Hope Chest volunteer honored

Faye Long, a longtime Villa Esperanza Services Hope Chest volunteer, was one of the honorees at the recent 41st annual Older Americans Recognition Day Awards Program at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills.

The event, hosted by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Commission on Aging and Area Agency on Aging, celebrates older Americans and their contributions to the community.

Long has been a volunteer at the Thousand Oaks Hope Chest thrift store for more than 20 years. The shop is run by the "Caring Hearts" volunteer group.

Long dedicates two full days a week at the shop, which brings in about $100,000 per year for the West Region of Villa Esperanza Services, a nonprofit

organization that assists developmentally disabled adults and seniors.

"Faye is a wonderful lady who is very invested in the program and helping the clients out in the Hope Chest," said Robert Efford, director of Villa Esperanza Services West Region. "She is liked by everyone and this is why we nominated her for this award."

In addition to making money, the Hope Chest provides community-based employment for people with developmental disabilities. Participants are trained at the store and taught job skills in a retail environment. After learning these skills, they work in places such as Home Depot and Pet Smart.

Long has volunteered in many capacities while living in the Conjeo Valley. She was very involved in her children's schools, serving as president of the PTA and a member of various boards within the school district. She worked for many years as a volunteer at Los Robles Medical Center and presently volunteers her time at the gift shop at the Thousand Oaks Library.

Villa Esperanza Services offers additional programs in the West Region including independent living and Care Management Outreach Collaboration, which connects frail elderly seniors and adults with developmental disabilities with public and private services to help maintain independence. Families are also provided with support and information.

Villa Esperanza Services was founded in 1961 by mothers who believed their developmentally disabled children deserved quality care and education. Today, Villa serves more than 1,050 individuals with disabilities and their families in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

For more information, call (626) 449-2919, ext. 62.