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Community Corner

Seniors need you to make a meaningful connection

My Mom faithfully visited our elderly neighbors for years.  I can think of a handful of times she was the first to discover a fall or pick up on warning signs of illness that others had missed.  But most often it was nightly tea and conversation.  When I was a kid she’d say, “I hope somebody does this for my Dad.” Indeed someone did do it for my grandfather, who lived an hour away, and we were thankful. 

There are no less than nine volunteer needs serving seniors, listed on the North Shore Volunteer Hub, a new website from the North Shore United Way.  Here are some examples:
• Homebound elders in the Greater Lynn area await friendly individuals to visit regularly through Catholic Charities North (More)
• Those in hospice care await caring individuals to visit them and their families through VNA Care Network & Hospice (More)
• Four Kiosks for Living Well have engaged 900 seniors with a fresh approach to healthy living and new ways to manage the aging process. They'd like to expand to 7 Kiosks if they can recruit 10 more volunteers (More)
• Seniors who can no longer drive await those who can help provide transportation to medical appointments through RSVP Volunteers of the North Shore. (More)

Volunteer opportunities are meaningful when you know you are meeting a real community need. But it will only last if it is also a good fit for your skills, availability, and interests.  

To help you find a good match, the North Shore United Way has recently created the North Shore Volunteer Hub.  Found at nsuw.org, the Hub is an interactive website designed to help you find a meaningful volunteer opportunity.  There you can create an account; become a fan of causes you care about; and easily find a respond to volunteer needs.

To help you get started, NSUW is hosting RESOLVED TO CARE, a series of Open Houses EVERY FRIDAY in January from noon to 5:00 p.m.  We are available to help you find the right volunteer opportunity for you. Visit our office at 248 Cabot Street in Beverly (one door down from People's Bank, with Montserrat College of Art). 

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The North Shore United Way invests almost $1M each year in projects that transform lives and improve communities now and for future generations.  NSUW is all about local impact by rigorously vetting and supporting 25 causes that serve children, families, and seniors in eight North Shore communities, including Beverly, Hamilton, Wenham, Ipswich, Essex, Manchester, Gloucester and Rockport.  For more information about the process and projects funded by NSUW donors and volunteers, visit nsuw.org or call 978-922-3966.

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