Ambassadors Offer Community Assistance

I read about a great program called "Ambassadors" which is operating in 21 gated communities in Boca Raton with 80 volunteers who have served more than 500 needy seniors.

This is one of eight across the country recognized by the Alliance for Children and Families, a national family advocacy group as a model for taping older Baby Boomers who assist their elderly neighbors and allow them to remain at home instead of moving to nursing homes.

It is a great channel of volunteer efforts. The article in the Sun Sentinel mentioned a person who buys people their groceries, arranges transportation and connects them with social services and monitors their well-being.

The Jewish Family Service program is through the Alpert Jeishe Family & Children's Service of Palm Beach County and provides volunteers training and more knowledge of community resources.

Our cities need to embrace these efforts--there are great people who want to give back and many seniors who either don't wish to move to a senior community or who can't afford them. These are alternatives that can help without being costly.