Athol Kindness Connection seeks volunteers for new senior support organization

ATHOL – Following the Selectboard’s declaration of 2023 as the Year of Kindness, the Athol Kindness Connection has officially launched.

Rev. Cindy LaJoy of Athol Congregational Church, UCC, is the executive director of the new organization. She explained that, in 2023, “Someone commented that they would like to see the Village to Village concept here in our area. So, I said, ‘Let me look into this.’ That, basically, is how this whole Kindness Connection effort got started.”

Village to Village is a national organization that supports local, grassroots “Villages” designed to help seniors age in their own homes.

The Kindness Connection intends to provide services that include transportation, errand help, small household tasks, technical assistance, help with personal organizing and scheduling, and check-in calls or visits for companionship.

“There are a whole lot of things that people, especially elderly people, need help with,” said LaJoy. “Before we’ve had volunteers lined up we’ve probably already had four or five phone calls from people needing transportation. Transportation, we know, is a big need for sure.”

Rev. Dr. Candi Ashenden, who is also pastor at the church, stressed that the Kindness Connection, a non-profit, is not a religious initiative.

“It was started by a board of people who happened to all be members here, but it is a completely secular organization,” said Ashenden. “So, we think of ourselves as the instigators, but not the facilitators.”

Membership in the Kindness Connection comes with a $60 annual fee per person and $100 for a two-person household. Memberships can be discounted based on financial need. While expansion to other communities might occur at a later date, said LaJoy, the Kindness Connection will serve residents of Athol only for now.

According to the organization’s web site, in order to be a member, you must be age 65 or older and living in Athol, live safely and independently, send in an application and allow a home visit to determine if the services needed can be provided. Members and volunteers of every race, color, gender, faith, sexual orientation and cultural group are welcome.

While the grand opening of the Kindness Connection is scheduled for next month, LaJoy said, “We are currently in the middle of our ‘soft launch’ and are looking to recruit volunteers.” Anyone who would like to help out can call (978) 285-7550 or visit www.atholkindnessconnection.org.

“We’ll take as many volunteers as we can get right now,” said Ashenden, “but our board has stepped up and said that, in the interim, they will step in and be volunteers to help people if they need it.”

LaJoy stressed that each and every volunteer will undergo both state and federal background checks.

The organization also needs contributions to help with a variety of expenses, ranging from the cost of background checks, gas, supplies and other items. Checks can be made payable to Athol Kindness Connection, 1225 Chestnut Street, Room 9, Athol 01331.

“Additionally, we received a $10,000 grant from the state which was secured by senators Jo Comerford and John Velis,” LaJoy noted. “There was a total of $100,000 allocated between 10 different ‘villages’ in western Mass, and we were fortunate to benefit from that.”

The grand opening of the Kindness Connection is set for Tuesday, June 16 from 11 a.m. to noon.