Island Volunteer Caregivers (IVC) is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) that has been serving Bainbridge Island and area communities since 1996. IVC provides essential support and resources to older adults and adults with disabilities, caregivers, and offers grief support to those in need.
Our Mission
IVC connects neighbors facing challenges related to aging, disability, or adversity with volunteers and resources to support independent and fulfilling lives.
Our Vision Statement:
A world of compassionate communities where people of all ages value and care for the elderly, persons with disabilities and others in need.
“IVC is the connection hub between the people who need help and those that are able to help… I can’t tell you how much I am loving IVC –it feels like it was something I was meant to do.”
— IVC Volunteer
Our Volunteers
Our Volunteers serve with open hearts and come to IVC with a desire to give back to their community. So many of our participants are isolated and lonely, and the IVC Volunteer may be the only person they see in days. The Volunteers often become a constant presence in the lives of our Care Receivers, and both often love to tell stories of their lives — the adventures, the triumphs, the joys and the sorrows. Both Care Receivers and Volunteers are in the fortunate position of sharing and listening to those stories. It’s a reciprocal relationship based on trust, respect, enjoyment and empathic understanding.
Our Care Receivers
IVC Care Receivers are a delightfully diverse group of ages, interests, needs, and capabilities. IVC serves our seniors, and those who have short or long term special needs. Most are seniors who desire to maintain their independent living situations. Many no longer drive and need transportation services, and some are those with temporary needs. Our care receivers are mostly Bainbridge Island residents. All of our services are provided free of charge, and we assist people of all ages and incomes. Many of our community’s seniors could not stay in their own homes without the extra help we offer. We help people maintain their independence and stay connected to their community. We provide transportation service, in-home services, and a friendly voice to listen and lend a hand for their needs. We also provide resources for those needs we are unable to meet, working closely with local social service agencies, the City of Bainbridge, and many other community partners. We strive to make a difference in people’s lives and have been successful in that goal for almost 25 years.
“I’ve never had so much fun in my life as I did today with my IVC Volunteer! I have had nothing but problems with my health, my ailing husband, issues with our condo, and my dog died. My IVC Volunteer was such a delight and so very funny. He just lifted me up!”
A Brief History
Initial Organization
Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers of Bainbridge Island (IVC) was originally founded and organized in 1996 by members of several Island religious congregations. They recognized that in our community there was a real and growing need for a program that would enable caring people to reach out to help vulnerable neighbors who had important unmet needs.
One of the founders was Judith Louderback, who then worked for Hospice of Kitsap County. She saw that the concept of a countywide IVC–type program would not be workable, but that sufficient interest and prospective volunteers did exist on Bainbridge Island. With her help, initial funding for IVC was obtained from the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation and channeled through Hospice.
A Board of Directors was established, with Joyce Veterane as President, Joan Treacy as Secretary and Dick Gregory as Treasurer. Sue and Bob Kuebler were also Board members at IVC’s beginning. IVC was officially incorporated in the State of Washington on April 29, 1997, and subsequently received its tax status as a Sec 501©(3).
Programs
From fewer than 30 recipients of care and 4 volunteers in 1996/97, the program has grown to support 130 volunteers serving more than 200 care receivers in 2013. The program continues to grow with more service requests and an increasing need for more volunteers to be trained and supported. Our two most direct service options include Transportation (medical appointments, shopping, errands, flower delivery) and Home Support (respite, companionship and light housekeeping).
Caregiver support and grief support groups were also formed to assist our care receivers. “Flowers from the Heart” continues to bring joy to many of IVC’s contacts, and is a way of sharing the beauty of flowers with many. Our programs continue to grow with more requests for assistance and an increasing need for more volunteers to be trained and supported.
Name Change
At first, local faith congregations were the sources of IVC’s volunteers and funding beyond the initial grant; and throughout IVC’s existence faith group members have been very significant sources of IVC’s volunteers and financial support. However, as its mission has steadily grown, IVC has become more widely diverse, and that mission has also been carried on and supported by increasing numbers of volunteers and donors who do not have faith group affiliations, as well as with the aid of grants from a number of secular organizations.
In light of this diversity, at the beginning of 2014, IVC’s Board of Directors decided to change the name of IVC from Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers to Island Volunteer Caregivers. This decision was made in order that the name would more clearly reflect that our mission is inclusive, welcoming care receivers, volunteers and supporters of any and all backgrounds, and regardless of presence or absence of religious affiliations or ideologies.
While IVC’s name has changed, the organization, its mission and its underlying values will remain the same. With the involvement and generosity of people and organizations throughout our community, IVC continues to enable volunteer opportunities for compassionate service to a great many of our neighbors in need.