Old Colony Elder Services Holds Volunteer Appreciation Events

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the non-profit agency serving older adults and individuals with disabilities throughout Greater Plymouth County, recently held two Volunteer Appreciation events in Bridgewater and Plymouth.
 
To honor and celebrate their outstanding volunteers, OCES held appreciation events at Bridgewater Senior Center and Plymouth Center for Active Living in late August. A total of 87 volunteers from OCES’ Nutrition Program, Money Management Program, Board of Directors, and RSVP of Plymouth County attended the two outdoor events, which featured live music by Lisa Yves, Emma Murphy, Caleb Wolf and Fiona Campbell as well as delicious food from Flashback Franks and The Whoo(pie) Wagon food trucks.
 
According to Courtney Krajeski, OCES’ Volunteer Coordinator, “These events were a tremendous success and I could not be more pleased with the turnout and execution of each event. We received great compliments on the food trucks and the music. Our dedicated OCES volunteers deserve recognition for their heroic efforts during a difficult year. We also wanted to give them the opportunity to connect and celebrate in person – a connection that we were all happy to share.”
 
Nutrition volunteer Emilia Cantwell and her job coach Susan Kallio of the Nemasket Group Building Futures Project support Meals on Wheels (MOW) in Wareham. (The Nemasket Group offers personalized, flexible support to families and individuals with disabilities to live, work and develop relationships within our communities.) As a team, Cantwell and Kallio have continued to deliver meals throughout the pandemic. Kallio said, “Volunteering with Meals on Wheels has been a great opportunity to connect with people in a safe way. Emilia loves meeting new people and helping others. She remembers the names of those she delivers to which allows for that personal connection.”
 
Volunteering for OCES
With the help of 325 Nutrition Program volunteers who perform many tasks, OCES serves 1,800 meals each weekday as part of its MOW Program. Over 35 Money Management Program (MMP) volunteers assist older adults and individuals with disabilities with bill paying, reconciling bank statements, balancing checkbooks, and in special cases, negotiating debt with creditors.
 
OCES is an AmeriCorps Seniors grantee that receives funds through the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) which is for volunteers age 55+. RSVP of Plymouth County volunteers help OCES and other local agencies that are OCES business partners. Volunteers also serve on the OCES Board of Directors, and the MMP or RSVP Community Advisory Councils and contribute with many other important efforts.
 
To learn more about becoming a volunteer for OCES contact Courtney Krajeski at 508-584-1561 x355 or visit ocesma.org.
 
About OCES
Founded in 1974, OCES proudly serves greater Plymouth County and surrounding communities. OCES is a private, non-profit organization headquartered in Brockton with a second office in Plymouth. OCES is designated as one of 25 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES’ mission is to support the independence and dignity of older adults and individuals with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy and safe living. The agency offers a number of programs to serve older adults, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call 508-584-1561 or visit www.ocesma.org