#GivingEveryTuesday: Seniors
Each Tuesday, SHARE Omaha features a unique cause theme for #GivingEveryTuesday and encourages our community to give and support in any way we can! This week's #GivingEveryTuesday theme is Seniors. Help support these local nonprofits with a gift today.
Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging
Diane Stanton of Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging shares, "Supporting non-profits that work with aging individuals in our community is crucial. The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging (ENOA) provides programs and services that help support these individuals in their desire to retain their independence and live at home for as long as safely possible. ENOA serves 180,000 meals a year through the Meals on Wheels program, provides over 25,000 hours of respite for caregivers, coordinates almost 93,000 hours of volunteer service, plus so much more, including providing case management, in-home services, and aging resources. Nationally the number of aging adults participating in aging programs and services has increased since the baby boomers began turning 65 in 2020 but the funding for the programs has decreased or stayed the same. A local example of how the funding has not kept up with the growth in the need for the programs can be seen with ENOA’s Meals on Wheels program where each year this program alone must be supplemented approximately one million dollars through other funding sources."
ENOA’s impact on the community can be seen through volunteers, both old and young, who annually provide over $2,945,000 worth of service within our communities. The impact can be seen through ENOA’s Aged & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) which is the go-to resource for older and disabled adults, family members and community professionals, and impact is seen at senior centers located throughout the communities where 77,000 meals are served a year, providing not only a nutritious meal but education, exercise, and fun. Through the efforts of ENOA, older individuals are less likely to be socially isolated and can stay at home longer, saving themselves and taxpayers costly long-term care expenses.
"Cash donations allow ENOA to meet needs of older and disabled adults that have no other options. An example of those needs includes incontinent products, medical equipment, heating and air conditioning repairs, assistance with moving expenses, pet care expenses and so much more," says Diane.
Ignation Volunteer Corps
Joanne Fisher of Ignatian Volunteer Corps shares, "The importance of donation dollars to non-profits supporting Seniors is so beneficial! The Ignatian Volunteer Corps utilizes the expertise and wisdom of retired professionals to strengthen and stretch the abilities of local not-for-profit agencies to impact the underserved. Our service corps members become vital to agencies’ team effort and part of the circle of people serving people who serve people!"
Ignatian Volunteer Corps Members and their backgrounds are systematically and precisely matched with local non-profit organizations to maximize the partner agency’s impact. For example, a Real Estate agent who volunteers time to locate and secure properties for renovation or build by agencies who offer housing, or a nurse who oversees follow-up and referral information to clients seeking prenatal care. Our service corps members made an impact saving our partner agencies nearly $60,000 in volunteer hours in the 2023-24 program year alone.
"The Ignatian Volunteer Corps seeks retired individuals with a desire to serve and continue this tremendous impact on poverty. Our program is more than volunteering as we offer a personal spiritual growth component to our service corps members, too. Professional, retired, service-minded folks who want to give back and continue to serve others is the one thing IVC needs," says Joanne.
Donate to Ignatian Volunteer Corps
Volunteers Assisting Seniors
Karen Didion of Volunteers Assisting Seniors shares, "Senior serving nonprofits aid our aging population in keeping them in their homes, educating them about their benefits and keeping them healthy and active members of the community, so donating helps these organizations keep up with rising demands as our population ages."
Volunteers Assisting Seniors helps seniors stay in their homes through lowered property taxes by helping them apply for Homestead Exemption. They also educate seniors about their Medicare benefits and how to save money and still get the coverage they need.
"We need to get the word out about who we are and what we do so that we can serve as many Medicare eligible individuals and those who qualify for Homestead Exemption as possible," says Karen.
Donate to Volunteers Assisting Seniors
Discover more nonprofits serving local Seniors today and choose your helps to help them carry out their missions!