, Aug. 20

From the Fresno Bee:

Rep. Devin Nunes R-Visalia (21st CD) will hold a healthcare reform meeting scheduled 8-10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 20 in the lecture hall adjacent to the library at Clovis East High School, 2940 Leonard Ave, in Clovis.

Parking is available on Donner Ave or in lots accessed from Donner Ave. Seating will be on a first-come first seated basis.

For more information, call (559) 733-3861.

Here is our chance to hear what he has to say and perhaps, if enough of us show up, give him a bit of pause that the valley is not all right wing. Try and be there if you can. Our friend Nayamin Martinez also writes:

We need to be there to politely, and I honestly stress the word politely, correct his misconceptions about health care. It is very important that we hold the moral high ground at this town hall. That means being very calm in the face of a barrage of insults from right wing tea party protesters. That means turning the other cheek repeatedly. That means not even putting your hand in the face of a tea party protester to ask them politely to get out of yours. They will walk into your hand and say that you hit them.

Nayamin recommends getting there absolutely no later than 7 a.m. Hope to see you there!

Back To School Health Fair a great success

Sending out a big "Thank You!" to the 26 volunteers who showed up for the 7th Annual Back To School Health Fair Event hosted by the West Fresno Health Care Coalition. Another big "Thank You!" goes out to all those who donated backpacks or money for the purchase of school supplies.

More than 1,400 children received backpacks filled with school supplies, 53 of which were donated by V4CF. Next year, our goal will be to donate 100 backpacks to this event. Families that attended the events received information and free health screening from the various health-related organizations that participated in the event. In addition to providing the West Fresno Health Care Coalition with volunteers, we hosted a booth where kids played with Play-Doh and enjoyed coloring and hula-hooping.

Thanks to the your generosity, more than 1,400 kids will have a great start to the new school year!

President Obama: The case for healthcare reform

Last week, President Obama published an op-ed in the New York Times, describing why the United States needs healthcare reform now. From the editorial:

Our reform will prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage because of your medical history. Nor will they be allowed to drop your coverage if you get sick. They will not be able to water down your coverage when you need it most. They will no longer be able to place some arbitrary cap on the amount of coverage you can receive in a given year or in a lifetime. And we will place a limit on how much you can be charged for out-of-pocket expenses. No one in America should go broke because they get sick.

He continues:

In the coming weeks, the cynics and the naysayers will continue to exploit fear and concerns for political gain. But for all the scare tactics out there, what’s truly scary — truly risky — is the prospect of doing nothing. If we maintain the status quo, we will continue to see 14,000 Americans lose their health insurance every day. Premiums will continue to skyrocket. Our deficit will continue to grow. And insurance companies will continue to profit by discriminating against sick people.

For the full editorial, visit the New York Times website at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/16/opinion/16obama.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all.

Got time this Saturday? Support healthcare reform with your feet!

In support of healthcare reform and the public option, V4CF members are invited to join us as we head out to shopping centers, farmer's markets, parks, and other locations throughout Representative Jim Costa's district, to distribute information about healthcare reform and how to support it.

We'll be reaching out to the community and heading out in teams, urging them to contact Rep. Costa's and Senator Dianne Feinstein's offices to express strong support for healthcare reform and the public option. We'll even be supplying them with phone numbers and talking points on a leaflet, so they can express their support quickly and simply.

Want to join us? First, RSVP to Nancy Griesser at nancyg@csufresno.edu, or Connie Peterson at c.peterson8784@sbcglobal.net. Then, plan to meet us at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, at the Revue Coffeehouse, 620 East Olive Avenue in the Tower District. We plan to leaflet until about 12:30 p.m., with participants invited to meet at Me and Ed's Pizza in the Tower afterward (1247 Wishon) to debrief and celebrate the morning's efforts.

Also, if your place of worship has a 'social justice committee' or similar, please share that committee's contact information with Nancy or Connie. We'd like to get some of the flyers we'll be using on Saturday to interested committees for disbursement to church members on Sunday.

We have every reason to keep making those calls!

Despite the last couple of days' statements about the status of the 'public option' in healthcare reform, there's no reason for V4CF and others to stop supporting it. In fact, calling our representatives to support both President Obama's principles for healthcare reform and a strong public option is probably more important than ever.

C'mon... we knew this wasn't going to be easy. We also knew that nothing worth having ever comes without some kind of fight. And we know that now more than ever, we need to Be the Change we demanded last November.

So, let's keep making those calls! The fight for meaningful healthcare reform is far from over. Here, once again, are those downloadable talking points.

Then, smile and dial. Here's how to call those serving the Fresno area:

Representatives:

George Radanovich - District 19
Local: 559-449-2490
Washington, D.C.: 202-225-4540

Jim Costa - District 20
Local: 559-495-1620
Washington, D.C.: 202-225-3341

Devin Nunes – District 21
Local: 559-323-5235
Washington D.C.: (202) 225-2523

Senators:

Diane Feinstein
Local: (559) 485-7430
Washington, D.C.: (202) 224-3841

Barbara Boxer
Local: (559) 497-5109
Washington, D.C.: (202) 224-3553

65 volunteers needed for drought relief food distribution Aug. 27 in Selma

From our member Wendy Negri comes this:

The Community Food Bank needs 65 volunteers to help distribute food in Selma on 8 a.m.-noon Thursday, Aug. 27.

Participating volunteers can carpool from Fresno at 7 a.m., and water and snacks will be provided during our morning volunteer shift.

Want to help? Contact Wendy Negri at 299-5052 or via e-mail at wnegri@att.net. Wendy will get back to all volunteers with more information, including details about the carpool.