Participants Receive Certificates for Milestone Years of Service
June 12, 2012 - By Ryan Wenzel
More than 100 people attended a lively luncheon at the Con Edison Building on June 5 to honor the hardworking volunteers and supervisors in Henry Street's Senior Companion Program.
After being thanked for their important work by Henry Street Executive Director David Garza, Chief Program Officer Diane Rubin and Chief Administrator for Senior Services Janet Fischer, the senior companions received certificates from their respective borough presidents to celebrate milestone years of service. Special awards were given to Mary McDermott, Leroy Bates and Orfelina Blanchard, who were recognized for five years with the program; Frances McNeal, Bridgette Millicay and Minerva Herrera for 10 years; Maria Morales, Iliana Rodriguez, Carmen Rosa and Consuelo Vazquez for 15 years; and Columba Sanz for 20 years. Debby Lowenstein, Director of the Senior Companion Program, also honored volunteer Ricardo Montero, whose diligence recently saved his client's life.
Table decorations at the event were provided by children in Henry Street's Day Care program. Attendees were also treated to live music by local band The Flying Dogs of Jupiter.
Henry Street’s Senior Companion Program pairs healthy older adults with homebound, elderly individuals. In addition to providing friendship, senior companions help with things like shopping and getting to and from medical appointments. Senior Companions must be 55 years old or older, in good health and be able to travel on mass transit. They volunteer at least 15 hours a week and if they have a limited income can qualify to receive a small stipend for their efforts.
