 RSVP
Bulletin - Fall/Winter 2005/2006
Message From the Director, Teri Klein
Welcome Back Everyone from the
Summer. We are all looking forward to a busy and productive new year.
Funding
A special thanks to three of our funding sources: The State Department of Social
Services, The Town of Wilton and the United Way of Norwalk & Wilton who have
funded us for the coming year. We have also received a grant from WalMart to
purchase wool for our volunteers who are knitting beautiful hats, mittens,
scarves and blankets for the children in need in SW CT.
Mailing Teams
Our mailing teams are already very busy responding to calls for their
assistance. A special thanks to the over thirty volunteers who assisted with the
Mailing for the United Way of Norwalk and Wilton and to Madeline Bollmann for
organizing this activity.
RSVP Advisory Council
Welcome to two new members:
Susanne Lebrija, Special Services Social Worker for the Department of
Human Services Westport. Susanne also serves as an Interpreter, Screener and
Bilingual Translator for Americares Free Clinic in Norwalk. Prior to coming to
this area she Co-founded and served as president of a medical clinic in Mexico,
which provided basic heathcare, education, clothing, and food to the large local
population in need.
Sally Grose, Sally’s
many activities include: Board Secretary for the Norwalk Children’s Foundation,
Chair of the Education Committee of the NEON Board and Representative to the
Policy Council of Head Start. She is a member of Norwalk Acts, the Planning Team
of the After School Alliance and Liaison to the After School Achievement
Program. She is also a member of the Norwalk Human Relations Commission, the
Urban youth Coalition Against Violence and the Norwalk Housing Authority Academy
Planning Committee. Sally was formerly Social Studies Department Chair and
principal in the Westport School District.
New Cultural, History and
Heritage Opportunities
We have some brand new
opportunities in various museums. If you are interested in history and would
like to be a docent or a museum guide please check out these opportunities.
Lockwood
Matthews Mansion Museum, Norwalk
Volunteer in the Victorian Gift Shop, welcome visitors or be a guide for the
museum. Help is also needed for special events. Hours are flexible. Training and
mentoring is available.
Stepping
Stones Museum, Norwalk
Assist museum visitors in different functions. Includes clerical work,
Volunteer Docents, assisting in the Resource Center and leading art and science
based. activities. Help is also needed for special events. Training is provided
for all new volunteers. Flexible schedules
Norwalk
Museum
Volunteers are needed to help and guide visitors. Wednesday through Sunday,
1-5 pm. Orientation and free parking is available for volunteers.
Bush-Holley
Historic Site, Greenwich
Be a “Visitor Center volunteer”, greet visitors, distribute information
about the museum, and complete sales transactions. Must commit at least one day
per week. Or be a “Volunteer Docent” for the school programs, assist with school
tours. Initial and ongoing training is provided.
New Canaan
Historical Society
Be a Docent for their Early American Life (Colonial) program. Docents give
hands-on presentations on different aspects of early American life to
schoolchildren in four areas of the museum. Costumes, materials and training are
provided.
New Canaan Nature Center
If you are interested in working with nature the New Canaan Nature Center
has a variety of opportunities from assisting with animal care, to
administrative work to working in their greenhouse and many more. Help is also
needed for special events.
New Volunteer Opportunities
 American Cancer Society - Road to Recovery Program
As part of the Norwalk’s Mayor Crusade against cancer volunteers are needed to
donate their time to transport cancer patients to and from their treatment
appointments in Norwalk. Scheduling is flexible. Training and additional
insurance is provided.
Knitters are also needed to create ‘healing shawls’ for cancer patients.
Patterns are available.
Norwalk Reads! Help is needed with book sorting, book distributions and
reading to children at the headquarters in the King Kennedy Literacy Center.
PAWS (Pet Animal Welfare Society)
Norwalk Receptionist needed weekdays. Answer phones and greet guests.
Flexible schedule. Training is provided. Additional opportunities also available
for anyone who loves pets.
Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities
 Partnership
in Reading
‘Reading Consultants’ provide one-on-one reading time in local schools,
after school programs and libraries. Volunteers must be available to come in at
least once a week; training is provided.
Darien Welcome Center
Volunteer as a ‘Travel Counselor’ at the Darien Welcome Center. Provide
information and hospitality services to travelers and promote tourist
attractions in Connecticut. Travel assistance varies from simple travel
questions to computer searches. Training is provided as well as day trips to
places of interest and events in CT. A generous mileage reimbursement is
offered.
Norwalk Tree Alliance
Help inventory Norwalk's City trees. Learn how to identify and categorize
trees. Gather data to assist the city establish a tree management program. You
may help identify notable and memorable trees and appropriate sites for “Norwalk
City Free Tree Program.” Training provided.
Mailing teams
Fill envelopes, label and other clerical duties for community organizations.
Knitting teams
Knit scarves, hats, blankets to be distributed to children in need in the
community.
Friendly Connections
Become a friendly caller and chat one-on-one with a senior. Phone call will
help a homebound senior stay involved. Share interests or teach a class via
telephone network contacts. Hours are flexible. May volunteer from home.
Friendly Shopper/Visitor
Assist homebound elderly with a friendly visit or by grocery shopping in
Stamford.
Silver Hill Hospital
Different opportunities available in New Canaan. From office work, to flower
arranging to assisting in the gift shop. Opportunities are tailored to the
volunteer interests. Orientation and training is provided.
Norwalk Town Hall
Greet and assist residents of Norwalk.
Nursing & Home Care
(Mid-Fairfield Hospice)
Training is available to be a Peer Counselor or a Hospice Patient Care
Volunteer. Office assistance is also needed. Wilton.
 American
Red Cross
Mid-Fairfield County Chapter – Volunteers are needed to help with the blood
drives, staff the canteen, help with registration, escort donors, etc. Special
Event volunteers are also needed on a short-term basis.
Greenwich Chapter - Volunteers are needed in all areas of services, from
disaster services to transportation to special events. Training is provided.
Norwalk Senior Center
Meals On Wheels Driver; assisting in the SeniorNet Computer Learning Center; and
professionals who are “handy” can help with the “Fix it Program”.
If you are
interested in any of these opportunities please call us at 203 899 2443. Thanks!
Emergency Preparedness
Checklist
We have available in our office
a brochure entitled “Emergency Preparedness Checklist” prepared by the American
Red Cross and FEMA. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita and the
upcoming winter months we must be prepared for any type of disaster. If you are
interested in receiving one of the brochures please give the office a call and
we will mail you one.
RSVP Staff
Teri Klein, Director
Madeline Bollmann, Secretary
Caterina Sullivan, Outreach Coordinator
Del Overby, Wilton Coordinator
Volunteers are not paid
not because they are worthless but because they are priceless
Senior Services Coordinating
Council- Norwalk
Medicare Part D-A New Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit
Medicare will start a new program (Medicare Part D) for prescription drug
coverage on January 1, 2006. Anyone who has Medicare Part A or Part B is
eligible. Although this coverage is optional, you must enroll for coverage. If
you decide to enroll, you will be asked to select a drug plan which will provide
you with your medications.
For assistance in understanding the Medicare Part D coverage and deciding
whether it is right for you call Senior Services at 846-6992 or 847-2830 to
schedule an appointment with a Medicare counselor. We will assist you in
choosing and enrolling in a drug plan at your request.
Energy Assistance Programs
The filing period for the 2005-2006 Connecticut Energy Assistance Program
will be October 17, 2005- April 13, 2006. The income eligibility for age 60 and
over or disabled is $19, $140.00 for single applicants and $25,660.00 for 2
person households; liquid asset limits are: $10,000 for homeowners or $7,000 for
other households. The Senior Services office is assisting N.E.O.N. as an
application site for this program. Call: 846-6992 or 847-2830 for more
information and appointments. |
