Retirees Can Still Make a Difference – Feb. 2014
Especially for veterans and their spouses: We are committed to our vets/vet families so we’re launching a Special program for those 55 or older who are military veterans and/or their husbands and wives. When we lose a spouse or friends, and family members aren’t nearby it’s easy to become isolated, lonely and depressed. Our solution will be to launch companionship groups called Health and Help Squads. Squads will consist of five vets/vet’s spouses living in the same geographic area:
Aurora, Commerce City, Federal Heights/Westminster/S.W. Adams, Thornton/Northglenn, Brighton, and Eastern Plains (Watkins, Bennett, Strasburg, Byers and Deer Trail).
Squad members will commit to call the other four members of their squad once a week for a short companionship phone call. They may also get together singly or as a group to help other team members with such things as house cleaning, yard maintenance, medical transportation, hospital visits or shopping. Or they might go out to a restaurant, movie, concert or sporting event together. To participate, you will need to fill out an RSVP volunteer enrollment form so we can form up our squads and also so we can tally the monthly hours you devote as a squad member. (Our federal sponsors require us to report the hours donated by volunteers in our RSVP programs.) You will commit to making a weekly phone call to the other four squad members. No time limit is required but we hope you’ll spend about 15 minutes with each call, or about an hour per week total. We ask you to commit to an “enlistment period” of 3-6 months to give the squad members time to develop strong friendships with each other. We’ll provide you with some conversation starters to make it easier for you to get acquainted with your new friends. Take the risk to develop new friendships with folks who have a similar past serving in our military forces. You’ll help others while being helped yourself – Everyone wins! Call Tom Rapp (303)426-4408 to join a Health and Help Squad near you! Please pass this to others you think might be interested and to any veterans’ organizations you belong to.
Senior Tax Preparation Assistance Program. Volunteers are needed for this program that helps seniors prepare their taxes. Contact RSVP now!
Disaster Prep Speakers Team to alert the public and especially senior citizens on the preparation needed for disasters. After the recent floods this is very timely, and we need help for our speaking events.
Schools Where All Thrive Tutor/Mentor Program: Help kids! We place teams of volunteers with 2nd or 3rd grade students behind in reading. 2 hours per week are required. We’re serving in Adams 1, 12, 50 and Brighton 27J. We need more volunteers in each district, especially in Brighton. We’re planning trainings for new volunteers. Call Ron Ausmus at 303-426-4408 or rausmus@seniorhub.org today!
Recycling Volunteers working with Keep Thornton Beautiful and Thornton schools and businesses will promote recycling in Thornton. Have fun while helping at recycling events. Call Tom at RSVP now.
Other volunteering: Transportation services for homebound/elderly; in-home/respite care; helping at area food banks; serving congregate meals; serving in hospitals; helping in senior centers; serving on boards and agency committees. Senior Hub Meals on Wheels has three open routes needing drivers, and also needs someone to help with the assessment of MOW applicants for eligibility. MOW drivers are also needed in Aurora and Brighton. Senior Hub Volunteer Food Pantry Assistant 4 hours twice a week. Call us to discuss other current volunteer opportunities we have available.
Donate your good 4-ply non-wool yarn so our volunteers can make lap robes for nursing homes etc.
By Tom Rapp, Director Adams/E. Arapahoe RSVP at Senior Hub, Inc.
Adams/E. Arapahoe RSVP places volunteers 55 and older in locations across Adams County and Arapahoe County (east of I-25). Call 303-426-4408, or e-mail trapp@seniorhub.org for information.