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— Photo by Max Chmura
Golfing for a cause: Following a downpour at the Community Caregivers’ golf outing, held on June 12, sponsors of the event posed with the co-chairs and executive director. From left are: Dave Brobek, president and chief executive officer of Blasch Precision Ceramics; Chris Cassidy, senior vice president of Investments at Wells Fargo Advisors; Committee Co-chair Elaine Roemer; Michael Castellana, president and chief executive officer of the State Employees’ Federal Credit Union; Committee Co-chair Regina DuBois; and Tom Tipple, executive director of Community Caregivers. Other sponsors include Adirondack Environmental Systems Inc., Albany Medical Center, and the Times Union.
It’s amazing how familiar that phrase — and that cheery little “thumbs up” icon — have become. Social media websites like Facebook and LinkedIn are part of our lives. They allow us to connect in ways that weren’t possible even a few years ago.
Social media websites are particularly wonderful for not-for-profit organizations. We are very pleased to announce that Community Caregivers is now on Facebook and LinkedIn. So please, find us online, then “like” us and “follow” us — and let us know what you think.
Like us in person, too
Do you have some free time this summer? Could you spare a few hours a week or month?
We could really use your help. The number of neighbors requesting help is outpacing the number of new volunteers.
So, if you’ve been thinking about volunteering, give us a call. And if you haven’t been thinking about volunteering, maybe it’s time to consider it. There is no substitute for the wonderful feeling you get when you help a neighbor.
Here are some current requests we would like to fill:
— If you enjoy light housekeeping and want to make another person happy and comfortable in his or her living space, we have several clients who are currently in need of someone to help them with light housekeeping tasks on a regular basis.
— Spending a few hours once a week with someone who is homebound can turn a dull day into an extraordinary one. If you have a few hours a week to spare and enjoy good conversation, volunteering to be a friendly visitor is for you. We have several opportunities for both male and female volunteers.
— We are looking for a female volunteer with a flexible schedule to assist a sociable, physically challenged individual who needs someone to keep her company and help her learn to navigate independently in the community.
— We have a client who needs a ride from regular medical procedures in Albany to his home in Guilderland — one or two mornings a week.
— If you have three hours once a week, you could help a recent widow and her adult son complete their errands within a small area in a convenient Guilderland location. (You may get a few errands done yourself!)
— Do you speak Greek? An older gentleman with a hearing impairment whose native language is Greek would like visits from a male volunteer (and perhaps go out for rides or coffee).
In addition, we are always looking for volunteers to provide transportation for our regular clients as needed from week to week.
Alzheimer’s Association and CC pair up
The Alzheimer’s Association and Community Caregivers are presenting a series of caregiver information workshops on Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. The programs will be held at the Bethlehem Library on Sept. 6 and 20, Oct. 4 and 18, and Nov. 8 and 22. All sessions will take place at 1 p.m.
There is no charge to attend, but you must register. For more information, go online to www.communitycaregivers.org. To register, contact Tonya Garmley at 867-4999, ext. 200 or tonya.garmley@alz.org.
Volunteer orientation schedule
All Community Caregivers volunteers must attend a one-hour orientation session before they can provide service to our clients. If you’re interested in attending, pre-register by calling our office at 456-2898 or by sending an e-mail to with your name, e-mail address, and telephone number.
Sessions are currently scheduled for July 17 at 10 a.m., Aug. 15 at noon (feel free to bring a brown bag lunch), and Aug. 27 at 11 a.m. — all will be held at the Community Caregivers’ office.
If you’d like to schedule a one-on-one session or plan a session to accommodate a particular group or organization, please e-mail or call us at 456-2898.
Editor’s note: Mary Neuman is on the Community Caregivers Publicity Committee.