Cluttered closets don’t scare us
You know what it’s like to have unfinished projects or clutter in a room or closet you’d love to clean out but can’t drum up the energy to do it? Neighbors Network asked Members to look around their home this summer and let us know if there are small areas that gnaw at them. What would they like to organize or declutter?
For example, while a volunteer was talking with a Member about what NN Volunteers could possibly do for her, she asked if there was anything in her kitchen she would like to have more organized.
The Member said, “Are you telling me that someone would come into my kitchen and gather all my plastic containers, find all the lids, and put them together so that I could easily use one when I need it?” Yes! That’s definitely something one of our vetted volunteers would enjoy doing. They have different talents, some like to organize, fix, etc., and they’re glad to help Members get things done.
We’ve helped Members with closets, an art room, piles of paper, and even flipped mattresses. NN Volunteers never know what in-home tasks they will be invited to do. What they love is that they can select the ones they like to do and schedule time to do it that’s convenient for both them and the Member. It’s a win-win!
Spotlight on a Member
When Patricia could no longer drive, she reached out to her church to ask for help. They suggested Neighbors Network. She was surprised something like this existed and has benefited from being a member since 2024. “I enjoy all the volunteers. Everyone is so pleasant, they’re such good people. They take me to my appointments, and they’re easy to talk with in the car,” she says. All who have driven Patricia comment on her upbeat, positive spirit.
Patricia has also participated in some group get togethers. Her favorite was a show-and-tell by a member in his home. Jerry (87), a wonderful storyteller, talked about his many years as a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps. He showed some of his medals, a few helicopter models, his flight log books, and told about being one of the pilots of Marine One, the President’s helicopter. Patricia found his stories fascinating.
Family is very important to Patricia. She proudly talks about her three grandchildren, who are very helpful. “I don’t know what I would do without them,” she says. “We text every day.” She enjoys her daily calls with her daughter, too. Now, to her absolute delight, she has her first great grandchild to snuggle and adore!
Patricia was a commercial insurance agent for years before opening her own insurance agency with a partner. Her alter-ego came out to play on weekends when she became fun-loving “Patt the Clown” wearing a colorful outfit and men’s large electric-green shoes. She would entertain as a singing ventriloquist at kids’ parties and events. With a child or small adult picked from the audience to sit on her knee, she’d paint black lines on the sides of their mouth to make it look like they were a puppet. She whispered to them to just open and close their mouth continuously as she sang. She still has that clown outfit.
Patricia loves books. Raised in a household of readers, she was an avid reader, devouring 3 to 5 books a week. Now legally blind with macular degeneration, she feeds her passion by listening to audiobooks from the Department of Blind Services. “I listen to books all the time, no matter what I’m doing,” she says. Her favorite genre is mysteries. “I receive about four cartridges a week and each has seven books on it. That’s more than 20 books a week.” She also sings the praises of Lighthouse of Central Florida because they taught her life skills when she lost much of her sight. Her grandkids enlarged the text on her ipad and iphone to allow her to play solitaire, read, and send texts more easily.
Patricia loves her loyal companion Pinot Noir, not the wine, her black cat.
Meet our new Life Enrichment Manager
We’re pleased to introduce Jane Secrist, Neighbors Network’s new part-time Life Enrichment Manager, who will focus on enhancing activities and programs for Members.
Jane comes to us with a wealth of experience as a lifetime local resident, volunteer, and executive who has built deep roots across our community. Throughout her career, Jane specialized in designing impactful senior programming. Her impressive background includes serving as Board Chair and Programs Director at Lighthouse Central Florida, where she created community partnerships to support low-vision and blind older adults, and consulting for the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, where she successfully expanded cultural programming for residents in the Hannibal Square, The Mayflower, and Westminster communities.
Most recently, she channeled her passion for wellness into founding Enhance Your Flourish, LLC, hosting a dozen dynamic community events over the past year focused on everything from gardening and cooking to yoga and nature walks.
Jane is calling our Members and Volunteers to get to know them and learn what kinds of programs and activities are important to them. She’s looking forward to hearing their stories and gathering ideas which will inform her planning for the future.
Hurricane Prep
To help our Members be safe if a hurricane heads to Central Florida, we mailed them these tips. We would like to share them with you, too.
• Create an “Important Information” page to have readily available with family and medical contact info, medications list, health and home insurance information, in case you have to evacuate.
• Make copies of personal documents, i.e., proof of address, deed or lease for home, passport, birth certificate, insurance policies. Also, advance directive and bank account information. Put all these copies in a waterproof bag or folder. Keep originals in a safe place.
Plan to make an Emergency Kit
• Large containers filled with water for drinking, washing, etc.
• 3 days of non-perishable food, easy to prepare if there’s no power
• Flashlight, extra batteries, battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA weather radio)
• First aid kit, medications (7-day supply), sanitation and hygiene items
• Keep your cell phone charged, consider getting a backup battery
• Cash and documents in a waterproof container (ATM’s might not be working)
• Pet supplies and other special needs
• Freeze anything you can – it can keep the frig cool
• Review shelter requirements, if you are registered
• Gas up the car, prep the generator
Have on Hand
• Phone #s of designated person(s) in another part of the state or country as your contact to call and report on your safety.
• Personal hygiene items (wipes, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, etc.)
• Matches or lighter for candles, indoor oil lamps
• Manual can opener
• Books, magazines, games, pens and a pad
• Cooler with ice packs
Hurricane preparedness allows all of us to enjoy the summer months with calm confidence.
Thank you
You are a valued part of our community, and your word of mouth about Neighbors Network with your friends, family and community is our best way to reach new people. Every new Member, Volunteer, Donor and Friend is an opportunity to positively affect the life of an older adult. Thank you for helping us do that!