To whom it may concern:

A year ago a group of residents from the Town of Newburgh created a new organization called the Town of Newburgh Friends of Seniors. Thanks to our partners, the Town of Newburgh, the Orange County Office for the Aging and Jewish Family Service of Orange County, the Town of Newburgh Friends of Seniors, provides much needed transportation to medical appointments, grocery shopping, friendly visits and reassurance phone calls.

Volunteers are recruited, screened, trained, certified and insured to perform these services at NO COST to our neighbors.

Supervision, training and volunteer coordination require funding. We need your help! Last year, we received start up funding.  Unfortunately, those funds are not forthcoming this year. While we did receive a donation from a private source, we need to continue to raise funds to keep our organization up and running for now and for the future. Our operating costs are at a minimum as we have a coordinator who volunteers her time and donated office space. We need to cover expenses for our telephone line, background checks for our volunteers, some office supplies, insurance and marketing and promotional materials.

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

HELP OUR NEIGHBORS BY HELPING US REACH OUR FUNDNG GOALS!

Many seniors who raised their families and helped to build our town are unable to get to the supermarket to do their own shopping because they no longer drive, are unable to board the town bus or carry their own groceries. Our older neighbors are not getting medical attention because they can’t get to their doctor appointments. Some need a call or a visit just to make sure they are okay or not lonely.  Services like these can cost money – most agencies charge $15 an hour or more for shopping assistance and trips to doctors. Taxi cab rides to many of our area doctors in Cornwall, New Windsor or Castle point VA Hospital in Beacon cost anywhere from $20-$30 round trip, a huge bite out of a meager social security check. But thanks to volunteers in our community, older residents are getting those services without having to deplete their precious savings. Best of all, they can remain in their homes and in their community where they raised their families and pay their taxes.

The good news is we’re living longer and we want to remain in our homes. The bad news is there are not enough resources for those in need.  We all personally know someone who needs this kind of help and recognize that with today’s fragile economy, we must rely on volunteers.  The Town of Newburgh Friends of Seniors has helped to fill this gap.

For more information, contact Anita Manley, Program Coordinator, at 845-564-6265 or leave a message on our helpline at 564-8936. We would be glad to speak to members of your organization or your business and answer any questions you may have.

If you wish to make a donation, please make checks payable to Jewish Family Service. Note “Town of Newburgh Friends of Seniors” in the memo column. Jewish Family Service is a non-profit organization. All donations are tax deductible.

Carl O’Flanagan

Town Of Newburgh-Friends Of Seniors

Advisory Board Member