Listen: On the last day of November and Day 23 of 50 in Meet The Need, we get to know Interfaith Older Adult Programs, a coalition of congregations and offices throughout Milwaukee County that provide a wide array of services to older adults in our community. They provide employment services, caregiving, assistance with outdoor chores, recreational opportunities, meals, companionship, and much more ( spend some time on their website to get a more complete picture of their programs). Their work is largely volunteer driven, which connects the community with the needs of older adults -- an elegant and effective model of meeting need.
Renee Jaeger, PR and Marketing Director from Interfaith Older Adult Programs, gives us a look inside of their work:
-From serving 300 people on the East Side with their neighborhood outreach program to their present day work throughout the city of Milwaukee, Renee shares the story of Interfaith:
-Interfaith relies in part on the faith of its constituent congregations, but they also have a deep faith in the community to drive the success of their volunteer programs:
-Renee shares the story of a woman who called Interfaith looking for help with snow shoveling and finding much more than she was expecting:
-As a person ages, their needs and their ability to meet their own needs can change:
-With so many competing responsibilities in one's life, finding the time to volunteer can be difficult. Renee sees many of the volunteers come to Interfaith unsure if they'll be able to sustain a commitment to the program. What she sees over and over again -- as soon as an individual engages with the work and starts interacting with an older adult, there's no longer a shortage of time:
This year, we ask you to adopt one or two organizations that connect with you. Want to get involved with Interfaith? Donate, volunteer, or check out their work yourself. And you can start with their website.