Williamsburg Faith In Action

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About Us

What is Faith in Action?

Faith in Action fosters caring relationships between volunteers and members of the Greater Williamsburg area who are elderly, disabled or with long-term health needs. Faith in Action is a national volunteer movement that brings together volunteers from many faiths and the community. Our common mission is to help people the elderly, chronically ill and disabled adults maintain their independence and dignity by providing them assistance with everyday activities.

Assessment of Need

The population of the Greater Williamsburg area is aging. Based on the 2000 census data, over 30% of our population is over the age of 55. Marketing to current and future retirees has been prevalent and successful in the Greater Williamsburg area for the past 10 to 15 years. According to the 2005 Williamsburg Comprehensive Plan, the aging of the general population will have a significant impact and the need for services for an older population is evident and growing. According to the 2003 Historic Triangle Community Assessment Report those who are 65 and older comprise the fastest growing segment of the population of the Historic Triangle, Greater Williamsburg area. It found that the senior population of James City County and upper York County is growing faster than in Williamsburg and considerably faster than the senior population in the state and the nation.

WFIA address two issues:

• The desire of the elderly, chronically ill and disabled to maintain independence in their own homes without becoming a burden.
• There is a pool of talented volunteers among retirees and faith-based communities. WFIA provides ready-made opportunities to channel these volunteers into providing needed services.

Benefits:

According to the 2003 Historic Triangle Community Assessment Report, the nursing home occupancy rates are quite high, both in the Historic Triangle Greater Williamsburg) and in the state. Virginia's occupancy rate of 92.1% compares to Williamsburg/James City County's rate of 85.7% and York County's of 94.8%. Additionally, approximately 1/3 of the seniors in this community have at least one disability.

Williamsburg Area Faith in Action is attempting to change those statistics for the Historic Triangle. By providing assistance with everyday tasks to the elderly, chronically ill or disabled who are striving to remain living independently in their own homes, the number who are forced to move into a nursing home or assisted living facility, simply because they are unable to perform everyday task, will be reduced.

Staff

Rita Smith
Executive Director
rsmith@wfia.org

Jeane Gillespie
Program Coordinator
jgillespie@wfia.org

Patti Watts
Program Assistant
pwatts@wfia.org

Board of Directors 2009