Community Corner: Nonprofits Serving Bay Area Elderly Get Boost
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - Several Bay Area community projects will get some help in their efforts to serve their elderly neighbors thanks to $10,000 in grants awarded by Coming of Age Bay Area.
Coming of Age Bay Area is a program that offers resources and volunteer opportunities for people over the age of 50.
Noreen McKeon, program manager for Coming of Age Bay Area, said when selecting the winning proposals it was important to choose those programs that would benefit those over the age of 50 and help the volunteers learn new skills while engaging in meaningful projects.
KCBS' Connie C. Kim talks to Noreen McKeon, program manager for Coming of Age Bay Area:
The winning proposals are:
- Ashby Village: This project will focus on capturing personal life stories on video to promote intergenerational sharing and learning. These videos will allow younger people to learn from the life experiences of those who are older, while helping those sharing their stories to reflect on their own lives. Anyone interested in getting involved will be trained in video production.
- Community Technology Network: This nonprofit helps older people improve their computer skills. The grant money will be used to improve training for volunteers who help low-income seniors and adults with disabilities master computer and Internet skills.
- Elder Wisdom Circle is a network of elders to act as a "cyber grandparent" and provide free and confidential advice on a range of topics to young people. This allows the elderly to remain engaged with the community even at home since it's all available online. The new project will assist in the application process for these elders to provide words of wisdom to the young.
- Friends of the Emeryville Senior Center: This center will focus on training and educating seniors on the proper use of fire extinguishers and learning fire safety.
For a full list of volunteer opportunities for people over the age of 50, visit www.ComingofAge.org/BayArea or call 888-308-1767.
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