Letter: Hopes for Neighbor to the Neighbor program in early 2020

To the editor:

Monadnock United Way and The Keene Senior Center have long histories of making a difference for people in the Monadnock Region. The senior center has benefited by receiving direct support from MUW over the years.

We are very appreciative that this will continue through a collaborative two-year grant that Monadnock Family Services, ServiceLink and Keene Senior Center have been awarded to create an older adult outreach program called “Neighbor to Neighbor”. Its goal is to improve the well-being of older adults who are not fulfilling their basic needs because of factors such as social isolation, health challenges and financial instability. MFS, ServiceLink and Keene Senior Center worked on the concept of “Neighbor to Neighbor” as a result of MUW’s support of community programs and collaborations that address financial stability and basic needs for individuals and families across our region. MFS will develop a “Gatekeeper” program which enables community members such as neighbors, letter carriers, or employees of local businesses to identify people in need of help and refer them for a call from a coordinator.

If the consumer agrees, they would be connected with ServiceLink who would provide easier access to option counseling and referral to other resources. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Monadnock United Way for the two-year grant that makes possible the collective that will create the Neighbor to the Neighbor program in early 2020. It is my strong belief that it will help more older adults to stay socially active, healthy and independent.

Cameron Tease

Keene