September 2016
Valley West Center Newsletter
Volume 29, Issue 3
National Hispanic Heritage Month
Vist our website for more Information • www.ywcaaz.org
NATIONAL GRANDPARENTS DAY
Grandparents Day dates back to 1956 and with a West
Virginia mother named Marian McQuade. While helping to
organize a community celebration for those over 80, she
became aware of the many nursing home residents who
were forgotten by their families. She wanted a holiday to
bring attention to these forgotten individuals and to honor all
grandparents. Throughout the 1970’s McQuade worked hard
to educate people about the important contributions senior
citizens make and the contributions that they would be willing
to make if asked. She also urged people to adopt a
grandparent, not for one day a year and not for material
giving, but for a lifetime of experience. In any event, National
Grandparent’s Day was finally signed into law by President
Jimmy Carter in 1978. The purpose of the holiday, as stated
in the preamble to the statute, is "to honor grandparents, to
give grandparents an opportunity to show love for their
children's children, and to help children become aware of the
strength, information, and guidance older people can offer."
Grandparents are our continuing tie to the near past, to the
events and beliefs and experiences that so strongly affect
our lives and the world around us. Whether they are our own
or surrogate grandparents who fill some of the gaps in our
mobile society, our senior generation also provides our
society a link to our national heritage and traditions. We all
know grandparents whose values transcend passing fads
and pressures, and who possess the wisdom of distilled pain
and joy. Because they are usually free to love and guide and
befriend the young without having to take daily responsibility
for them, they can often reach out past pride and fear of
failure and close the space between generations.
Grandparents are not glorified babysitters but rather as
parents' surrogates who bring love, a continuance of
generational values, and a sense of the child's worth to the
integrity of the family. Grandparents nurture, give a sense of
worth and mold in many ways the course of life to take. My
grandmother was my role model, my mentor, and my
confidant.
2
Three purposes for National Grandparents Day:
1. To honor grandparents.
2. To give grandparents an opportunity to show love for
their children's children.
3.
To help children become aware of the strength,
wisdom and guidance older people offer.
Children have an opportunity to show their appreciation and
love toward their grandparents and other special older adult
friends, and grandparents feel valued as their role is
validated.
Your YWCA Phoenix donation qualifies for the 2016
Arizona Charitable Tax Credit Program When you give
(up to $400 individually or $800 married couples), you
receive a tax credit for the full amount.
Thank you for helping the YWCA to Eliminate
Racism and Empower Women! Every Gift
Counts!
For questions, contact Bridget Costello at 602-258-0990
September is...
Happy Birthday To You
* Labor Day
9/2 -Pauline Bennett
* Grandparent’s Day
9/7 - Celeste Sampson
* Hispanic Heritage Month
9/11- Janice Snyder
* National Piano Month
9/11– Bobbie Nunoz
* Pain Awareness Month
9/28 - John Garza
* Square Dancing Month
Flower: Aster Daisy and
Morning Glory
Birthstone: Sapphire This stone is believed to enhance
awareness, creativity. and peace
3
SEPTEMBER
4
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
Father’s Day Breakfast
Sock Scavenger Hunt
Magic Show
Entertainment
Grocery Bingo
5
SEPTEMBER IS...
NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
CELEBRATE LABOR DAY
Labor Day is a day of rest or the last chance for
many people to go on trips before the summer
ends. In some neighborhoods, people organize
fireworks displays, barbecues and public arts or
sports events. The football season starts on or
around Labor Day and many teams play their first
game of the year during Labor Day weekend. The
first Labor Day was held in 1882. Its origins stem
from the desire of the Central Labor Union to
create a holiday for workers. It became a federal
holiday in 1894. It was originally intended that the
day would be filled with a street parade to allow
the public to appreciate the work of the trade and
labor organizations. After the parade, a festival
was to be held to amuse local workers and their
families. One of the reasons for choosing to
celebrate this on the first Monday in September
was to add a holiday in the long gap between
Independence Day and Thanksgiving. Labor
Day was the idea of Peter J. Maguire (although
recent research has shown that it might have
been his brother Matthew’s idea), a labor union
leader, who in 1882 proposed a celebration
honoring the American worker. Although the day’s
focus on organized labor has diminished over the
years, the legal holiday still marks the end of
summer and the traditional time for children to
return to school. Labor Day consists of
barbecues, camping, and preparing for the new
school year.
6
Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic
Heritage Month from September 15 to October
15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and
contributions of American citizens whose
ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the
Caribbean and Central and South America.
Hispanics have had a profound and positive
influence on our country through their strong
commitment to family, faith, hard work, and
service. They have enhanced and shaped our
national character with centuries old traditions that
reflect the multiethnic and multicultural customs of
their community. The observation started in 1968
as Hispanic Heritage Week under President
Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President
Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30 day period
starting on September 15 and ending on October
15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988,
on the approval of Public Law 100402. The day of
September 15 is significant because it is the
anniversary of independence for Latin American
countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala,
Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and
Chile celebrate their independence days on
September 16 and September 18. Each year on
the night of Sept 15th, around midnight, the
President of Mexico rings the bell of the National
Palace in Mexico City, and repeats the shout of
Patriotism (El Grito) which marks the beginning of
the Mexican War of Independence.
Pain Awareness
Water Invites Mosquitoes

Chronic pain lasts. It may come and go
The best way to eliminate mosquitoes is to eliminate their
breeding sites. Standing water, even in the shallowest
containers, acts as a breeding ground for mosquitos, and
their eggs will hatch within days. So follow these essential
preventive measures to fight the bite:

Chronic pain requires careful, ongoing attention


Chronic pain is often intractable, as the cause of the
pain cannot be removed or treated

Chronic pain is the number 1 cause of adult disability
Reduce the number of mosquitoes around your
home. Check your yard, and get rid of containers that
collect water. Empty water from flower pots, change
water in bird baths.

Report any pools that are not being maintained
properly to Glendale’s Code Compliance Division.

Make a habit of using insect repellent when outdoors.
Pain touches each one of us at one time or another.
Pain can begin for many different reasons.
Chronic Pain Facts:
Chronic pain can be a source of frustration for the health
care professionals who seek to provide care and assistance. Currently there is no cure for chronic pain. A multidisciplinary treatment approach can help regain control
and reduce suffering. It is important that the pain be taken
seriously. The key is to get involved, talk with friends, call
community leaders, Donate to the ACPA.
Prime Mosquito biting hours
are usually from dusk to
dawn.
7
For Your Information...
Welcome
Our services are available for
individuals who are
60 years of age & older
Suggested Contributions:
IMPORTANT!
Meet Our Staff…
Signatures and emergency
information forms are REQUIRED
by all who participate here.
Regina L.R. Edwards, CEO
The form is confidential and
updated annually. Participants
must be independent and able to
take care of their personal needs
Home-Delivered Meals:
and be cognizant of their
Private Pay Glendale ..........$7.00
surroundings. This is not an Adult
Day Care site, but referrals can
be made. If you use wheelchairs,
Reservations
Reservations for lunch are requested. Call etc, you must use them while in
623.931.7436 48 hours in advance
this facility. Mobility devices must
Seating on a first come, first serve basis. NOT block any walkways and
No “saved” seats! Disabled participants
bags/carts are not allowed in the
will be served.
dining room. Safety is most
important to us!
Dining Room .......................$2.50
Dial-A-Ride (each way) .......$0.50
S.A.I.L. Program ..................$2.25
Thank you to our
Funding Sources
Participant Grievance
Participant will verbally
communicate their grievance to a
YWCA staff person and will be
referred to the Center Director. If
the problem is not resolved and/
or the participant requests to
communicate further with the
YWCA CEO, they may do so
verbally or in writing. Grievances
not resolved at the local level
shall be forwarded to the
applicable funding agency for
further guidance. Any YWCA staff
may provide assistance to the
person filing the grievance.
Your Donations Count!
Contributions may be given
at the Lobby Desk for
confidentiality purposes
8
YWCA Valley West Center
Your donation of $10.00 per
month helps support our
programs. It is not required, but it
is greatly appreciated!
Kathleen Saunders, Director
Bea Lopez-Parra, Program
Assistant
Judith Pennell, H.D.M. Supervisor
And many others who make this
all possible!
Programs
Programs Meals served
Monday-Friday at:
YWCA West Valley Center
8561 N 61st Avenue
623.931.7436
Glendale Adult Center
5970 W. Brown
623.930.4321
Glendale Community Center
5401 W. Ocotillo
623.930.4700
Japanese Senior Center
5416 W. Glenn Dr. (3rd
Wednesday of Month only)
Commodity Distribution for Glendale
residents is the 1st Monday of each
month. Sun Valley Gleaner Brown
Bag every Thursday. Food Pantry
on Wednesday for regular
participants only
You do not need to be wealthy to leave
a legacy. In addition to supporting the
YWCA with your cash donations, you
can also contribute to the sustainability
of our efforts to better women's lives in
the long term.
Please call Regina L.R. Edwards, CEO,
at 602.258.0990 ext. 13 to discuss
planned giving opportunities.