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RateSomething special for the volunteers who ‘do everything’
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| Members of the RSVP Advisory Council listened to several speakers thank the County's corps of senior volunteers. Claude Haton/Hudson-Catskill Newspapers |
300 seniors are honored for their selfless contributions
By Susan Campriello
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers
CATSKILL — More than 300 senior citizens who participate in the Greene County Department for the Aging Retired and Senior Volunteer Program were recognized for their service Thursday at the 32nd annual department volunteer recognition luncheon held at the First Baptist Church in Catskill.
Volunteers with RSVP, who are over 55 years old, work in offices and hospitals, visit and deliver meals to homebound senior citizens and can fill in for primary caregivers, among other services in Greene County.
“They do everything,” Greene County Department of the Aging Director Thomas Yandeau said of the county’s volunteering senior citizens. “They are everywhere.”
Yandeau said the volunteers make serving the needs of the county’s 2,000 senior citizens possible for the department’s roughly 35-member staff.
“You have really stepped up to the plate,” he said.
Yandeau said recent demographic reports show that Greene County’s senior population will grow over next several years. The number of people older than 60 will grow, too, he said, people who could join the volunteer program.
Yandeau recognized staff from senior centers in Acra, Athens, Catskill Coxsackie and Jewett at the event.
Bobbie Shook, the department’s homebound transportation aide, who along with Christine Young has worked with the RSVP program since the 1980s, will retire in the coming year. She shared stories of some volunteers who offered to change surgery appointments to be able to attend the luncheon.
She said high gasoline prices have not deterred new seniors from joining the program.
“Greene County can shine bright because its residents are shiners and they give more than you could ever [imagine] and they never ask for acknowledgment,” she said.
And volunteers at the luncheon said they participate in the program as a way to help those in need.
At 86 years old, Betty Gustavson of Catskill assists seniors at The Pines at Catskill recreation center every Wednesday.
She has volunteered in Greene County for more than 30 years.
“Helping other people all comes back to you,” she said.
Volunteers Pearl Smith of Catskill and Greenville’s Gordon Baker agreed.
Smith and Baker said they and other meal runners visit with those they serve for a few minutes every trip.
Baker said delivering meals only takes about an hour of time two times a month.
Smith, who has delivered meals to other seniors citizens for 10 years, and her husband Clarence bring food to about four individuals on their route through Catskill.
Smith said she continues to volunteer because she still can.
“It might be your mother, it might be your aunt, it might be you someday,” she said.
County Legislator Karen Deyo, R-Catskill, thanked the volunteers on behalf of the legislature.
“It is because of you thousands of citizens are able to live with dignity in their homes,” Deyo said.
Legislators Ray Brooks, R-Athens, Forest Cotten, D-Catskill, Ken Dudley, R-Freehold, Sean Frey, D-Durham, James Hitchcock, R-Maplecrest, William Lawrence, R-Cairo, Dorothy Prest, R-Catskill, and Keith Valentine, R-Catskill, attended the luncheon as well.
The volunteers were also thanked for their service by elected officials including State Sen. James L. Seward, R-Oneonta, Assemblyman Tim Gordon, I-Bethlehem, and Assemblyman Pete Lopez, R-Schoharie, who said the volunteers at the luncheon had bucked the perceived cultural “me first” norm by putting the needs of others before their own needs.
Seward commended the volunteers on their combined 30,000 hours of work over the last year.
“That is a tremendous record,” he said.
John Cochran, of the New York State Department for the Aging, said the government could not help the State’s senior population with out the help of volunteers.
He said volunteering helps senior citizens stay active and connected to the community and the Greene County RSVP “represents the best model” for bringing together senior citizens and the community.
Members of the First Baptist Church youth ministry cooked for the luncheon and students in the Catskill Middle School and High School Chapter of the Family Career and Community Leaders of America Club served the honored guests.
To reach reporter Susan Campriello, call (518) 943-2100, ext. 3333, or e-mail scampriello@thedailymail.net.
Volunteers with RSVP, who are over 55 years old, work in offices and hospitals, visit and deliver meals to homebound senior citizens and can fill in for primary caregivers, among other services in Greene County.
“They do everything,” Greene County Department of the Aging Director Thomas Yandeau said of the county’s volunteering senior citizens. “They are everywhere.”
Yandeau said the volunteers make serving the needs of the county’s 2,000 senior citizens possible for the department’s roughly 35-member staff.
“You have really stepped up to the plate,” he said.
Yandeau said recent demographic reports show that Greene County’s senior population will grow over next several years. The number of people older than 60 will grow, too, he said, people who could join the volunteer program.
Yandeau recognized staff from senior centers in Acra, Athens, Catskill Coxsackie and Jewett at the event.
Bobbie Shook, the department’s homebound transportation aide, who along with Christine Young has worked with the RSVP program since the 1980s, will retire in the coming year. She shared stories of some volunteers who offered to change surgery appointments to be able to attend the luncheon.
She said high gasoline prices have not deterred new seniors from joining the program.
“Greene County can shine bright because its residents are shiners and they give more than you could ever [imagine] and they never ask for acknowledgment,” she said.
And volunteers at the luncheon said they participate in the program as a way to help those in need.
At 86 years old, Betty Gustavson of Catskill assists seniors at The Pines at Catskill recreation center every Wednesday.
She has volunteered in Greene County for more than 30 years.
“Helping other people all comes back to you,” she said.
Volunteers Pearl Smith of Catskill and Greenville’s Gordon Baker agreed.
Smith and Baker said they and other meal runners visit with those they serve for a few minutes every trip.
Baker said delivering meals only takes about an hour of time two times a month.
Smith, who has delivered meals to other seniors citizens for 10 years, and her husband Clarence bring food to about four individuals on their route through Catskill.
Smith said she continues to volunteer because she still can.
“It might be your mother, it might be your aunt, it might be you someday,” she said.
County Legislator Karen Deyo, R-Catskill, thanked the volunteers on behalf of the legislature.
“It is because of you thousands of citizens are able to live with dignity in their homes,” Deyo said.
Legislators Ray Brooks, R-Athens, Forest Cotten, D-Catskill, Ken Dudley, R-Freehold, Sean Frey, D-Durham, James Hitchcock, R-Maplecrest, William Lawrence, R-Cairo, Dorothy Prest, R-Catskill, and Keith Valentine, R-Catskill, attended the luncheon as well.
The volunteers were also thanked for their service by elected officials including State Sen. James L. Seward, R-Oneonta, Assemblyman Tim Gordon, I-Bethlehem, and Assemblyman Pete Lopez, R-Schoharie, who said the volunteers at the luncheon had bucked the perceived cultural “me first” norm by putting the needs of others before their own needs.
Seward commended the volunteers on their combined 30,000 hours of work over the last year.
“That is a tremendous record,” he said.
John Cochran, of the New York State Department for the Aging, said the government could not help the State’s senior population with out the help of volunteers.
He said volunteering helps senior citizens stay active and connected to the community and the Greene County RSVP “represents the best model” for bringing together senior citizens and the community.
Members of the First Baptist Church youth ministry cooked for the luncheon and students in the Catskill Middle School and High School Chapter of the Family Career and Community Leaders of America Club served the honored guests.
To reach reporter Susan Campriello, call (518) 943-2100, ext. 3333, or e-mail scampriello@thedailymail.net.
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Donna Faulkner wrote on Oct 9, 2009 9:33 AM: