On September 12, 2024, Crusading Outreach Ministry Inc., in partnership with Pearl Bailey Library, hosted a special event titled “Coping & Preparing for Dementia.” Led by Elder Deloris Pettaway, this insightful session provided attendees with essential knowledge on dementia care, legal preparations, and caregiver support strategies. It is vital that we be proactive in understanding and preparing for dementia, both for caregivers and family members.

Key Takeaways
1. Recognizing Early Signs of Dementia
Dementia is much more than just memory loss—it impacts many areas of life, including thinking, behavior, and communication. This event taught attendees how to recognize the early symptoms of dementia, such as confusion with time and place, difficulty with words, and changes in mood or personality. Early detection, as Elder Pettaway stressed, is vital for seeking timely medical care and support.


2. Legal Preparedness is Crucial
Tke steps to ensure that their loved one’s legal documents, such as powers of attorney and advance healthcare directives, are in place before the disease progresses. This event shared key legal documents that protect both the person with dementia and their family, helping avoid complicated legal issues later on.


3. Caregiver Stress and Self-Care Strategies
A core focus is caregiver self-care. Deloris shared practical tips on how caregivers can manage stress, take regular breaks, and seek emotional support to avoid burnout. Caring for yourself makes you better able to care for your loved ones.


4. Community Connection
The event also served as a reminder of the importance of building a support network. Attendees always have the opportunity to connect with one another, share experiences, and exchange advice on caregiving. This provides a powerful moment of community bonding that reinforces that no one has to navigate dementia care alone.

Dementia Caregiver Toolkit Available for Download
As part of the event, attendees are given our free Dementia Caregiver Toolkit, packed with essential resources for families and caregivers. This toolkit includes:

• A Checklist for Early Signs of Dementia to help monitor changes.
• A Legal Preparedness Guide covering key documents like power of attorney and advance healthcare directives.
• Self-care tips and strategies for managing caregiver stress.
• Guidance on making home safety modifications to ensure a safe living environment for your loved one.
• A comprehensive list of local and national support resources for dementia care.

Looking Ahead
For those who couldn’t attend, it’s not too late to access the valuable resources shared at the event. Download the Dementia Caregiver Toolkit below to equip yourself with practical insights and resources for caregiving.

We are thrilled to share the success of our recent event, "Preventing and Responding to Gun Violence," held at Pearl Bailey Library. With an inspiring session led by our guest speaker, Joel Jones from the Strong Arms Gun Club, we brought valuable insights and practical strategies to parents and community members on how to protect their children from the impacts of gun violence.

At Crusading Outreach Ministry, our mission is to equip individuals with the tools they need to live their best lives, and this event was a testament to that commitment. We understand the importance of education, awareness, and proactive measures in ensuring the safety and well-being of our families.

To further support our community, we are excited to offer a Free Gun Violence Prevention Toolkit ​Resource List available for download. This comprehensive resource is designed to provide parents, guardians, and educators with essential information, strategies, and tools to prevent gun violence and respond effectively if faced with such situations.

Download the toolkit today and join us in our mission to build safer, stronger communities.
Together, we can make a difference.

Download the Free Gun Violence Prevention Toolkit Resource List Here

Alesha Brown
Chief Operating Officer, Crusading Outreach Ministry Inc.
Founder, More Than Words ARB™

​🌟 Get Ready to Ignite Your Potential! 🌟

Crusading Outreach Ministry Inc. is thrilled to present a life-changing session with our esteemed guest speaker, Letitia Bates, DTM! Brace yourselves for an empowering journey as Letitia unveils the secrets in week 3 of our exclusive six-week class: Ready to Present: How Trauma Affects Parenting.

📅 Date: Thursday, October 19th, 2023
🕒 Time: 6:30 pm
📍 Location:  C Waldo Scott Center for H.O.P.E, 2308 Roanoke Avenue, Newport News, VA 236097

✨ About Coach Letitia Bates, DTM: ✨

Join us and be inspired by Letitia Bates, the dynamic founder, and CEO of At The Wheel Coaching. She's not just a speaker; she's a force of nature! 


Letitia is the #1 Amazon bestselling author of I CAN: 12 Keys To Achieve Personal Success In The SMARTEST Way. With a summa cum laude degree from Eastern Mennonite University in Management and Organizational Development, she brings over 25 years of leadership and training experience to the table. Letitia's passion shines through her 20 years of expertise in curriculum development for community enrichment programs.


🚀 Why Attend? 🚀
Letitia Bates will unravel the profound connection between trauma and parenting, guiding you toward a path of understanding and empowerment. Don't miss this chance to learn from an expert who's dedicated her life to transforming individuals and communities!


RSVP Now! 🎉


Reserve your spot now to ensure you don't miss out on this transformative event! RSVP’s are preferred, so secure your seat at the link below:
https://CrusadingOutreach.org/Events
https://ReadyToPresent2023.eventbrite.com
​

Get ready to transform your life and parenting journey with Letitia Bates! Together, we'll discover the keys to personal success and resilience. See you there! 🌟


🔑 To Book Letitia Bates, DTM: 🔑
Letitia Bates, DTM
Consultant | Speaker | Trainer | EFT Expert | Bestselling Author
At The Wheel Coaching
Live Empowered. Stay Driven.

• Executive Coaching
• Group Sessions
• Corporate Facilitation
• Workshops

📞 Phone: 540.874.2647  
🌐 Website: https://atthewheelcoaching.com 

Of course, you expect increased needs during a pandemic, but there's nothing like a hands-on, bird's eye view to show you the magnitude of help needed.

In the past two weeks, our ministry has experienced an influx of phone calls for food, toiletries and other supplies. Many non-profit, donors and private corporations have come together to create massive food & supply drives. However, the truth is it is not enough.

None of us know how much longer COVID-19 will last, but I can leave you with this message of reassurance:

After standing in long lines for our households, it isn't always easy to do the same for the outreach. (Honestly, often we do it in reverse order.) Our Founder/Director and our Chief Executive Consultant were in a line for over four hours just to purchase bulk toilet paper, sanitizer and PPE to distribute. On another day, they were making supply runs from one end of the Peninsula to Tidewater VA.

Our Corporate Giving and Community Health Directors have been diligently fundraising and supplying meals, toiletries and other supplies in the community. I have spent countless days and hours writing grants to bring in additional funds so we can meet the influx of need requests.

And we unanimously would say it's all worth it! We are encouraged when we look into the eyes of those we serve and hear reports of the smiles and tears of those we can meet their needs. To see a child smile when they are given a toy while the parents are given food and supplies. Or to see the shock and tears of relief when they see their boxes include meats, toilet paper and other things that they cannot seem to find.

Will you join us in making a difference by making an impact?

If you have followed our non profit over the past couple of months, you know that we are in Phase I of our Community Garden Project in Park Place (Hampton, VA). There are some obvious benefits of having a community garden, but there might be some you don't readily think about.

We would like to share the following benefits with you (courtesy of Greenleaf Communities):

• Increase access to fresh foods
• Improve food security
• Increase physical activity through garden maintenance activities
• Improve dietary habits through education
• Increase fruit and vegetable intake
• Reduce risk of obesity and obesity-related diseases
• Improve mental health and promote relaxation
• Gardens in urban areas are positively correlated with decreased crime rates
• Vacant lands can lead to crime which can detrimentally impact the health of residents
• Residents in areas with high crime rates may experience cardiovascular disease and mental health disorders
• Gardens can improve economic opportunities by training volunteers and selling food at farmers’ markets

We can't think of a better place for us to launch our first community garden that the food desert of Park Place in Hampton, VA. We invite you and your family to help us make a difference and even consider purchasing your own plot (see below).

"What is it with all the stupid teddy bears?"
 
Yes, that was my question the first day I went into our corporate office. Even after reviewing our historical pictorials, I just didn't see why a nonprofit would spend so much time collecting and giving away teddy bears. Boy was I in for a surprise.
 
I laugh today, because I know it's a question people often have when they meet me at the office. I can't explain it to them, but some things you just have to experience to understand.

When we go to various senior homes and assisted living facilities, you would be surprised at how many people light up when we encourage them and leave a teddy bear. For instance, Miss Mary at the Towers in Newport News (see above right), who turns 100 this month, considers these teddy bears her children. You can imagine the comfort these bears bring her since she has outlived all her family and hardly anyone visits her. I am grateful for the staff at The Towers that do a wonderful job of looking after Miss Mary and attending to her needs with love and care.
 
Actually, Miss Mary’s story is common. So many people in assisted living facilities and nursing homes rarely see their family and friends. Can you imagine their lonely days, filled with reflections of yesteryears versus their present confinement? The holidays add pain and feelings of loneliness. So, although it may seem unnecessary or insignificant, such a small gift makes all the difference in the world for some.
 
I will never be able to explain what I felt when I visited my first resident and left a teddy bear. If you could have seen the reaction of tears and thankfulness. I remember seeing them again when I finished making the rounds and witnessing a few that held the plush animals as if they were the only things that loved and cared about them. My fear for some is that the animals are.
 
I am so grateful for our founder who knows that despite any of the programs or signature services we offer, it is always the little things that make the difference. After 25 years of ministry, she shares that “people in need don’t want a handout, they simply want a hand”.
 
So if by chance you visit our corporate office or see a social media pic from the office, now you know why you see the bags of teddy bears in the background. The “stupid bears” are actually not stupid at all. They are sort of magical, especially to the recipients, so we make room for them to stay.
 
--Alesha Brown, Vice President of Crusading Outreach Ministry Inc. 501 c 3
Empowerment Coach, Motivational Speaker and Best Selling Author
AleshaBrown.net         
                 
                                  "It's never too late to edit your life and I can help!"

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