HYANNIS – The leadership of a new community “village” to help seniors age in place on the Mid Cape is calling its launch a success.
Bay to Sound Neighbors is a non-profit membership organization that works to keep elderly residents in Dennis and Yarmouth stay in their homes and out of assisted living facilities through the support of community volunteers.
There are about 350 villages in place across the United States with several more in development. Bay to Sound Neighbors is part of the Village to Village Network.
Cheryl Herwig, the Bay to Sound president, says the village has nearly 60 members just two months after its launch – mainly due to word of mouth.
“Once we get a few members it was like wildfire,” Herwig said.
Bay to Sound Neighbors has provided more than 90 services since it launched on September 17.
“The majority of that is transportation,” Herwig said. “There have been a few dealing with technology where people need help figuring out their iPhone’s or their computers.”
Most of the transportation requests are for getting to and from doctors’ appointments or grocery shopping.
Volunteers also help seniors with minor household repairs or just make friendly visits.
“Do you need an air conditioner taken out of a window at the end of the summer? Do you need your summer furniture pulled in? If you had surgery do you need your trash taken out to the end of the driveway for a couple weeks?,” said Ellen Dugan, vice president of the organization. “It is things that you might ask your neighbors to do, but a lot of folks don’t feel comfortable doing that.”
Bay to Sound Neighbors does receive support from the national Village to Village Network, but also accepts donations.
Brochures about the organization and its services can be found at doctors’ offices and senior centers and several other locations in both Dennis and Yarmouth.
To find out how to become a member or a volunteer, visit baytosoundneighbors.org.
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