Berrien Community Foundation’s Giving Tuesday (December 1) project is looking for volunteers.
We are packing care kits for low-income, homebound senior citizens. This year the need is almost double so we are making 1,010 kits! Partners are AEP Cook Nuclear, Frederick S. Upton Foundation, Honor Credit Union.
Deliveries to seniors will be made by Area Agency on Aging and Meals on Wheels.
The care kits contain things like full sized shampoo, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, lotion, etc. wrapped like a present with a hand written note.
Because it is 2020, we will be doing this a little differently. Instead of all coming together to assemble these wrapped packages, we will be making kits so families can work together to assemble and wrap 24 of these kits. We will provide all the materials, we just need you to provide the volunteer time.
Why? We know that:
- 1 in 5 seniors skip, delay or cut back on medical expenses to afford household necessities.
- Nearly 20% of Berrien County seniors live at 150% of the poverty level ($17,505 annual income). One in 10 Berrien County senior citizens is living below the poverty level, when out-of-pocket medical costs are factored in, 1 in 7 seniors is living below the poverty level.
- There are almost 200 seniors on a waiting list to get services so they can stay in or return to their homes.
- Seniors who go without in-home help are five times as likely to go to a nursing home and twice as likely to be treated in an emergency room.
Volunteer information is available now at berriencommunity.org.
