FAITH IN ACTION OF MARATHON COUNTY INC

Our ultimate purpose and goal is to provide our Care-Receivers with program benefits that help provide a safer, healthier, more
enjoyable outlook with a better quality of life.
Marathon County residents aged 60 and older are eligible for services provided by Faith in Action
volunteers. While there are other agencies that provide similar services in our area, there are no other
agencies that provide these services at NO COST to the recipient. We assist those individuals that do not
qualify for other services or would not be able to afford the services that enable them to remain in their
homes. Often, seniors are choosing between paying for necessities and receiving medical treatment. The cost
of transportation prohibits them from getting the medical attention or groceries that they need. Many do not
have family or friends living in the area, and do not have anywhere else to turn for help.

Faith in Action is meeting a tremendous need in the county by recruiting and training volunteers to assist
senior Marathon County residents in order to help them remain in their homes and avoid institutionalized
living. By increasing our focus on this vulnerable population, we continue to provide ALL our services FREE
to each FIA Care-Receiver.
Our Senior Home Safety Program is a forerunner in this community with providing ALL Falls Prevention
Apparatus and installation services at NO CHARGE. Faith in Action must procure grants and donations to
continue providing opportunities for all Marathon County senior residents to receive all our services,
including safety measures in preventing falls that can incur debilitating results.
There are other programs in the area that provide similar services, but Faith in Action of Marathon
County is the ONLY program that provides these services at NO COST to the recipient.

Services provided:
• Transportation for medical appointments
• Transportation for grocery shopping
• Grocery deliveries from The Neighbors Place to FIA's home-bound
• Friendly visiting
• Senior Home Safety Program
Senior Home Safety Program provides and installs safety apparatus. Accidental falls are one of the
leading causes of injury and death in seniors over 65 worldwide. Many of our care-recipients need Grab Bars,
Hand Railings, Toilet Risers and/or Step-Modifications.
There is a large increase in seniors requesting our services. FIA's goal for 2018 is to provide continued
programming to a larger client base (i.e. the poor, rural Marathon County communities) while placing more
emphasis on maintaining, training and recruiting volunteers to keep up with the demand for services.
Without the FREE/NO COST, unprecedented services from Faith in Action of Marathon County, many area
seniors (i.e. poor or low income) would be forced to consider institutional care.

Care-Receivers are referred to Faith in Action by area hospital social workers, church members, the Aging
and Disability Resource Center, Aspirus Life-Line, through various community publications, and personal
referrals. Once a referral is made, our Volunteer Coordinator schedules a home visit with the Care-Receiver to
determine necessary services (i.e. possible Senior Home Safety Program apparatus) needed and to match the
Care-Receiver with volunteers to provide the requested services.
Without services from Faith in Action, many area senior neighbors would not be able to live independently
in their home. Accordingly to a recent ALICE report by the United Way, 58% of Marathon County seniors are living
below the ALICE threshold and would not be able to get by without free services such as those provided by
Faith in Action.
Faith in Action of Marathon County strives to provide well-trained services
while controlling expenses by utilizing volunteer-driven expertise.