Reorganization Of Sam Hughes Cares Program

By Carolyn Classen

Reorganizational meetings were held in September and October 2006 by Sam Hughes neighbors and board members, along with Pima Council On Aging (PCOA) outreach coordinator Carol Ostrander to revive and reorganize the Sam Hughes Cares for Seniors Program.  This program was started in January 2005 with a grant from United Way to set up the program, hire a program coordinator, do a neighborhood wide survey, print brochures, train volunteers, and identify clients.  Current funding for the Neighbors Care Alliance program of PCOA is from Pima County, the City of Tucson and community partners. 

Since the previous program coordinator was no longer able to continue the project, various neighbors expressed an interest and commitment to match up the 20 trained volunteers already existing in the program with potential clients living in our Sam Hughes neighborhood.  This program will continue under the umbrella of the Neighbors Care Alliance of PCOA.

A database of volunteers and potential clients from the survey work done in the summer of 2005 has been created.  The same cell phone and phone number will be utilized, and neighbors Phil Mueller, Molly Senor, Carolyn Classen, Edward Schevill, and Vikki Spritz have volunteered to handle the coordination of the cell phone, the data base, and Senior task interviews and assignments.

Training of new volunteers will still be conducted through PCOA. An Americorps volunteer through United Way is also assisting in this reorganization.

Pima Council On Aging will also be administering a mileage reimbursement project through the Regional Transportation Authority plan passed in May, 2006.  Transportation/errands using a volunteer's car can be reimbursed starting 1/1/07 under this new volunteer transit service.

Any questions about the SHCFS program can be directed to SHNA board member Carolyn Classen at 327-7609. Questions about the Neighbors Care Alliance program, which oversees the thirty similar programs in Pima County, can be directed to PCOA at 790-0504. Trudy Mills, a Sam Hughes neighbor, has been coordinating this program since May, 2008

Targeted date for service to start being provided was November 1, 2006.  If any senior citizen you know in our neighborhood needs help with transportation for shopping, medical/dental appointments, groceries, or with light housekeeping, yard work, dog walking, relief care for a family caregiver, or a weekly phone call or visit, please call 561-0113 to request assistance.

Transit Reimbursement for Sam Hughes Cares for Seniors Project

by Carolyn Classen

Since January 2007, Pima Council on Aging (through the Regional has Transportation Authority plan passed by voters in May, 2006) has been reimbursing Neighbors Care Alliance volunteers for mileage at 48.5 cents per mile. Mileage reimbursement increased to 50.5 cents a mile in January 2008 and changed to 45 cents per mile beginning March 1, 2009. These are volunteers helping transport seniors to medical/dental appointments and other errands, including picking up food boxes. Our Sam Hughes Cares for Seniors project has been providing such services and others (grocery shopping, light housekeeping, dog walking) to Seniors in our neighborhood since November 1, 2006.

If you would like to receive services please call 561-0113. Any questions about the SHCFS program can be directed to SHNA board member Carolyn Classen at 327-7609.