Current news and updates regarding the Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine Community.

Together We Heal

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Today, tens of millions in America live without health insurance – or much hope. That’s where we come in. Over 25 years ago Dr. Jack McConnell dared to imagine the possible in the face of the impossible. He imagined, what if we didn’t see patients but simply saw people? What if treating those people with kindness, understanding and dignity was as important as giving them healthcare? And what if in giving them good medicine, we also gave them hope? Hope in their health. Hope in one other. Hope in our communities.

Then Dr. McConnell and some fellow healthcare friends willed and worked what they imagined into reality, building the original Volunteers in Medicine Clinic in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina that continues to flourish to this day. Then Dr. McConnell founded Volunteers In Medicine America so other communities across the nation could have their own Volunteers in Medicine clinic. Today there are more 90 clinics in 30 states serving over 100,000 people.

Along the way something happened we could never have imagined. Those of us providing the healing began to heal something inside of ourselves as well.

Our videos capture that caring and healing interaction between caregivers and care receivers. Please go to our website to see how you can help – by making a donation, volunteering, starting a clinic, or joining our network.

Finding Peace in the Midst of Chaos

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A Holistic Approach to Managing Stress
by Kelly Andrews

By now you may or may not feel like you are starting to be” in flow” with our new reality. Everyone is continuing to find their own way of dealing with continuous challenges of COVID-19 and for most of us some days are better than others. What is important is that you are taking time for yourself and being gentle in how you react to your emotions. Keeping a positive mind set and heart set is key in a healthy immune system.
During this time of chaos we are encouraging you to consider a holistic approach to healthy and mindful living which emphasizes Self-Care for the body, mind, spirit and emotions.

Here are 8 tips for keeping your Head Up and Heart Out as we move onward!

PHYSICAL WELLBEING
• Sleep – There is nothing better for our immune systems than a good night’s sleep of 7-8 hours. Going to bed the same time every night and waking up the same time every day will keep your sleeping pattern consistent. Create an evening routine to assist yourself in winding down at the end of the day.

• Dance, Dance, Dance – Put on your favorite tunes and invite your body to move without any effort from your mind. Play music that inspires you to feel positive emotions and activate the good neurochemicals. Pick a genre that speaks to your soul!

MENTAL WELLBEING
• Find a New Way to Do Routine Things – Our brains have a way of being on auto-pilot especially with routine tasks. You can literally create new neuropathways in your brain simply by doing something old in a new way. For example, find a new route to work every day, eat somewhere different for lunch, try taking a mental break on a different schedule, make plans on a night that you might ordinarily stay home.
• Digital Detox – We can be victims to our technology by feeling we have to stay connected every moment of every day. Take the opportunity to unplug for a few minutes each and every day, and see how you respond. Also, pay attention to what you are feeding your mind through television, social media, radio, etc.

SPIRITUAL WELLBEING
• Look for Love in Everyone and Everything –  Life is full of miracles when we take the time to pay attention. Expect to find 3 expressions of LOVE throughout your day. As you begin this practice you will notice just how quickly you find small examples of grace.

• Find the Sunshine – Going outside and inviting the sun to fill your soul with warm light and love is a refreshing way to lift your spirit. It only takes a few minutes to feel the difference. Take a few deep breaths in and allow that feeling to radiate throughout your entire being. Exhale gratitude back out and into the universe. AAHHHH.

EMOTIONAL WELLBEING
• Humor – Laughter is medicine for the soul. Make an effort to bring a sense of humor into your life daily. Research has proven that laughter (whether real or fake) benefits our health in a positive way. Find ways to bring more FUN to your day. Look for funny videos, on line jokes, movies, or books. Spend time with those friends that constantly make you smile.

• Forgiveness – One of the most un-healthy habits one can have is the inability to let go. When we have been disappointed, hurt or betrayed in life, we tend to hold onto feelings such as anger, sadness and/or frustration. The problem is that these feelings only hurt ourselves and can create issues for our physical being when not expressed in a healthy way. Find ways to forgive yourself and others freeing your spirit up for more positive emotions!
We all have an opportunity to view the COVID-19 experience as one of negativity & suffering or as a time of transformation, creativity and renewal. How and what are you doing within yourself to create your reality?

About Kelly Andrews
With more than 25 years in the health and wellness field, Kelly has worked in a variety of settings including corporate, higher education, non-profit, medical, and fitness centers. Through her own life experience, Kelly’s personal journey allows her to practice deep empathy when working with others to find their way forward. Kelly, a native of Tennessee, is passionate about working with people to help them explore, expand and evolve into the best and healthiest versions of themselves.

Visit https://www.kellyandrewstoday.com/ to learn more about Kelly Andrews.

Eating Well & the LVIM Mobile Food Pantry

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by Caroline Benitez

Eating well starts not with what’s on your plate, but what’s in your grocery cart. Though there isn’t a one-size fits-all way to eat, almost everyone agrees that a diet rich in fresh veggies, produce, and whole grains is the foundation to good health. Sometimes knowing the right foods to eat isn’t enough. The community where you live can have a big impact on what goes into your diet- especially if you live in a food desert.

The USDA defines a food desert as a community where a large proportion of households are low-income and have low access to fresh foods. There might be convenience stores or restaurants nearby to buy the basics and shelf-stable processed items, but an actual grocery store or supermarket with fresh foods is harder to get to. In these places, the closest grocery store is over one mile away in an urban area, or 10 miles in a rural area.

For those of us living in an urban area, living one mile from a grocery store might not sound too terrible. But what if you don’t have a car and have to rely on public transportation or rides from friends? What if you have a disability or mobility issues? Then, reliably gathering fresh ingredients to make a healthy meal for you and your family is no easy task.

A 2015 analysis by the USDA found that a relatively high proportion (9.8%) of households in the central Lakeland area did not have vehicles and lived over one half-mile from a supermarket. All in all, 1.2 million urban Floridians and 780,000 rural Floridians live in a food desert.

At LVIM, we believe that everyone deserves a chance to live a healthy life, no matter their income. Through the generosity of the George W. Jenkins Foundation, and in partnership with United Way of Central Florida and Feeding Tampa Bay, LVIM launched our mobile food pantry initiative. Since kicking off this program in March, LVIM has helped to provide a box of free healthy foods like fresh produce and meat to 1,222 households which includes 4,299 people!

Mobile Food Pantry

Second and Last Tuesday of Every Month

Location: 600 W Peachtree Street

Time: 12:00pm-2:00pm

Registration starts at 11:00am.

For more information about food deserts and the Florida statistics visit the sites below:

Food desert map: https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-access-research-atlas/go-to-the-atlas/

Florida stats: https://www.fdacs.gov/Archives/Folders-Content-Web-Pages/Food-Nutrition-and-Wellness/Impact-of-Food-Deserts-on-Diet-Related-Health-Outcomes

Overview: https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/45014/30940_err140.pdf

About LVIM

LVIM provides free, high-quality, out-patient medical, dental, and mental health care to the working uninsured of Polk County in a compassionate manner. Through 19 years of excellent leadership, LVIM has grown into a thriving and crucial organization for the Polk County community serving the health care needs of over 4,300 eligible patients each year and providing over $9 million in services in 2019 alone. At LVIM the treatment is free, the care is priceless!

To learn more about LVIM visit https://www.lvim.net/.

Healthy Delicious Recipes

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Did you know LVIM has volunteer Nutrition Educator who works with our patients?  Throughout the month of June, we will be sharing some of the healthy and delicious recipes given to us by Katherine Bates on our social media.

Katherine Bates is a Florida native and a Nutrition Educator. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Dietetics & Nutrition where she studied anatomy & physiology, food science, advanced nutrition and dietetics management. She practices a holistic approach to supporting the whole person. Nutrition education is key, support is essential. Katherine also has a Health Coach Certificate in Nutrition & Wellness. She works primarily as a supportive advisor and wellness consultant helping clients feel their best through food & lifestyle changes by customizing a personalized wellness program to meet their needs. With dedication to improving the lifelong eating habits of children and teenagers, she believes that learning by doing the things they enjoy is best. As a proud mother of two boys, she enjoys engaging children & parents in food science and helping them discover nutrition through fun, memorable activities.

To learn more about Katherine and for a full list of recipes click here Recipes for LVIM from Katherine Bates.

Today Is Not Like Any Other Day

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Today is not like any other day, just like the past two months have not been like any other months. You may be home with family or you may be home alone, but we all have something in common that connects us! As a mental health therapist and grief specialist, I have seen my share of grief ! Grief is described as the loss of something that you love. We have lost the ability to be physically close to our family, friends, co-workers, neighbors and co-volunteers! Sounds like grief to me, but the difference is, the loss is continuous and supports are limited. There are no hugs, no pats on the back, no handshakes no gatherings NO PHYSICAL CONTACT! Which amplifies the grief! So, how do we process this peculiar grief? Glad you asked!

1. Set a schedule – Setting a schedule gets you up every day with a goal in mind.
2. Limit your view of the news, maybe 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes at night, so that you stay informed not consumed!
3. Reach out to a loved one every day, not just text, hear a voice or FaceTime!
4. Go outside daily, sunshine is a natural healer.
5. Do some type of exercise (dance, walk, stretch ) just move the body.
6. Spend a few minutes of quiet time (meditate, pray, sit, knit) not too much sleep!
7. Try to learn something new!
8. Try to eat healthy😄just don’t eat all the virus snacks in one day!
9. Make a list of things that you want to do, when we can get out again!

These are just a few ideas that may help! There is a silverlining at the end of this season!!!

Rica Walker, LMHC
Silverlining counseling
Rica@silverliningfl.com

Protect Your Skin

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by Caroline Benitez

As spring makes way for summer, many of us are dreaming about days in the sun. Although plans for beach days and picnics in the park might need to be put on hold for a bit longer, you can still find creative ways to soak up the sun in your own backyard. However, as you choose to enjoy the warm weather, there’s one essential ingredient you can’t forget: sunscreen.

Sunscreen, when used correctly, is one of the best lines of defense for blocking the sun’s skin cancer-causing UV (ultraviolet) radiation. The American Cancer Society reports that an estimated 5.4 million cases of squamous and basal skin cancers are diagnosed each year in the United States, making them the most common form of all cancers. As for melanoma, the most severe form of skin cancer, a projected 100,350 new cases will be diagnosed in 2020.

While these statistics can be alarming, it doesn’t mean that you need to avoid the sun altogether! Below are some sun safety tips to keep in mind whenever you plan on spending time outdoors. 

Choose the right sunscreen.

SPF sunscreen stands for Sun Protection Factor. The number refers to how many minutes of protection from UVB radiation the sunscreen provides- for example, 30 minutes of sun exposure while wearing SPF 30 sunscreen would equal the amount of exposure you would receive in one minute with no protection. The higher the number, the higher the protection. A broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher is recommended.

Cover up.

While sunscreen should be your first line of defense, it’s a good idea to also protect your skin with things such as loose clothing, sunglasses, or a wide-brimmed hat.

Limit sun exposure.

Sunscreen and protective clothing are not a free pass to spend all day in the sun. Limit exposure to direct sunlight between the hours of 10:00am and 4:00pm, when UV rays are at their strongest.

Perform a self-screening exam.

Check your skin regularly for any changes. If you notice any new, changing, or expanding moles or growths, you should consult with a dermatologist to assess your risk.

About LVIM

LVIM provides free, high-quality, out-patient medical, dental, and mental health care to the working uninsured of Polk County in a compassionate manner. Through 19 years of excellent leadership, LVIM has grown into a thriving and crucial organization for the Polk County community serving the health care needs of over 4,300 eligible patients each year and providing over $9 million in services in 2019 alone. At LVIM the treatment is free, the care is priceless!

 

To learn more about LVIM visit https://www.lvim.net/.

Just Breathe

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by Caroline Benitez

To be stressed is to be human, especially during these uncertain times. At some point, everyone experiences situations that cloud their head with worry and overwhelms their thoughts. While there are plenty of ways to describe this sort of feeling, it would be a mistake to think that stress is something that’s just in your head.

Stress is more than just a feeling- it’s your body’s way of preparing you for perceived threats. There are two kinds of stress, acute and chronic. Think of acute stress as your body’s alarm system for short term stressors. In such situations, the hormones cortisol and adrenaline are released, which raise your blood pressure and heart rate, and quickens your breathing. This response can be useful when you have the act quick- like, for example, when you must slam the breaks to avoid a fender bender. Stress lasting for periods of weeks or months is better described as chronic stress. Over time, this type of stress can take a toll on your body and can contribute to conditions such as hypertension and heart disease down the road.

The good news is that chronic stress doesn’t have remain a chronic issue. If you are experiencing this kind of stress, it can be helpful to first identify your stressors. Once you find tangible sources of your stress, you can create a plan to address them head on. Recruiting strong social support- be it through family, friends, counselors or coworkers- is essential. While we are currently under a Safer at Home order in Florida, there ways to remain connected with your social network using FaceTime, Skype, Zoom or a phone call.  Remember that no matter how insurmountable your problems feel, there are always people who want to help you get through them!

As for acute stress, there is no shortage of activities that you can use to cope in a healthy way. Go for a walk, put on your favorite music, or take time to work on a hobby. The important thing is to find something that you enjoy doing that allows you time to step back and refocus. Why not try mediation? Below is a deep breathing excessive you can try the next time you feel stressed.

INHALE deeply through your nose as if you were smelling a rose.

IMAGINE that your lungs are balloons slowly and steadily inflating in your chest.

EXHALE slowly through your mouth as if you were trying to blow out a candle.

REPEAT and remember to take things one breath at a time!

About LVIM

LVIM provides free, high-quality, out-patient medical, dental, and mental health care to the working uninsured of Polk County in a compassionate manner. Through 19 years of excellent leadership, LVIM has grown into a thriving and crucial organization for the Polk County community serving the health care needs of over 4,300 eligible patients each year and providing over $9 million in services in 2019 alone. At LVIM the treatment is free, the care is priceless!

To learn more about LVIM visit https://www.lvim.net/.

SWAN DERBY – POSTPONED

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With the arrival of COVID-19 on our doorstep, LVIM will continue to be a critical resource to the community.

Working together to keep our community safe and healthy, LVIM is planning and prepared to face the new normal that lies ahead.  In these uncertain times, LVIM is keeping the doors open to our current patients, all 3,000+ of them.  Now more than ever keeping our emergency rooms clear of non-emergencies will be essential.  We are encouraging our vulnerable volunteers to stay home, stay well, and stay healthy, which means working with a skeleton crew.  As such, we will be closing our doors to new patients for a short time so we can focus on caring for the patients we already have.  We will not cease providing medically necessary care, pharmacy services, and will even make tele-medicine available when feasible.

Additionally, we have made the hard decision to postpone the Swan Derby. It is our every hope to revive the Derby sometime this fall. I will keep you updated as further information is available.

Please consider a donation to LVIM so that we can continue to care for our patients, provide needed medications and give them some peace of mind, during these unique circumstances.

DONATE HERE: https://www.lvim.net/donate/

Gut Feeling

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by Caroline Benitez

While many of us are used to making decisions based on a gut feeling, it takes more than intuition to know your risk of colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer refers to cancer of the digestive tract- specifically, cancer occurring in the large intestine (colon) or rectum. Roughly 148,000 new cases of colorectal cancer were diagnosed in 2019. That makes it the fourth most common kind of cancer in the United States.

Early detection is key to fighting this disease. Screening through stool samples and colonoscopies are tools used to catch early warning signs of colorectal cancer, such as blood in the stool or precancerous polyps. The CDC recommends that anyone between the ages of 50 and 75 get screened for colorectal cancer. Thanks to a partnership with Lakeland Surgical and Diagnostics, LVIM is able to ensure that our patients get the screening colonoscopies that they need.

Whether you’re due for a screening or still have some time to go, it’s never too early to take action! Below are some small steps you can take to lower your risk of colorectal cancer.

Get screened

Factors such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) or a family history of cancer increase your risk. Talk to your doctor to find out the right time for you to start screening.

Quit Smoking

Stopping use of cigarettes and tobacco products is a good call to prevent all kinds of cancers. Studies estimate that anywhere from 15-20% of all colon cancer cases can be attributed to smoking.

Get moving

Because being overweight can be a negative risk factor, increasing your daily physical activity is a step in the right direction. Try walking with friends or family for a fun and free form of exercise!

Try a healthier diet

While no single food or diet is proven to prevent cancer, research suggests that cutting back on animal fats and adding fiber in the form of whole grains, vegetables, and nuts could promote good colon health.

About LVIM

LVIM provides free, high-quality, out-patient medical, dental, and mental health care to the working uninsured of Polk County in a compassionate manner. Through 19 years of excellent leadership, LVIM has grown into a thriving and crucial organization for the Polk County community serving the health care needs of over 4,300 eligible patients each year and providing over $9 million in services in 2019 alone. At LVIM the treatment is free, the care is priceless!

To find out if you qualify please visit https://www.lvim.net/our-work/ or call (863) 688-5846.

“Basic Information about Colorectal Cancer.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10 Feb. 2020, www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/basic_info/index.htm.

“Colorectal Cancer.” American Cancer Society, 2020, www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer.html.

2019 Nonprofit of the Year

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LVIM is incredibly honored to have received the Nonprofit of the Year Award at the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce Honors event last week!  The applications were judged by Executives of Chambers from around the country.

Without our volunteers, staff, board members and the community this would not be possible.

This is one of the BEST birthday presents!