QUESTION: I am trying to help a friend who is homebound. She has some help with daily chores but the one area not covered is grocery shopping. Do you know if there is a service of this type available?
ANSWER: Yes I do. The program that appears to fit your need is Shop Ahoy, a non-profit 501(c)(3) volunteer based weekly grocery shopping and delivery service for those who are homebound or disabled.
This service has been in Ventura County since 1998. When established it served the western portion of the county but as the population grew so did Shop Ahoy and it now serves the communities of Camarillo, Mission Oaks, Somis, Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Westlake Village, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Ventura, Saticoy and Simi Valley.
The shopping process is unique – it uses 4 volunteers – the caller, the site manager, the shopper and the deliverer.
The “caller” phones clients weekly to record their specific order. Then passes the order on to the “site manager” who meets with the “shoppers” at a local market where they will shop each order individually. At the end of the check-out the “deliverers” will pick up the orders and deliver them to the clients and help put the items on the shelves if needed.
The client then receives the register receipt for the order. The preferred payment method is by a check made payable to “Shop Ahoy.” A donation may be suggested but no one is refused service if they do not donate.
Signing up for this service is fast and easy. There is no application to complete, no website to struggle with and no rigid criteria to meet. Just call (805) 236-1267 and services can start within a week.
This service is a win-win program. The clients certainly win with this individual service and it is also a win for volunteers. At present Shop Ahoy has more than 100 dedicated volunteers serving approximately 150 individuals and families in the county. However, new volunteers are always needed.
In addition to this much needed service Shop Ahoy volunteers develop close bonds of trust and friendship with their clients through personal contact.
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HAPPENINGS:
SATURDAY – May 12 – 10:00 am – Mother’s Day Tea – at Goebel Adult Community Center, 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. Tickets are $5.00 and available at Goebel’s front desk. For reservations call (805) 381-2744.
SATURDAY – May 19 – 6:30 to 10:00 pm – Ballroom Dance – at Goebel Adult Community Center, 1385 E. Janss Road in Thousand Oaks. Doors open at 6:00 pm; dance lessons (Country Two Step) 6:30 to 7:20; dance theme (Western) 7:30 to 10:00. Tickets are $8 and available at Goebel’s front desk.
SUNDAY – May 20 – 1:30 pm – History Comes Alive – “Take a Trip thru Time” with Ed Lawrence and past photos of the Conejo Valley – at Goebel Adult Community Center – 1385 E. Janss Road in Thousand Oaks. Tickets are $5 and available at Goebel’s front desk.
TUESDAY – May 22 – 4:00 to 5:30 pm – Seminar – Path to Positive Aging Series – “20 Questions to Ask When Hiring In-home Help” – at Senior Concerns Day Care Center, 401 Hodencamp Road in Thousand Oaks. For reservations call (805) 497-0189.
WEDNESDAY – May 23 – 8:00 am to 12:00 noon – Wellness Expo 2018 – “For the Health of It!” – at Simi Valley Senior Center, 3900 Avenida Simi in Simi Valley. For information call (805) 583-6363.
WEDNESDAY – May 23 – 1:00 to 5:00 pm – AARP Smart Driver Refresher Course – at Pleasant Valley Senior Center, 1605 Burnley Street in Camarillo. Reservations required by May 18. The cost is $15 for AARP members; $20 for non-members. For more information call (805) 482-4881.
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Betty Berry is a senior advocate for Senior Concerns. The advocates are located at the Goebel Adult Community Center, 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 or call (805) 495-6250 or e-mail bberry@seniorconcerns.org (please include your telephone number.) You are invited to submit questions on senior issues.
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