Beaumont-Wilshire seniors who love their neighborhood and want to age in their own homes will want to check out Northeast Village PDX. This “virtual village” is now offering memberships to seniors in a number of northeast Portland neighborhoods. It’s one of several in the greater Portland and Vancouver area. These grassroots, nonprofit organizations use trained, background-checked volunteers to provide services that can help keep members in their homes as inexpensively as possible and facilitate active, connected lifestyles. Villages offer a rich menu both of social, wellness, and educational activities, and lists of vetted and/or recommended professionals—plumbers, electricians, roofers, and more—who can be hired for major projects beyond the expertise of volunteers. One call to 503-895-2750 does it all!
The annual membership fee varies according to two levels of service (plus a slight additional processing charge for those opting to pay monthly). Full Service for an individual costs $495 ($740 for a two-person household) and includes the full range of programs, volunteer services, and vendor recommendations. Associate Service for an individual costs $275 ($395 for a two-person household) and includes access to all the activities and programs plus the vendor lists, but with limitations on volunteer services. At both levels, members also may choose to volunteer. And available only through the end of December, Full and Associate members may obtain Charter Membership for an additional tax-deductible $500, guaranteeing them no increase in their membership fee through 2020 and entitling them to attend a Charter Member-only “Village Celebration” party in January 2017. Charter Membership generosity helps sustain Village PDX.
To receive a service, the member simply makes a call to the Northeast Village PDX office to request such things as transportation to a medical appointment, help with light housekeeping or yard work, walking a dog, assistance with paperwork or record-keeping, or other needs. Using a database, the office volunteer then matches a service volunteer with the member’s request and confirms. The village office is located at 5012 NE 42nd Ave. in Cully and is open Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Find out more online at www.nevillagepdx.org or via e-mail inquiry to nevillagepdx@gmail.com.