In 2012, 253 active volunteers from ICGMC provided 11,820 hours of free caregiving services to over 300 homebound seniors and people with disabilities throughout Mercer County. The volunteers
by David Kilby, Special Writer
HAMILTON — Caregivers of the elderly and disabled don’t make headlines often, but those who volunteer for Interfaith Caregivers of Greater Mercer County aren’t looking for recognition. They simply see how their senior neighbors need some company and a helping hand, and are glad to meet the need.
In 2012, 253 active volunteers from ICGMC provided 11,820 hours of free caregiving services to over 300 homebound seniors and people with disabilities throughout Mercer County. The volunteers came from 26 interdenominational congregations.
”Interfaith Caregivers of Greater Mercer County is dedicated to promoting the independence and dignity of homebound elderly and people with disabilities by matching them with caring volunteers who assist with the tasks of everyday life,” reads the mission statement on the nonprofit’s website, www.icgmc.org.
”We are always looking to get the word out about our organization and recruit more volunteers,” said Gabriela Sikorski Gill, bilingual volunteer manager. “The more volunteers we have, the more elderly we are able to reach and serve, free of charge.”
The ICGMC also hosts events for the seniors they help. On Aug. 26 they will host a trip to a Trenton Thunder game. The organization’s goal was to sell 125 tickets so they could qualify for a 50/50 raffle, and they sold 300.
The Hamilton-based nonprofit organization based also has a new program called Project Healthy Bones, which is an exercise class designed for the elderly to help with the prevention of osteoporosis. The classes are offered in English at the Hamilton Township Public Library and in Spanish at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Trenton.
”Our service is free. It’s all the generosity of volunteers,” said Jane Latini, executive director.
The organization will celebrate its 20th anniversary next year. The national organization was established with a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson organization’s Paul Jellinek.
”(Mr. Jellinek) was serving a neighbor, helping her with normal chores,” Ms. Latini said, sharing the story of how Interfaith Caregivers was founded. “Then he asked the lady, whose name was Mary, ‘Is there anything else?’ And Mary replied ‘How about those who have no one to help them?’”
After that encounter he wrote the book ‘Promise to Mary,’ and from that book Interfaith Caregivers was born.
On Oct. 24, ICGMC will host its annual Shining Lights fundraiser, a banquet at Mercer Oaks that “shines a light upon” other people in the community who are doing community service. Tickets are $60, and the event starts at 6:30 p.m. Interfaith Caregivers serves seniors ages 60 and above, or the disabled. It also offers respite care. Volunteers must be 18 or older. Those younger must be with a parent.
The volunteers also must attend a training session. The next session is Sept. 10 at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. at the organization’s office, 3635 Quakerbridge Road, Suite 16, Hamilton.
”It’s a beautiful ministry,” Ms. Latini said. “We strive to serve every senior who requests assistance. It is our privilege to serve.”
Dorothy Richardson, volunteer manager, is responsible for calls that come through from various agencies such as the Visiting Nurses Association, asking ICGMC to help seniors and those who are disabled in non-medical matters such as getting to doctor’s appointments and grocery shopping.
”While there are other options for transit, it’s not always that convenient,” Ms. Richardson said.
Interfaith Caregivers always sends someone out to assess the situation before sending out a volunteer so they’re not putting someone in harm’s way.
”There is no agency like ours,” Ms. Richardson said. “There’ s not a lot of bureaucracy. If we can’t help them we find someone who can. “Seniors don’t have anyone as an advocate. A lot of times they feel alone. We try to show them that someone does care. Most volunteers are retired. A lot of times friendships are built.”