AGAWAM — The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Western Massachusetts will hold its 22nd annual walkathon celebration, “A Journey of Hope and Recovery” on Sunday, May 22, at 11 a.m. Registration begins at 10 a.m.
The event is suitable for all ages and abilities and will directly benefit NAMI’s efforts to improve the lives of individuals living with mental health conditions and their families, a NAMI newsletter states. The event will also include guest speakers, art and raffles.
For more information, including entry and sponsorship forms, call 413-786-9139 or visit namiwm.org/events. Volunteers are needed.
SPRINGFIELD — Dakin Humane Society is seeking people to volunteer their services as foster caregivers for vulnerable animals.
Animals enter foster homes for a variety of reasons, including medical or behavioral issues that are best treated in a home setting, according to a Dakin Humane Society press release. Pregnant animals usually need to enter foster care to ensure they are under daily observation and can receive immediate attention if needed. When the pet has recovered or shown enough improvement to be adopted, it is either returned to Dakin or stays in the foster home until an adopter comes forward.
“The face of foster is changing,” Dakin’s Director of Development and Marketing Stacey Price noted in the release. “Previously, dog and cat overpopulation was the main problem we were trying to solve. Now it’s delivering the specialized care needed for the animals brought to Dakin that tend to have medical and/or behavioral issues that require ‘above and beyond’ care. Some of that we can provide in-house, but in other cases, it’s in the pet’s best interest to spend time in a loving home environment where people can give them the emotional support they need as they face new chapters in their lives.”
Dakin foster volunteers can choose to set time limits on their foster assignments, the release states. If a foster family has an upcoming vacation or other commitment that takes them away from home, their foster pet will be placed in another caregiving situation, either on a temporary or permanent basis.
Some foster-related tasks include weight-tracking, giving medications via food or syringe, or record-keeping to monitor physical or behavioral changes, the release notes.
To learn more about becoming a Dakin foster or to apply, visit dakinhumane.org/foster-a-dakin-animal.html.
SPRINGFIELD — Baystate Health is offering two free informative virtual events during May’s Stroke Awareness Month.
“Strokes Can Happen at Any Age,” presented by Dr. Rajiv Padmanabhan, stroke director in the Department of Neurology at Baystate Health, will be held on Wednesday, May 11, from 6 to 7 p.m.
“Women: Do You Know Your Risk for Stroke,” presented by Dr. Heydi Flores Podadera of the Department of Neurology at Baystate Health, will be held on Thursday, May 12, from 6 to 7 p.m.
To register, visit BaystateHealth.org/Stroke.