Fairfield Cares has some great news to share. In the past six months, the nonprofit program that helps people in need has adopted an new and very successful initiative, thanks to the dedication of committed volunteers. Here’s an update from Jennifer Hamilton, president of Fairfield Cares.
Tell us a little about Fairfield Cares and what you do.
We’re a nonprofit corporation, founded in 2018. Our main purpose has always been to organize volunteer help for our neighbors who have medical issues and can no longer take care of things on their own. The issues may be either short term or chronic. Our objective is to offer support so the person can retain their independence and remain comfortably in their home.
Are there any age restrictions?
No—it’s for any age, from newborn to the elderly. For instance, a new mother might need to have an errand run or a little help around the house or a simple break to take a nap.
And how do you organize this?
We used to do it by creating a list of friends and family who could help, and by using Meal Train Plus. In certain cases, we can still do that, but about a year ago, we announced that we would be launching a new initiative that would make the whole process much easier—and it really has allowed us to expand our reach. It’s called the Helpful Village platform.
How does it work?
It’s used online, but it’s very easy and user friendly. Even if you don’t do much on the computer, it doesn’t take long before you’re a pro!
After enrolling on the system, a member posts a request for specific help. For instance, they might need a ride to a medical appointment, help with a household task, or even just want a friendly visit. Volunteers are notified about the request by email, and the first one to claim it performs the task. It’s that simple.
Do the member and volunteer need to know one another?
No, they usually don’t before the request is posted. But for peace of mind, we perform background checks on all our volunteers. They also are required to attend a training class.
Does the person requesting help need to have a computer?
It’s helpful if they do, but usually we can still arrange things even if they don’t have one.
How many members and volunteers are participating?
It’s amazing how far we’ve come in the past year. What was just a concept last April has become fully realized.
We officially launched the platform last October, and in the six months since then, we’ve enrolled about 108 members and 88 volunteers. We are so proud of how Fairfield has stepped up to help their neighbors! We really deserve to pat ourselves on the back. And it’s taken the work of many people behind the scenes to bring this about.
Is this platform only in Fairfield?
No, it’s part of what’s called the Village to Village Movement, and there are towns and cities in 22 states using this particular tool. It seems that almost every community in America recognizes the growing need for something outside of the medical establishment to help our “silver tsunami,” which is the growing percentage of the elderly in our population.
Is there anything a volunteer can’t do for the member?
We can’t perform any sort of medical task. So, sorting pills, administering an injection, even toenail clipping, which is considered a medical task, is not allowed. Aside from that, it depends on the abilities of the volunteer.
Is there a fee for this service?
There is no charge for the first year of service to the member. Our goal is that it will remain free of charge even after that, but it will depend on whether we have enough funds available, since there are ongoing expenses to us. We really appreciate our generous donors, who have made it possible to set this up.
What do members say about the service so far?
We’ve had some wonderful feedback. Here’s a testimonial from one of our members:
“I am a single senior who deals with long-standing physical limitations. Prior to Fairfield Cares, I was often scrambling to find help with household tasks that are not easy for me to accomplish. The volunteers from Fairfield Cares who responded to my requests were kind, reliable, and generous with their time. In addition to their help, I gained the peace of mind knowing that future assistance would be available when I needed it. This service is a wonderful gift to our community and I am deeply grateful for its existence.”
Sounds like you’re having great success! What’s next for Fairfield Cares?
We want to reach out and help as many people as we can. There are lots of people out there who still don’t know this is available. We also make presentations to any group that is interested in hearing about it. If anyone belongs to a local club or group that would like to host a presentation, we’d love an introduction.
We’re also interested in exploring solutions to other issues that affect the elderly population, such as transportation, housing, and social connections, and we’d like to develop a practical course for caregivers.
We have a lot of big dreams for Fairfield!
To get in touch with Fairfield Cares, email fairfieldcares@lisco.com, visit fairfieldcares.helpfulvillage.com, or call (641) 657-4311.