VNA & Hospice Receives $5,000 Grant Award from Barnet Segal Charitable Trust

VNA & Hospice has announced a $5,000 grant award from the Barnet Segal Charitable Trust to support general operating funds.

Pacific Grove, CA, April 18, 2020 — Founded in 1986, the Barnet Segal Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Carmel. It has been providing support to VNA is dedicated to providing the highest quality health care to residents of the Central Coast by meeting their individual needs in a caring, effective, honorable and accessible manner

About VNA
Since 1951, the not-for-profit VNA has provided a wide range of home health care, serving Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz and South Santa Clara counties. VNA places an emphasis on individual patient needs and goals, providing care in an ethical, effective, compassionate and fiscally responsible manner. For more information, visit www.ccvna.com.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.ccvna.com

VNA Hospice among Health Agencies to Order Masks from Nonprofit Organized by Pacific Grove Teens

Given the nationwide shortage of personal protection equipment (or PPE), some health-related agencies have had to expand their search for items such as face masks.

Pacific Grove, CA, April 18, 2020 — Given the nationwide shortage of personal protection equipment (or PPE), some health-related agencies have had to expand their search for items such as face masks.

Central Coast VNA Hospice found some help from a Pacific Grove family who has launched an innovative nonprofit called Masks for Monterey County.

Toula Hubbard found a way to keep her kids active and connected through a Girl Scout service project. Her two teenagers created the nonprofit to connect mask makers with healthcare professionals, essential workers and those in need.

Toula, a life and wellness coach, lives in Pacific Grove with her husband Chris, her daughter Thalia, 16, and son Niko, 15.

“Gratitude and a sense of belonging are important to wellness,” she said. “So volunteering and gratitude are basic principles that clients learn to exercise and my children have been raised with.”

The registry at www.masksformontereycounty.org is two weeks old and already has more than 4,000 requests, with more and more seamstresses added each day.

Currently there is a worldwide shortage of protective face masks, which help slow the spread of the virus. VNA Hospice has ordered 300 masks from MFMC, and will be receiving them each week in batches of 30.

Most of the masks are typically made with 100 percent cotton fabric.

“Honestly it doesn’t matter what type of mask is made,” Toula said. “We just need the masks and we will match the mask type to the appropriate group.”

What they call AB masks have a spot for a filter, and are prioritized to health care workers. Some masks are simply cloth, great for those interacting with the public, such as grocery workers, postal workers and essential employees of all types.

“We have some people who have asked that masks be made to cover the N95 mask,” she said.

All masks are reusable, and each recipient is instructed to sterilize between each use.

When the pandemic ends, the family will collect any unused masks, sanitize them and repurpose them by donating to dialysis centers and other facilities that cater to the immune compromised.

A junior at Pacific Grove High School and a member of Girl Scout Troop 30626, Thalia had been keeping an eye out for potential Girl Scout Gold projects. She joined her brother, a freshman at PGHS and a member of Boy Scout Troop 43, in the endeavor.

“We have many friends who are health care workers, and essential employees, and the conversation started around how to get them resources to protect themselves and others if they are carriers without knowing,” Toula said.

She challenged her kids to take a look at the need and see what they could do to help. In the process, they learned new skills, among them creating a website and launching social media platforms. Each has worked to help draft marketing materials while problem solving the logistics of moving fabric donations and completed masks around the county.

So far, masks have been sent to healthcare workers, home-health workers, those passing out food to the needy, fire and police departments, essential county agency workers, grocery store and drug store workers, nonprofits and other agencies serving the community.

“Our intention is to also provide masks to the second wave of those in need including the vulnerable and elderly,” Toula said.

The family has friends who work and volunteer for VNA, a nonprofit close to their hearts.

“VNA provides so many services in the community, and you can see why their nurses and volunteers need the added protection,” she said.

All masks donated are free, but there are costs for materials and delivery, so the Hubbards have set up a donation portal on the website.

The lesson in this project is clear.

“Make a difference in the center of your circle, and the ripple effect will have others creating a similar circle with a similar ripple effect,” Toula said. “At the end of the day we are all in this together.”

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.masksformontereycounty.org

Monterey Testing Laboratory One of Few on Central Coast Providing COVID-19 Antibody Testing

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has closed many businesses across the country, but there has also been an unexpected surge in some businesses, especially in the medical, health care and laboratory fields.

Monterey, CA, April 14, 2020 — The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has closed many businesses across the country, but there has also been an unexpected surge in some businesses, especially in the medical, health care and laboratory fields.

One such business is the Monterey-based ARCpoint Labs of Monterey Bay, one of the nation’s leaders in drug testing, alcohol screening, DNA and clinical lab testing, corporate wellness programs and employment/background screening.

Prior to the quarantines and closures mandated by COVID-19, about two-thirds of ARCpoint business came from wellness testing, specialized testing for people with specific conditions or diseases, such as celiac and lyme disease and mold sensitivities.

But now, according to ARCpoint co-owner and lab director Spenser Smith, more than 90% of its testing is focused on COVID-19 antibody testing, tests that determine whether a person has been infected by the virus and recovered, which produces antibodies that can be tested two ways: by a simple finger-prick to draw blood, or a more involved process that takes a tube of blood from the arm, much like a standard blood test.

ARCpoint had been doing almost all of its antibody tests the first way, with a drive-through system set up in its parking lot. The other method involves going into the laboratory to have your blood drawn. Results from the finger-prick test can be produced within 15-20 minutes, but because of the high volume of tests, are usually available by the end of the day. The second method requires the blood to be sent to a lab in Florida, with results available in a couple of days.

The FDA had allowed labs to give the finger-prick tests on April 1, but by April 11 had changed its guidelines so that labs, including ARCpoint, could only give the second test.

“It means we won't be doing the finger-stick version of the test for now, but we will be switching to a version of the test that uses a whole tube of blood from the arm, is more accurate, has earlier detection, and is considered by doctors and health professionals to be a big step forward in medical usefulness,” said Smith. “This test is a new and improved version that we are rolling out to continue our embrace of the newest testing technologies for COVID-19.”

Smith said the downside of the new tests is that it takes longer to perform, can’t be done in a drive-through and is more expensive, at about $175 as opposed to the $68.31 cost of the finger-prick test cost.

The concept of the blood tests is that people who have been exposed to the virus can develop antibodies, which can help them resist another infection. That way the body’s antibodies against COVID-19 can reduce the chances of getting infected again.

The hope is that those tested and found to have immunized antibodies could then return to work and help restart the economy.

Smith said his company, which was founded three years ago by him, his brother (who is the lab director on the toxicology side), mother and father, is hoping to get the costs down for the arm-draw method of testing.

The priority for testing is first responders and health care workers (as well as those on the front lines, such as grocery store workers, maintenance and janitorial workers and delivery drivers), but those who exhibited symptoms, didn’t get tested, and recovered, are also welcome to be tested.

For now, all testing is done by appointment-only, by phone or through its appointment portal on its website at arcpointlabs.com. Smith said he wanted the public to know that these tests, which are the same as the tests Stanford University and USC used in their studies on the prevalence of COVID-19 exposure in California, only detects protective antibodies to the virus rather than the virus itself.

The tests that detects the virus itself, the most common test is the so-called PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test, involves taking nasal and throat swabs, which then have to be sent to a centralized lab to test for viral RNA (ribonucleic acid, the marker that contains genetic information to detect the presence of the virus). These tests can often take days (sometimes weeks because of the demand) to get results. ARCpoint currently offers a small number of these tests to patients with a doctor’s order, but supplies have been limited throughout the nation since the onset of the outbreak.

Smith said that ARCpoint is part of a franchise operation that has more than 100 facilities across the country, but that the Monterey operation is just one of a half-dozen that is doing the COVID-19 antibody testing.

Right now the company is doing its testing on a cash-only basis since insurance companies have not determined a pricing and billing system for COVID-19 tests yet.

Because of the increased volume of testing ARCpoint has been experiencing, they have had to hire several temporary employees to handle the demand, Smith said.

Smith added that his company would like to offer PCR testing for the virus more widely, but that testing currently is experiencing a lot of issues, including the accuracy of the testing, false positives and lengthy waits for results. Because of that, health officials are urging Americans to reserve diagnostic tests for the active virus — the PCR tests — for health care workers, first responders and patients in hospitals.

ARCpoint Labs is a full-service national third-party provider/administrator of diagnostic testing. The services at its Monterey Bay location encompass both onsite and offsite pre-employment, random, post-accident and reasonable suspicion drug testing. In addition, ARCpoint also serves many judicial, athletic, and medical clients across the United States.

The family, which has made the Monterey Peninsula its home for over 30 years, has been in the drug and alcohol testing business for more than 18 years, has 50 years of combined business experience on the Central Coast, and its staff has over 60 years of combined industry experience.

ARCpoint Labs’ mission is to provide accurate, reliable, and confidential diagnostic testing for individuals, companies, and legal and healthcare professionals.

Media note: ARCpoint Co-Owner and Labs Lab Director Spenser Smith is available for media interviews. Please contact Marci Bracco Cain at (831) 747-7455 to set up an interview.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
https://www.arcpointlabs.com/

SLV Water District to Replace Damaged Water Main on Bear Creek Road

Notice of Road Closure: Work will be performed during evening hours to minimize traffic impacts on the community

Boulder Creek, CA, April 11, 2020 - The San Lorenzo Valley Water District (SLVWD) today announced it is working with the County of Santa Cruz Department of Public Works to replace a water main on Bear Creek Road that was damaged in January 2020.

This work will require closing Bear Creek Road at the stop sign (mile post marker 1.71) from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday April 13, 2020 through Friday April 17, 2020. Construction activities are being performed during the evening hours to minimize traffic impacts on the community. Emergency services have been notified and have implemented contingencies for response.

Immediately after the damage occurred, District crews rerouted water service in the area through a bypass line to ensure customers had access to water. The final construction will replace the bypass line with a permanent water main.

ABOUT THE SAN LORENZO VALLEY WATER DISTRICT:
The San Lorenzo Valley Water District is located in the mountains of northern Santa Cruz County. The District serves more than 7,900 metered connections. Established in 1941, the District supplies water to the communities of Boulder Creek, Brookdale, Ben Lomond, Zayante, Scotts Valley, Mañana Woods, Felton and Lompico. For more information, visit www.slvwd.com or www.facebook.com/slvwaterdistrict

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.slvwd.com

For Mother’s Day, Center for Community Advocacy honors health education volunteers called Promotoras

The Spanish word “promotora” translates simply to “promoter,” but in the farmworker community it means so much more.

Salinas, CA, April 11, 2020 - A Promotora is a camp health aide, a lay health adviser, and outreach worker, a community health representative and more.

Most Promotoras go by another title — madre. As mothers they dream of providing a better future for their children. They dream of helping to create healthy, safe and strong neighborhoods.

With Mother’s Day approaching on May 3, the Center for Community Advocacy wishes to honor all of its CCA-trained, volunteer Promotoras. These women remain significant pillars within CCA’s efforts to provide education, orientation and health support to farmworkers and other low-income working families.

This year CCA has created an awareness campaign called “Por el Amor de Madre” (For the Love of Mother), and is accepting donations through its website www.cca-viva.org to aid the Promotoras program.

Trained by CCA and health service providers, Promotoras comunitarias deliver preventative health information/interventions to neighborhoods in the Salinas and Pajaro valleys. These efforts help educate their peers about chronic diseases, behavioral health and youth violence prevention. For many farmworker families, Promotoras may be their only source of health information. This may mean the difference between preventive care and diagnosis of a preventable chronic disease.

Through CCA’s Promotoras, each year hundreds of farmworker families and other low-income families learn and teach others about:

● simple and healthier ways to eat and cook.
● ways to increase their physical fitness.
● how to prevent, detect and make referrals to proper health providers.

To support the CCA’s Promotoras program, or to get more information, call CCA at (831) 753-2324 ext. 12.

About Center for Community Advocacy
CCA provides education, orientation and legal support to farmworkers and other low-income working families who want to establish neighborhood committees that work to improve housing and health conditions. CCA trains these committees to negotiate with landlords to resolve issues such as unsafe housing conditions, housing discrimination and security deposits. CCA also trains these committees to provide preventative health information and interventions in their neighborhoods.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.cca-viva.org

Central Coast YMCA Provides Access to Online Health, Fitness and Youth Programming

During these unprecedented times, Central Coast YMCA remains committed to those with the most pressing needs

Salinas, CA, April 11, 2020 - During these unprecedented times, Central Coast YMCA remains committed to those with the most pressing needs, and to keep Y members healthy and connected, the Central Coast YMCA is providing access to online health, fitness and youth programming.

Group fitness classes led by Y instructors are available online via Facebook Live. The Y is also offering youth-directed activities, such as arts and crafts and STEM projects through Facebook Live. A weekly schedule of classes and activities is posted at www.centralcoastymca.org.

YMCA fitness instructors have created a weekly workout for members, with three levels of skill and intensity. Additionally, CCYMCA members can access Y360, an on-demand fitness program for adults and kids to enjoy at home (information and links online).

For more information, call (831) 757-4633 or go to the Central Coast YMCA website at: centralcoastymca.org.

About the Central Coast YMCA
Formed in 1989, the Central Coast YMCA began with the merger of two independent YMCAs; the Salinas Community YMCA (founded in 1921) and the Watsonville Family YMCA (founded in 1898). Originally a USO built in 1941, with the purpose of supporting American troops during World War II, the YMCA of the Monterey Peninsula joined the association in 1990. In 1998 the South County YMCA became the fourth branch in the association, extending its service area to the residents of south Monterey County. The YMCA of San Benito County became the fifth and most recent addition to the association in 1999.

CCYMCA is an independent, private, nonprofit corporation, a part of the YMCA of the USA, but responsible for its own policies, programs, and budgets. It employs 27 full-time employees, about 225 part-time employees, and 120 volunteers who impact approximately 40,000 people in Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey counties.

CCYMCA is located at 500 Lincoln Ave. in Salinas.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.centralcoastymca.org

Central Coast YMCA Makes Wellness Calls & Meal Deliveries to Homebound Seniors

Central Coast YMCA Makes Wellness Calls & Essential Deliveries to Homebound Seniors

Salinas, CA, April 06, 2020 - Central Coast YMCA staff members have been making calls to homebound senior members as well as delivery of groceries and other essential items during this statewide shelter-in-place order.

During these unprecedented times, CCYMCA remains committed to those with the most pressing needs, including calling all members aged 60 or older to assess any unmet needs they may have during the shelter-in-place order. Many seniors responded that they were happy to have someone call them for a quick conversation and expression of care and support.

Through partnerships with Blue Zones, SVMHS, Meals on Wheels, the Salvation Army, Food Bank and Community Housing Improvement Systems and Planning Association (CHISPA), CCYMCA is making daily food deliveries, along with books from our lending library and special custom artwork from the children attending our Y Essential Childcare Camps. We are also offering pick up of groceries, pharmacy and other essential needs. During the shelter-in-place order, CCYMCA will continue to make lend employee capacity to our community partners.

For more information, call (831) 757-4633 or go to the Central Coast YMCA website at: centralcoastymca.org.

About the Central Coast YMCA
Formed in 1989, the Central Coast YMCA began with the merger of two independent YMCAs; the Salinas Community YMCA (founded in 1921) and the Watsonville Family YMCA (founded in 1898). Originally a USO built in 1941, with the purpose of supporting American troops during World War II, the YMCA of the Monterey Peninsula joined the association in 1990. In 1998 the South County YMCA became the fourth branch in the association, extending its service area to the residents of south Monterey County. The YMCA of San Benito County became the fifth and most recent addition to the association in 1999.

CCYMCA is an independent, private, nonprofit corporation, a part of the YMCA of the USA, but responsible for its own policies, programs, and budgets. It employs 27 full-time employees, about 225 part-time employees, and 120 volunteers who impact approximately 40,000 people in Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey counties.

CCYMCA is located at 500 Lincoln Ave. in Salinas.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
https://www.centralcoastymca.org/