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RateCounty applauds its helping hands
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Senior Citizens Month celebrates volunteers
By Melanie Lekocevic
CATSKILL — For seniors who may find it difficult to get to the supermarket or a doctor’s appointment, the helping hands of volunteers can be a godsend. In Greene County, there are lots of helping hands - many of them seniors themselves - and at its May meeting the county legislature honored their efforts.
“The senior volunteers perform one of the most important functions in Greene County. They visit the shut-ins who don’t get out and who really look forward to their visits. They help people get to doctors appointments and grocery shopping, and they just do a great job,” said County Legislature Chairman Wayne Speenburgh (R-Coxsackie).
In their honor, legislators proclaimed the month of May Greene County Senior Citizens Month, with Legislator Larry Gardner (D-Hunter/Windham/Lexington), chairman of the Human Resources Committee, paying tribute to the volunteers who contribute so much to those in need.
“The older residents of Greene County represent a wealth of knowledge and experience, and are one of the county’s most valuable resources,” reads the proclamation. “Greene County benefits greatly from the dedication, community awareness and volunteer activities of its senior residents.”
Like Ruthanne Lucatuorto of Windham, who was awarded the 2009 Greene County Outstanding Contribution by a Senior Citizen Award. According to Thomas Yandeau, director of the county’s Department for the Aging, Lucatuorto has provided an invaluable service to local seniors.
“Ms. Lucatuorto spends hundreds of hours delivering meals and transporting seniors to medical appointments,” Yandeau said. “She genuinely cares for the people she serves, no matter how difficult the job is or how long it will take.”
The volunteer has devoted herself to caring for the elderly who are unable to leave their homes, working with Meals on Wheels, accompanying them to appointments, and just paying visits to buoy their spirits. Lucatuorto first began her volunteer efforts when she herself retired from the workforce.
“When I retired, I needed something to do. I have found so many nice people who I bring meals to and who I transport that I think I am the one who has truly benefited from this,” Lucatuorto said.
Volunteer Walter Gallagher was named the 2009 Greene County Senior Citizen of the Year for his many years of volunteer work with countless organizations, including thirty years with the Lion’s Club, more than a decade with the Mountaintop Little League, and working with groups as diverse as Toys for Tots, Relay for Life, and the Greene County Cancer League, among others. He is also a former member of the Windham Town Board.
“Walter Gallagher has always gone well beyond what a town board member should be. Every town would be lucky to have a Walter Gallagher,” Gardner said.
Also receiving certificates of merit from the legislature were volunteers Karla Tyson, Ralph and Beverly Beede, Irene Miller, Randy Lewis and Shirley Wase.
Serving the needs of Greene County’s seniors is no easy task. More than one-fifth of the county’s total population is comprised of seniors ages 60 or older. Much of that work falls to the county’s Department for the Aging.
“We are able to serve 2,000 people a year through partnerships and through volunteers, and we help those people stay in their homes and live healthy, fulfilling lives,” Yandeau said.
By Melanie Lekocevic
CATSKILL — For seniors who may find it difficult to get to the supermarket or a doctor’s appointment, the helping hands of volunteers can be a godsend. In Greene County, there are lots of helping hands - many of them seniors themselves - and at its May meeting the county legislature honored their efforts.
“The senior volunteers perform one of the most important functions in Greene County. They visit the shut-ins who don’t get out and who really look forward to their visits. They help people get to doctors appointments and grocery shopping, and they just do a great job,” said County Legislature Chairman Wayne Speenburgh (R-Coxsackie).
In their honor, legislators proclaimed the month of May Greene County Senior Citizens Month, with Legislator Larry Gardner (D-Hunter/Windham/Lexington), chairman of the Human Resources Committee, paying tribute to the volunteers who contribute so much to those in need.
“The older residents of Greene County represent a wealth of knowledge and experience, and are one of the county’s most valuable resources,” reads the proclamation. “Greene County benefits greatly from the dedication, community awareness and volunteer activities of its senior residents.”
Like Ruthanne Lucatuorto of Windham, who was awarded the 2009 Greene County Outstanding Contribution by a Senior Citizen Award. According to Thomas Yandeau, director of the county’s Department for the Aging, Lucatuorto has provided an invaluable service to local seniors.
“Ms. Lucatuorto spends hundreds of hours delivering meals and transporting seniors to medical appointments,” Yandeau said. “She genuinely cares for the people she serves, no matter how difficult the job is or how long it will take.”
The volunteer has devoted herself to caring for the elderly who are unable to leave their homes, working with Meals on Wheels, accompanying them to appointments, and just paying visits to buoy their spirits. Lucatuorto first began her volunteer efforts when she herself retired from the workforce.
“When I retired, I needed something to do. I have found so many nice people who I bring meals to and who I transport that I think I am the one who has truly benefited from this,” Lucatuorto said.
Volunteer Walter Gallagher was named the 2009 Greene County Senior Citizen of the Year for his many years of volunteer work with countless organizations, including thirty years with the Lion’s Club, more than a decade with the Mountaintop Little League, and working with groups as diverse as Toys for Tots, Relay for Life, and the Greene County Cancer League, among others. He is also a former member of the Windham Town Board.
“Walter Gallagher has always gone well beyond what a town board member should be. Every town would be lucky to have a Walter Gallagher,” Gardner said.
Also receiving certificates of merit from the legislature were volunteers Karla Tyson, Ralph and Beverly Beede, Irene Miller, Randy Lewis and Shirley Wase.
Serving the needs of Greene County’s seniors is no easy task. More than one-fifth of the county’s total population is comprised of seniors ages 60 or older. Much of that work falls to the county’s Department for the Aging.
“We are able to serve 2,000 people a year through partnerships and through volunteers, and we help those people stay in their homes and live healthy, fulfilling lives,” Yandeau said.
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jimaura wrote on Oct 29, 2009 2:19 AM: