"As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands — one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.” — Audrey Hepburn
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Thank you for your amazing generosity and dedication especially during the pandemic. Our joint ability to keep elders living in their homes has been tremendously impactful. Thank you so much for volunteering! Volunteers are extremely special souls, and the NEK Council on Aging joins me in appreciation of everything you do, and have done, to help our elders stay safe and healthy.
In gratitude,
Karen Budde
AmeriCorps Senior Volunteer Coordinator
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"We had a great class today. Several of our students struggle with balance and we all have body parts that hurt sometimes. After working on moving across the floor, where we learned to focus on our core by thinking of pulling up our bodies as if we were pulling up our tights or pants, we did a dance section where students put together dances from the 50's, 60's and 70's, like the twist, monkey and jitterbug, strung together with the moving steps we worked on. Their assignment was to visit each part of the room while dancing to a Beatle song. One of the students, who struggles with balance, delighted us all with her own addition of turns plus she remembered and incorporated a difficult step we had only learned last week. How is that for finding your inner dancer?" - Janet Warner Ashley, Quahog Dance Theatre Leader
Pictured: Janet (front right) leading the dance class with fellow volunteer Tito Hernandez (front left).
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Danville Senior Action Center Celebrates Wear Red Day for
National Heart Health
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Thank you to our friends at the Danville Senior Action Center for joining us to celebrate Wear Red Day on Friday, February 4th!
February is National Heart Health Month.
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Over the past three months, 10 Fall Prevention Tai Chi leaders provided Zoom and in-person classes. With upgraded technical items, one Tai Chi class in Orleans has returned to Zoom. Two new volunteers joined us as class leaders.
Pictured: A group of our Falls Prevention Skill Leaders in training.
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Our Annual Valentine's Day Community Project |
Megan Durocher, our Director of Care and Support (South) shared a delightful picture of her 90-year old grandmother making valentines with her Senior Companion.
Each year we distribute thousands of valentines to NEKCOA clients, volunteers, and community elders to let them know they are valued members of our community. Last year, over 57 friends, schools, and organizations participated in this special project.
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Grocery Shopping and Help at Home |
We have 19 volunteers who deliver groceries. Similar to a home-delivered meals driver, these volunteers often have one or four clients. However, there is a volunteer with six clients!
Nine volunteers help with friendly visits (following Covid-19 guidelines). They made meals, did yard work, brought appliances, moved items, put together furniture, and cared for a client's home while they were in the hospital.
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One of our largest volunteer groups are our meal site volunteers. 60 people help to cook and prepare meals, develop menus, count participants, manage publicity, maintain shopping lists, coordinate drivers' schedules, and so much more!
Pictured: Friends from the Lyndon Area Senior Meals Program (Darling Inn)
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Our Home Delivered Meals Drivers |
The home-delivered meals program is extensive and utilizes 115 volunteers. The dedication of our drivers never ceases to amaze us. One route in Essex County is 80 miles long! Our drivers provide a hot meal and a friendly check in. The friendships made from this service are heartwarming.
Pictured: Home-delivered meals driver Kelly Deth serves clients in the Lyndonville area.
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We have nine volunteers and six elementary students helping us to deliver pet food to our home-delivered meals clients so they can help to feed their treasured furry friends. There are two volunteers who purchase the food, six who deliver, and one volunteer with her three grandchildren who breakdown the kibble food from the large bags and repack into gallon bags. |
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The Impact of Our Volunteers! |
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From October 1 to December 31, 2021, 240 volunteers contributed over 7,662 hours of service throughout the Northeast Kingdom providing support for companionship (phone a friend), meal site support, home-delivered meals delivery, community support, transportation, administrative support, grocery shopping, phone calls/visits, Pets4Life, and wellness programs. The hours, if paid using VT minimum wage ($12.55 per hour) equate to $96,158 of in-kind service!!
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Senior Companions are volunteers 55 and over who provide assistance and friendship to seniors who have difficulty with daily living tasks, such as shopping, organizing paperwork or getting to medical appointments. The program aims to keep seniors independent longer, and provide assistance to family caregivers.
For information regarding the Senior Companion program, contact:
Patty Beckwith
(802) 334-4816
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Stay Active and Age Well! |
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"I recently had a bone density scan. Hip -0.6 pretty much the same as 7 years ago. Nothing to worry about BUT my spine improved from 1.1 to -0.4 today! Just thought I would share this. It has reinforced that I should be more disciplined and regimented to continue to exercise on my own here at home." |
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"I missed two Fall Prevention Tai Chi wellness classes and within one week, the leader had sent a card asking if I was okay! She showed me that she cared about me!" |
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Upcoming Event! Birdwatching Class |
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www.nekcouncil.org
Helpline: (800) 642-5119 or (802) 748-5182
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