Neighbors Helping Neighbors...a new Networking Opportunity

2008 has been a year of formidable challenges.  An old song suggests counting your blessings at such times to regain perspective and to serve as a reminder of the good things in life.  In Nichols, one of the very good things that many of us "count" is the strong sense of community that hovers over our residents like a sheltering tree.  Since 1999, that positive energy has been pulled together and organized into the Community Care Network of Nichols.  The grassroots leadership of two long time residents started CCNN. Through the years, CCNN has continued to evolve and mature through the efforts and support of many individuals and organizations dedicated to helping fellow residents across the lifespan stay healthy, productive, independent and in their own homes.  A trained volunteer force of 40 caring compassionate people visit, call, shop for, and transport neighbors to appointments, shopping and social activities.  CCNN also participates in and supports community programs and activities that foster in people a sense of shared purpose, respect and interdependence. The CCNN staff also serves as a central point of contact for people facing the everyday challenges of life and refers, encourages, and empowers individuals as needed.

 This model of community service has worked so well over the years that area agencies and organizations have encouraged CCNN to offer the design to other communities.  With funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation/Faith in Action and the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) in partnership with the Rural Health Network of South Central New York, the Decker School of Nursing at Binghamton University, and the Rural Economic Area Partnership (REAP), CCNN is helping two other Tioga County communities adapt its model of community service to fit their home communities.  The two new groups are the Northern Tioga Neighbors Network (NTNN) of Berkshire/Richford and the Senior Information and Referral Service (SIRS) group of Spencer/Van Etten.   All three groups have also benefited greatly from the energy and creativity of interns from Rural Health Service Corps/Americorps who have been of enormous help with special projects for each group.  

Two ongoing resources were created through the ARC grant and are available to interested communities 1) a Community Care Network Resource Library designed to help people from all walks of life start a community care network where they live and 2) the Neighbors Helping Neighbors networking group (NHN), coordinated through REAP, which meets regularly to encourage, advise and share experiences and practical information.  People interested in creating a "neighbors helping neighbors" network in their own community or who would like more information about CCNN can call 607-731-3100 or REAP at 607-687-8258.   A description of Tioga County's two newest community care networks, NTNN and SIRS written by the chairperson of each organization follows.

The Senior Information and Referral Service (SIRS) is part of the Youth and Community Foundation of Spencer-Van Etten, a not-for-profit, community based charity established in 2000.  The Foundation's mission is to help the people of Spencer and Van Etten learn, dream, and create.  After some years, a board member noted that issues of the community's senior citizens were not being sufficiently addressed and formed a committee to deal with them.  A resource was developed to provide information on health support and other services to seniors.  Fortunately, the board member learned of CCNN which has since been providing training and help to us all along the way.  Now, in addition to information, we provide transportation to both medical appointments and social events and Meals on Wheels for Van Etten (Spencer also has this program).  We can be reached at 1-888-589-7833, Ext. #1.  In the future, we hope to develop a program offering minor home repair, such as ramps, porch repair, weather proofing and more, but for that we need a pool of skilled volunteers.  We will soon have an additional resource, a young member of the AmeriCorps Program who will help to promote our services and increase and train our volunteer base.  We are thankful to the Rural Health Network for making this opportunity available to us.

The Northern Tioga Neighbors Network (NTNN) got its start in 2004.  After funding was provided by the ARC grant administered by REAP, a committee with representatives from CCNN and the Rural Health Network met with representatives from the Richford Congregational Church and Lourdes Clinic in Richford to see if such a model as CCNN could be formed to serve residents of the Richford/Berkshire area.  With the sponsorship of the Richford Church and commitments from a group of community members, we began the process of forming an organization and training volunteers to provide transportation and other services.  After training several volunteers, we started offering services in 2007.  We provide transportation for medical services and take clients for grocery shopping.  Our volunteers also shop for clients.  Many need help with household repairs beyond our scope or have other needs that can be filled by referral to other area agencies.   Funding from the ARC grant ended March 2008, but our Advisory Board plans to meet the challenge of fund raising, and we continue to appreciate support from REAP and Rural Health Network, as well as the combined Neighbors Helping Neighbors (NHN) group. It is good to be part of this "neighbors group" since we continue to help each other with ideas and encouragement.  Maybe someday NTNN will be as robust as CCNN; it just takes volunteer commitment!  Requests for more information and requests for NTNN services can be made by calling 607-657-2823 or toll-free 1-877-657-2823.  Services are only available to residents of Berkshire and Richford and there is no fee.

Anyone who needs services, wants more information, is interested in being trained as a volunteer or wishes to contribute time, talent or resources to any of these organizations is encouraged to call the phone numbers listed above.