Central CA Regional Message – September 2022
My name is McKenzie Dern and I am the Regional Manager for Central California. Below is my message to you for the month of September 2022.
Happy September!! I hope you are enjoying the last bits of summer. We have some amazing events planned for you this month.
If you are a burn survivor and family member and wish to be added to our monthly email, please email info@aarbf.org and indicate your region.
Back to School Hangout
September 14, 2022
Scooter and I are hosting a virtual get-together and you’re invited. Join us at 6:00pm via Zoom for games and time spent with friends!
Register today at: https://forms.gle/9eprjoLt659z288DA. (Event open to burn survivors ages 5-17 years.)
Back-to-School Town Hall
September 14, 2022
Attention Parents and Guardians: AARBF is hosting a Back-to-School Town Hall designed to address the concerns surrounding sending a child survivor back to school. You are invited to join us on Wednesday, September 14 at 7:00 PM via Zoom for an hour-long interactive informational meeting. This session will address important topics such as bullying and how you can best support your child during their return to school.
Please register today at: https://forms.gle/HwdUbmrx9ztL1NJg7.
50th Anniversary Celebration
October 15, 2022
Join us in Southern California for a fun filled evening at the Los Angeles Fire Department Museum featuring a “taste of LA’s favorite food trucks”, including the Kogi Truck, Vivace Pizza, Cousins Maine Lobster, Longshot Coffee and Coolhaus Ice Cream while sipping on wine compliments of Foley Family Wines.
Stay for the auction – we’ll have a wide array of items available that evening. We’ll be updating our website frequently with the fabulous donors providing auction items!
Get your tickets today at: https://www.aarbf.org/50th-anniversary-celebration/.
Movement Expression
September 22, 2022
Watch our social media for more information coming soon about this month’s Movement Expression.
Support Groups
Fresno Community Regional Medical Center – September 13, 2022 from 6:30pm – 8:00pm. This is an in-person regional support group open to both survivors and their family members. Currently this group is meeting virtually, but will convert back to an in-person group as soon as it is safe to do so. Contact me at mdern@aarbf.org to register.
Caregiver – September 1, 2022 from 7:00pm – 8:30pm. This is an online state-wide support group for family members, care givers and loved ones of burn survivors. This group is closed to burn survivors. To register, please contact Scott Wertz at swertz@aarbf.org.
Spanish Speaking – September 20, 2022 from 6:00pm – 7:30pm. This is an online support group specifically designed for Spanish-speaking burn survivors. To register, please contact Margarita Rodriguez at mrodriguez@aarbf.org.
Statewide – September 15, 2022 from 7:00pm – 8:30pm. This is an online support group open to both burn survivors and their loved ones throughout California. To register, please contact Scott Wertz at swertz@aarbf.org.
Peer Support – Not everyone is comfortable in a group setting, which is why the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation offers one-on-one Peer Support. Peer Support is a power tool for healing from a burn trauma. There is something magical that happens when one survivor sits and shares their experience and healing process with another. Peer support can relieve the feeling of being all alone in your experience. Peer support can come in many forms; a burn survivor talking to another burn survivor, a parent talking to another parent or loved one. This service is not limited to burn survivors. A burn injury can affect the entire family, caregivers and other loved ones. Contact me at mdern@aarbf.org to get started today.
Back to School Support (available upon request) – Contact me at mdern@aarbf.org to learn more about this program.
Featured Videos
AARBF’s Multimedia Resource Library includes tip sheets, videos, stories, and so much more. Video content within the library has been developed by the AARBF Community; including our staff, volunteers, burn survivors and community partners! Below are our featured videos for July!
AARBF Wellness Team members Jamba and Poppy share ways to help you manage stress and anxiety through breathing.
If you want to try yoga but think your body can’t do the yoga poses, then this video is for you. Our yoga team will show you how to modify the poses to suit your body.