Still a well-kept secret

Jennifer Gustafson, Community Outreach Manager

In my role at Neighbors Who Care (NWC), I have the opportunity to go out into our community and talk about the services we provide to seniors in Sun Lakes and South Chandler who are frail, disabled and/or homebound. As a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization, we are able to provide these services – including transportation, dinner delivery, shopping/errands, friendly visiting, respite care and minor repairs — at no charge to our clients, thanks to our wonderful volunteers and local donations. Over the years, we have helped countless seniors stay in their homes for as long as feasibly possible.

I can’t tell you how gratifying it is for me to be able to share what NWC does for our clients, because I have experienced the impact from both sides of the coin.

In 2017, my aging mother became a client who received transportation to physical therapy after she took a fall. Hearing about NWC from a social worker was such a blessing to both of us! At the time, Mom had more than one medical issue going on, and we were both overwhelmed with one appointment after another. Through the help of NWC volunteers, Mom and I both got the support we needed.

As it was with my mom and me, there are still many who have never heard of Neighbors Who Care or don’t know much about us. Now, as an NWC staff member, I love to share stories like my mother’s so that others in our area can understand why what NWC does is so important.

Simply put, it’s about neighbor helping neighbor. Our volunteers really do care and want to offer more than just a ride to the doctor. They want to provide much-needed social interaction. They want to listen and make people smile. They want to offer hugs that can have after-affects that last for days. They want people to know that they matter, no matter what their age or situation.

When I speak to the community about Neighbors Who Care, so many people say, “Thank you for what you do.” I respond by saying that it’s about the collective work we do, most especially our volunteers. I am privileged to have the opportunity to let others know what they do for our seniors in need. I hope that after reading this article, you will help us spread the word about Neighbors Who Care and bring to light the great need we have in our community. Neighbors Who Care brings back the days when you could call your neighbor and ask for a favor. It’s as simple as that, but the impact is so much greater.

For more information about Neighbors Who Care or to find out how you can help either as a volunteer or to make a donation, please call our office at 480-895-7133 or visit our website at www.neighborswhocare.com. And please visit and “Like” our Facebook page, Neighbors Who Care, Inc., Sun Lakes, AZ.