NEIGHBORS CARE ALLIANCE How the Ironwood to Goret Neighborhood Connections Group Got Started
ONE person in our semi-rural neighborhood had the crazy idea to leave slips of paper by mailboxes to invite neighbors to a Potluck Halloween party. How many would come, was anyone’s guess. A large crowd arrived and chatted with people they had only seen in passing. They exchanged names, addresses, interests, and of course, recipes! However, one of the neighbors could not attend, and wrote a letter to the organizer expressing her disappointment in missing this chance to meet new people. Together, these new friends organized a newsletter and Facebook page to build more connections. Our neighbors signed up for organized events. They began to meet and gather in small groups for walks. Connections grew as more people knew more people. We began to check in on neighbors we hadn’t seen in a while. From this stronger community, a third member became the lead in establishing our Neighbors Care Program (NCP). We already had methods to engage our community, knew members who would be willing to volunteer and identify those who would benefit from services. Our NCP was established in March of 2025. We are small in numbers of volunteers and clients, but everyone is aware of our services. We typically provide rides for shopping, appointments, and neighborhood events, run errands and help with light chores. Our group
is backed by PCOA, who provides us with guidelines, resources, and support. Perhaps you are the ONE person in your neighborhood who would like to bring people together. Perhaps you are the ONE person who sees neighbors as volunteers and clients. Perhaps you are the ONE person who would like to begin the next Neighbors Care Program! The result of your work could mean you are the ONE who has the rewarding experience of helping a grandmother renew a passport for her granddaughter, or signing a senior family up for meal delivery, or simply becoming the friendly face to a client in need of transportation.
FOR MORE INFORMATION visit nca.pcoa.org or call Christina Walker, PCOA Volunteer Services Program Manager at (520) 258-5062. support? PCOA invites you and your neighbors to explore the Neighbors Care Alliance and consider starting a Neighbors Care Program in your community, creating a vital safety net for older adults. Together, we can make a meaningful impact! Neighbors connecting to neighbors helps reduce the social isolation many older adults face while meeting their everyday needs. NCA weaves a stronger, more compassionate social fabric one ride, call, or visit at a time. Does your neighborhood have an informal neighbors-helping-neighbors program that would benefit from Neighbors Care Alliance (NCA) is a network of neighborhood volunteer programs with a shared mission of helping older adults thrive safely in their homes for as long as possible. The programs serve specific geographic areas and are independently organized. Pima Council on Aging serves as the program administrator, providing tools to build infrastructure, volunteer training, networking opportunities, access to community resources, and mileage reimbursement to support volunteers.
Be the ONE! The Ironwood to Goret NCP is run by Alice Goddard and Linda Ross, and serves the older adult residents of their specific neighborhood. For other groups, please see the full Neighbors Care Alliance list of programs. ◆
Page 20 | September & October 2026, Never Too Late
Pima Council on Aging
Made with FlippingBook - Share PDF online