Other Ways to Help Seniors
DONATE! Because Open Your Heart to a Senior is an initiative rather than a 501(c)3 organization, you can't technically make a donation to the program. However, if you'd like to make a tax-deductible contribution to any of the three organizations that make Open Your Heart to a Senior possible, we welcome and encourage that! Please visit United Way of Allegheny County, Family Services of Western PA, and North Hills Community Outreach's websites; all are equipped to accept secure credit card donations. Thank you!
APPRISE is the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for Pennsylvania's Medicare beneficiaries. The PA Department of Aging created APPRISE to help citizens with Medicare understand their health insurance options so they can make informed decisions about which plan is best for them. For more information about APPRISE, to request counseling, or to volunteer with the program, please contact the program office at 412-661-1438.
Lutheran Service Society: LSS is the largest provider of Meals on Wheels in the region, with 39 locations. In addition to Meals on Wheels, LSS maintains senior activities and programs, affordable housing, food and nutritional programs, senior centers and senior support programs in western PA and the surrounding region. To learn how you can volunteer or for more information about Lutheran Service Society's programs.
To learn about the many other local agencies that operate Meals on Wheels programs, contact the Allegheny County Department of Human Services Area Agency on Aging's SeniorLine at 412-350-5460.
Agewell: Agewell Pittsburgh offers a one-stop resource that links older adults, their family members, friends and caregivers to solutions for issues related to aging. Agewell Pittsburgh is dedicated to helping aging adults lead dignified, independent and meaningful lives. Programs include adult day services, transportation, support groups, personal safety programs and career development.
CheckMates, a program of AgeWell Pittsburgh, is a peer led telephone reassurance program for older adults. Senior adult volunteers can make a phone connection with other seniors in our community who may be homebound or lonely. Please contact Amy Gold, CheckMates Coordinator, at 412.521.8011, ext 207.
Mollie’s Meals, a division of Agewell Pittsburgh and the Jewish Association On Aging, is a kosher home-delivered meal program for homebound seniors. Reheatable dinners are delivered on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and constitute a total of six meals per week. Volunteers not only deliver meals but serve as the “eyes and ears” of the program. To learn more, please call Fraida at 412 421 7616.
Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh: JCCPGH's mission is to enrich our community by cultivating an inclusive, dynamic environment built upon Jewish values, heritage and culture. They offer programs that span the life cycle and strengthen the physical, intellectual and spiritual well-being of individuals and families from generation to generation. For more information about JCCPGH.
Blind & Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh, a 100-year-old private nonprofit, has been a leader in programs and services for people of all ages who are blind, vision impaired or have other disabilities. They believe in independence through rehabilitation. Their mission is to change the lives of persons with vision loss and other disabilities by fostering independence and individual choice. They offer comprehensive and personalized computer instruction, employment and vocational services, personal adjustment to blindness training, independence skill building, in-home instruction, and low vision services for persons with vision loss. BVRS is accredited by The National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving People with Blindness or Vision Impairments (NAC). For additional information call 412-368-4400, x2246.
Centers for Healthy Hearts and Souls (CHHS) is connected to 65 churches and community groups in Allegheny County. They offer diabetes support groups for seniors with Type 2 diabetes, weekly water aerobics, line dancing, ZUMBA, stress and depression workshops, and smoking cessation classes, workshops and referral for individual quit smoking counseling. Many of their partnering churches have senior ministries and food pantries. CHHS is also connected with three senior residences.
Faith in Action/Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers of the Alleghenies: is a collaborative of Faith in Action programs in southwest Pennsylvania and is dedicated to promoting volunteer caregiving for seniors throughout the region. North Hills Community Outreach is responsible for administrative oversight of the program. To request help or to learn more about becoming a volunteer, please contact the agency nearest you or call 412-307-0071 or toll free 866-467-0888
The Friendship Group The Friendship Group is a free, social, recreational and learning group for blind and visually impaired seniors and adults. Its mission is to provide members with the opportunity to increase social interaction, to become more fully involved in life, to enhance self-esteem, to partake in useful activities, to meet others with similar obstacles, and to develop a more hopeful, positive outlook on life in spite of diminished vision.
The Friendship Group offers 6 programs: Book Club, Knitting & Crocheting, Lunch Bunch at various restaurants, Men's Group, Monthly Meeting (conversation, entertainment & speakers) and, beginning in Spring 2012, a Mental and Physical Wellness program.
The group is run 100% by amazing volunteers who help with programs, transportation and simple administrative tasks. No experience with blindness or vision impairments is necessary. Volunteers are the heart of the program since they provide the human caring that encourages members. Call Dr. Andrea Schwartz at 724.444.0064 for more information about volunteering or joining the group.
Mayor Ravenstahl's Snow Angels: While winter can be hazardous for many residents of the City of Pittsburgh, it can be especially difficult for our elderly and physically disabled residents. Mayor Ravenstahl's new Snow Angels initiative helps to minimize the hardships of snow removal by pairing volunteers with elderly or disabled residents in their neighborhood who they will assist with shoveling and deciding after each snow storm for the winter season.
Snow Angels is one of Mayor Ravenstahl's signature servePGH programs which engage citizens in helping to solve pressing City challenges. For more information, please call 311(or 412-255-2621 if you are outside of the City), or email servepgh@city.pittsburgh.pa.us.
