The Reflector
As it prepares to launch next year, Villages Clark County, a nonprofit organization with a mission to help senior citizens age in place, will be one of the many organizations to participate in this week’s Give More 24! event.
Give More 24! is a Community Foundation for Southwest Washington event during which contributors can choose from 132 local nonprofits — serving Clark, Cowlitz, and Skamania counties — during a 24-hour period on the Give More 24! website.
The nonprofits fall into 10 categories, including animals, arts and culture, community improvement, education, environment, health, housing, hunger, social services and youth development.
The day of giving starts at 12 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 21. Villages Clark County hopes to raise $10,000. They estimate their first-year costs will be between $20,000 and $30,000.
About Villages
Clark County
Villages Clark County will aid senior citizens in being able to live independently in the homes and areas they love. The organization is powered by volunteers.
Once a village is established in an area, a volunteer base is created, trained and otherwise prepared to help the seniors who act as members of the village. Services include housework, shopping, driving, tech assistance, cooking and more. Basically, volunteers offer services that will allow members to keep living in their homes as opposed to an assisted living center. In each village, there is usually a central phone number members can call for assistance. Once the call is received, village volunteers are assigned to the task.
John Chapman, co-chairman of Villages Clark County, told The Reflector last spring that it’s a great and proven system that works. He said he has no doubt it will also work well in Clark County. In his words, it’s a “culture changing approach to aging” and another option that’s much more comfortable and affordable than assisted living.
“This age group grew up independent and most want to stay that way,” Chapman said.
According to Chapman, the minimum age a member can be is different from village to village. He said the planned Clark County Village age limit is undetermined so far. He also added that each village isn’t necessarily restricted to only senior citizens. People as young as 18 can become members as well if they have disabilities or other debilitating issues.
Learn more at Villages
ClarkCounty.org and get ready to donate this Thursday at
give-more-24.org.
