Senior volunteers can work from home

ESSEX COUNTY | As the pandemic continues, Essex County residents are feeling more isolated. Seniors in particular are at risk of loneliness as they cope with the "new normal" of no face-to-face visitors. Compounding this problem, programs whose volunteers aid other seniors are finding it difficult to do so in the usual ways. "It's a double blow," said Kyle Miller, volunteer coordinator for AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP of Essex County. "The need is greater than ever, but our ability to volunteer is more difficult. What we are trying to do is create new ways for Essex County residents 55 years and older to volunteer, to be socially active while improving the lives of others, all from the safety and comfort of their own homes." Mr. Miller is referring to two programs being rolled out right now: a telephone friend program and a pen-pal program. "We hope we have a couple of winners with these. The beauty of it is that both sides receive benefits—the volunteer and the friend they call or write to. These types of programs have proven to build self-esteem, develop social interactions, boost creativity, promote relaxation, improve focus and concentration, stimulate memory, and above all, they encourage having fun! All those benefits are experienced by the volunteer and the friend they contact. We hope area seniors will sign up to volunteer and have fun with these. "I've seen some of the creativity that has come out of programs like this as they have been tried in other parts of the country, for instance, making a letter composed completely of drawings or decorating the edge of the paper by punching designs with a sewing needle. The telephone calls have been going longer than planned, as a chat about the first movie you saw turns into a long trip down memory lane for both parties. It's exciting to see how creative people can be and how rewarding it is when people connect." If you are 55 or older and would like to enroll as a telephone friend or a pen pal volunteer connecting with Essex County seniors from the safety and comfort of your home, call Kyle Miller at 518-546-3565 or email him at kmiller@cathcharities.org. AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP of Essex County is a program of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Ogdensburg. The mission of Catholic Charities is to respond to people in need, engaging other persons and agencies in the works of charity and justice and to empower people to build bridges to healthier lives.

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Senior volunteers can work from home

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