Senior Center looking for caring neighbors to help seniors in need  

By Janice Horne
Viewpoint Staff Writer

Have you received the Caring Neighbors survey yet? You may recently have met a volunteer canvassing your street or even seen the insert in this month's issue of Viewpoint asking about your willingness to help seniors in Curtis Park or asking if you are a Curtis Park senior who could use some help with chores and errands.

The Caring Neighbors program is an exciting joint venture with the Sacramento City Parks and Recreation Department (the Older Adults Services branch) and the Senior Center at Sierra 2 to help Curtis Park seniors who may need help with assorted tasks such as changing a light bulb, a phone call to check in on their well being, or a ride to the grocery store or doctor's office. Seniors in need will be matched up with a volunteer from Curtis Park willing to help neighborhood seniors.

This focus of the Caring Neighbors program is to bring neighbors together as part of a volunteer effort to assist seniors in maintaining their safety and independence in their own homes. Statistics have shown that the greater the local community support the longer seniors can remain in their own homes without the need for moving to assisted living residences.

"Curtis Park is an ideal neighborhood to launch this program," said Tracey Gray, Caring Neighbors coordinator from the Sacramento Park Department, who will be managing the Curtis Park program along with Janice Horne, Senior Center coordinator. Gray cited the high level support given to SCNA and its programs as demonstration that Curtis Park is an ideal neighborhood in which to undertake the Caring Neighbors program.

The program originated in1997 with staff support from Americorp Vista. Later, when the program was about to terminate, representatives from various neighborhoods advocated for its continuation before the Sacramento City Council, also requesting funds to maintain the program. The city council strongly showed its support for the program with additional funding.

"Neighbors are actually helping each other, working together for a common purpose, and getting to know each other," said Gray of the Caring Neighbors program, which is currently operating in the Campus Commons, Lawrence Park, Arden Park, and South Natomas neighborhoods.

If you have any interest in being either a volunteer or a recipient of volunteer assistance, please call Janice Horne at 455-6339.

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