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Critical shortage of volunteers to help seniors get to appointments, deliver meals

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The Genesee County Office for the Aging is critically short of volunteers to take seniors to medical appointments and deliver Meals-on-Wheels.

Currently there are individuals in need of help through the Medical Transportation Program, but there are not enough volunteers to provide this service.

Courtney Iburi, specialist, Aging Services, noted that this shortage of volunteers, “may mean that one of our seniors will miss a medical appointment, putting their health at risk."

The program is free for individuals in Genesee County, 60 years of age and older, who need transportation to medical appointments outside Genesee County.

Additionally, the Meals-on-Wheels program which provides a noontime meal to homebound individuals five days a week is short-handed. Current volunteers are helping by doing two or even three routes a day to ensure delivery of the meals.

Supplemental liability insurance is provided to all volunteers and mileage reimbursement may be available.

Individuals interested in more information may contact Dorian Ely, director of the RSVP Volunteer Placement Program at the Office for the Aging at 585-343-1611.

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