Seniors helping seniors
The Daily Mail
Aug. 31, 2009

Two organizations committed to helping senior citizens in Greene County held fundraising benefits this weekend. And directors from both the Greene County Aging Services Foundation and the Community Action of Greene County, Inc. Senior Companion Program reported successes but have higher hopes for next year.

Chris Pfister, president of the foundation’s Board of Directors, said Sunday that more money had been raised by the foundation’s art auction at the Athens Cultural Center than at other past fundraisers.

“We were pleased,” he said. “Everybody seemed to have a great time.”

The auction of roughly 40 paintings done by Greene and Ulster county artists brought in about $2,000 for the foundation— money that will be used to buy gasoline for those who visit and drive senior citizens to appointments and to the Greene County Department for the Aging, Pfister said.

He said the foundation would give about $5,000 this year to the county Department.

Money also is used toward buying emergency call devices for senior citizens, he said.

“We made a lot of great money for the organization and some great uses to put it to,” he said.

Pfister said the foundation, which is overseen by an eight-member board of directors, is looking to grow to help senior citizens in more ways.

The Saturday event featured a twist on a regular art auction: the 30 artists who created the paintings were all more than 50 years old.

“They were seniors helping seniors,” he said.

And that is the idea behind the Community Action of Greene County, Inc. Senior Companion Program. Through it, individuals more than 55 years old visit with and help elderly individuals make appointments. Senior companions also provide respite for home caregivers and advocate for seniors’ needs.

On Sunday, a group of 25 motorcyclists rode 90 miles from Jefferson Heights around the Ashokan Reservoir and back to Catskill by way of Lanesville and Windham as part of a fundraiser for the program.

Senior Companion Program Director and the Ride4Seniors organizer Maureen Biegner, and other riders were met by more supporters at the CreekSide Restaurant and Bar in Catskill Sunday for an afternoon of food and music by Lex Grey and the Urban Pioneers. The event also featured a raffle.

Biegner said she thought of the ride as a way to bring her love of riding together with raising money for the organization.

“As times change, you can’t do the same fundraisers year after year, you have to get with the times,” she said.

She said threatening weather Sunday morning might have kept would-be riders home and that next year’s ride will be bigger and better.

Total money raised at the event had not been tallied Sunday evening.

She agreed with Chirs Pfister that volunteer efforts are an important factor in helping senior citizens who may be homebound to remain living on their own and out of assisted-living facilities.

Biegner said the number of clients grows every year, with an estimated 30 volunteers helping 200 clients this year.

“A lot more people need our services, we need more volunteers,” she said.