What Actually Does Jalon Valley Help Do? [Part 1 of 3]

 

- What JVH actually does to help people in need,

- How is JVH Funded, and most importantly,

- How can I help JVH, as without our help no charity can continue its operations.

 

Jalon Valley Help was founded in 1992 with the aim of providing help to anyone in need within the Jalon and Orba valleys, irrespective of age or nationality.

 

What do JVH mean by Help? 

JVH does not give out cash but instead they help to provide short-term solutions to people’s problems, many of which are medical. For instance:

- You may need a driver to take you to hospital/medical appointment or a translator to assist you at such appointment.

- You may be on your own or have recently lost a family member/friend so you need support/somewhere to find a friendly face – JVH has a drop-in centre at the Animo in Alcalali where the ‘Animo family’ hold coffee mornings, Sunday afternoon tea, a craft group meeting each Thursday and a weekly seated keep-fit session.

- You may need additional care or medical equipment following an operation. JVH loans wheelchairs, commodes, walking frames and even hospital beds free of charge, although they do require a deposit against non-return.

- With Cancer Care Javea they provide a weekly cancer support drop-in each Thursday at the Animo.

- They have a 24-hour Helpline to answer any emergencies.

- They support several other local caring organisations including Caritas, Gandia Men’s Hostal, ADIMA (a Spanish organisation supporting people with learning disabilities, Women’s refuge, and supported Home4U to help the Ukrainian refugees.

Last year alone JVH donated 16,000€ to local caring organisations, spent 55,000€ on social care for individuals, raised 13,000€ for Help4U and helped them to furnish and equip homes and to provide clothes for Ukrainian refugees.

 

Currently, in 2023, JVH have more than 160 items of equipment, ranging from hospital beds to walking frames, out on loan in 30 towns and villages within ‘The Valley’, from Castells in the west, to Rafol de Almunia in the north, Javea & Moraira on the coast and Benissa in the south. In certain cases of need JVH also has currently loaned specific equipment to people outside ‘The Valley’, going as far north as Pego/Oliva and to Calpe/Altea in the south. Although the main focus area is around the towns of Jalon/Alcalali/Parcent/Orba in ‘The Valley’. These loans are all made irrespective of nationality.

 

Each year JVH organises, with the support of the Municipal Authorities, their very popular ‘Carols in the Square’ in December in Jalon/Alcalali/Orba, when the charity says thanks to the residents for their support during the year.

 

Obviously all this help costs money, and equally importantly it requires time from committed volunteers. Could you be a part of this friendly locally based charity? We all have something to give, so let’s not put off volunteering until a friend/family member actually needs JVH’s help. Let’s volunteer our services today.

My next article will address how JVH is funded, and my third article will address in detail how we can each support JVH.

 

See our website www.jalonvalleyhelp.com for details of the amazing things JVH do within our communities and call Pam Brooks, JVH President, on 634 310 415 to discuss how you can help with time or donations.

Article written by Peter Sockett.