CASTLE ROCK —Senior services charity has come a long way since it started off as a small Douglas County program.
When executive director joined the organization six years ago, before it broke off and formed its own nonprofit, she recalled it had three volunteers and two regular clients.
“Now we are well over the 300 mark when it comes to membership,” Erickson said, adding that 120 volunteers work with those members, driving them to appointments and social events, performing handy work and providing companionship, among other things.
Now, Neighbor Network is striving to catch up with demand by ramping up recruiting efforts.
Erickson said at least 75 seniors are on a network waitlist. As autumn gives way to winter, the need for rides increases, as does demand for people to do seasonal yard work, snow shoveling and keeping seniors company when weather could isolate them.
“We need that volunteer force,” Erickson said. “Without it, some seniors may be forced to move outside the county or into assisted living. We want to provide services to help folks stay in their home for as long and as safely as possible.”
The organization has also expanded its services to help Douglas County seniors age in place, Erickson said. It has a homemaker program where volunteers help with housekeeping and meal preparation. For those who need it, the network offers grocery delivery services.
“What we have heard from people is they want to age in place, and Neighbor Network is really a key, pivotal agency that helps make that happen,” said Douglas County manager Jennifer Eby, referring to the results of a recently completed senior survey. She noted that Douglas County is expected to see a major increase in its percentage of senior residents. By 2030, officials estimate one in four people living in the county will be 60 or older.
Eby said the county allocates grant funding to Neighbor Network for its ride program, which serves seniors in rural areas other local transportation providers don’t typically reach. The county also provides the organization with office space. Neighbor Network staff and volunteers operate the program, an information and assistance phone line that refers seniors and others to services and agencies across the county based on the callers’ needs. Eby lauded the organization’s ability to coordinate resources for its members. For her, though, perhaps the best part of Neighbor Network is the personal touch.
“From personal experience, I know that Neighbor Network volunteers often go above and beyond,” she said. “It’s a really neat program because I think a lot of personal relationships are built out of the model they’re using.”
Network volunteer Cliff Shelby went above and beyond last week when he visited Castle Rock resident Helene Erhart’s home to perform some hedge trimming and other yard work. The first day he arrived, Erhart mentioned that her laptop was on the fritz, so Shelby — also a electronics enthusiast — took the machine home and got it back in working order.
“Cliff is a fantastic person,” said Erhart. “He is so caring and thoughtful and he does a fantastic job.”
Shelby said he first got involved with Neighbor Network when his son volunteered for the organization as part of a sixth-grade community service project several years ago. Since then, Shelby has volunteered as a driver, handy man and in other capacities about once per month.
He said that after his father passed away, his mother was living alone and at one point was scammed out of some money by a neighbor. That emphasized the importance for him of being there for the seniors in the community.
“You want to leave the world a little better off,” he said modestly of his work with Neighbor Network. “It’s a cliche, but it’s true.”
Joe Rubino: 303-954-2953 or jrubino@denverpost.com
To volunteer
Contact Neighbor Network at 303-814-4300. Douglas County First Call can be reached at 303-660-7519.
