September - October 2024 Volume 31 Number 3
COMPL
IMENTA
RY
Senior Companion Program recognizes dedicated volunteers at annual luncheon
The Senior Companion Program of Allegheny County—offered through the Department of Human Services Area Agency on Aging—hosted its annual recognition luncheon on June 14 at Edgewood Country Club. Senior Companions are volunteers, ages 55 and older, who visit lonely or isolated seniors once or twice a week, providing much needed companionship and friendship. Seniors receiving visits typically require some extra assistance to remain living independently at home,” explains Senior Companion Program Man-
ager John Miller. “While some of these seniors have medical issues, others are simply lonely or isolated, or lacking in family or social supports. Having visits from Senior Companions helps to brighten their days and lift their spirits.” Miller kicked off the luncheon by thanking the Senior Companions for their volunteer service. “It is amazing how you start out as strangers and very quickly become friends with people who benefit so much from your visits,” he commented. He highlighted that the program is now 50 years old, having started in 1974. To demonstrate how long ago that was, he noted that a
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Nancy Borres
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Eleanor Brickley
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Nancie Cassata
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Barbara Cohen
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Beverly Davis
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Lynette Devers
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Amy Fulton
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Jeannie George
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Arlene Hurt
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Elizabeth Jennings
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Debra McMillian
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Vera Threet
10 Years of Service:
John Miller recognizes Rose Rouse’s 20 years of service.
By Gina Mazza
Five Years of Service:
dozen eggs back then cost 45 cents and a gallon of gas was 42 cents. Miller then told the story of the young girl who was seen on the beach throwing stranded starfish back in the water. A man approached her and said, “Little girl, why are you doing this? Look at this beach! You can’t save all these starfish. You can’t begin to make a difference!” The girl seemed crushed, suddenly deflated. But after a few moments, she bent down, picked up another starfish, and hurled it as far as she could into the ocean. Then she looked up at the man and replied, “Well, I made a difference for that one!” Continued on page 12
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Hilda Arture
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Chitra Gurung
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Norma Jean Milner
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Marge Saban
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Pat Turney
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Catherine Warner
15 Years of Service: •
Shirley Marshall
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Lorraine Meskowski
20 Years of Service: •
Rose Rouse
30 Years of Service: •
Dorothy Pisano