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Piedmont United Way Volunteer Center

 

Volunteer in your community!

 "I enjoy seeing someone appreciate what I've done.  I get satisfaction from knowing that I was able to do what was needed.  I have the ability, I have the time - why not use it to the good instead of wasting it?" -- Joe Kratochvil, Culpeper senior volunteer.

 

Caring faces of volunteers in your community

            

Volunteerism

The Aging Together partnership has long recognized that addressing the needs of a growing older population requires a multi-faceted approach.  One key element is volunteer support. This is especially important at a time of increased demand on the long term care system and healthcare workforce.  If seniors are to stay connected to their home communities it is essential to expand the assistance provided by friends, neighbors, and other volunteers.

 

Volunteers provide or enhance many vital services for older adults including transportation, home-improvement, respite care, nutrition and a wide range of other supports.  At the same time seniors have much to offer when they give their time to the community. For this reason a primary goal of Aging Together is to develop a strong volunteer network and through this to increase volunteerism by and for seniors.

 

Volunteering is a win-win-win situation. It helps the senior being supported, it strengthens the capacity of community organizations and it provides rich experiences for the volunteers as they make new friends, learn skills, build their resumes or simply experience the satisfaction of accomplishment and contribution.

 

Aging Together Honors Regional Volunteers  Aging Together feels strongly that volunteerism by and for older adults should be recognized here in our community and therefore have selected six individuals or agencies to be acknowledged for their outstanding volunteer efforts.  Their efforts will be celebrated along with the 2009 Presidential Service Award recipients on Thursday, April 22 at the Providence Bible Church in Culpeper.

 Our honorees include:

Orange Handy Helpers

Jean Kane, Madison

Doug Schiffman, Protective Money Management Program region wide

Scrabble School Foundation, Rappahannock

Home Instead Senior Care, region wide

VolTran, Fauquier County

Tech Time for Seniors, Culpeper

Special congratulations to Doug Schiffman who has received the 2010 Governor's Volunteerism Award for outstanding volunteer service by an individual.  Mr. Schiffman created the region's protective money management program.  In the last year Mr. Schiffman recruited and trained 40 volunteers who serve as Representative Payees for 20 older adults and people with disabilities.  The program manages approximately $65,000 in average monthly funds.  This service has helped at-risk individuals make sure their bills are paid, helped with budgeting to assure that people's limited funds are spent appropriately and in many cases has helped prevent fraud and abuse.  The program received a Best Practice Award in 2009 from Virginia's Commonwealth Council on Aging.  For more information click here. 

Check out a wide range of volunteer opportunities at Piedmont United Way Volunteer Center 

Older Americans Seek New Volunteer Incentives, Report finds. Seventy-three percent of adults between the ages of 44 and 79 volunteered for an organization in the past year, but significant barriers remain to tapping the full potential of these “experienced Americans,” according to a report commissioned by the AARP.Aging Together County Teams and Regional Workgroups are the perfect place to volunteer your time planning events and having input to how your community deals with aging. To volunteer or for additional information contact the groups listed below or call Aging Together 540-829-6405 or Email: info@agingtogethet.org.