BY ELAINE VAN DEVELDE
Staff Writer
EDISON — The township did not have to send an SOS out to get help from the state for its Senior Outreach Services (SOS) program.
The state has taken notice of the program and put money into its coffers to get seniors out and about.
Sen. Barbara Buono (D-18) recently announced to the township that a $41,000 grant was awarded to the SOS program from the state Department of Human Services. Created in 2001 by Mayor George Spadoro, the program extends community services to housebound, isolated seniors who would otherwise have no way of accessing them.
For example, with the help of a contingent of volunteers, the seniors are sought out and given the support and/or social contact they may need to enable them to live independent lives in their own homes. Services range from providing companionship to getting someone to a critical doctor’s office visit, officials said.
"Edison SOS provides many critical services to help those homebound seniors most in need, whether its home visits, home respite or companionship programs," Buono said in a prepared statement. "I am happy to help secure $41,000 in state grants to help maintain this wonderful program for Edison seniors."
"This grant will allow us to continue the fine work Edison SOS does to help our housebound seniors," Spadoro said. "I appreciate all of Sen. Barbara Buono’s hard work to get this grant to keep SOS growing."