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Wallkill Valley Times , Wednesday , April 19 , 2017

PUBLIC AGENDA

WEDNESDAY , APRIL 19

Wallkill Board of Education . 7 p . m ., Leptondale Elementary School .

THURSDAY , APRIL 20

Valley Central Board of Education 5:45 p . m . Administration building , 944 Route 17K , Montgomery . BOCES vote and election and tenure review .

MONDAY , APRIL 24

Maybrook Village Board , 7 p . m . Government Center , 111 Schipps Lane . Town of Montgomery Planning Board , 7:30 p . m . Town Government Center , 110 Bracken Road , Montgomery .

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The Wallkill Valley Times , ( USPS 699-490 ) is a weekly newspaper published every Wednesday at Newburgh , N . Y . 12550 , with offices at 300 Stony Brook Court , Newburgh , NY . Single copy : $ 1 at newsstand . By mail in Orange , Ulster or Sullivan Counties : $ 40 annually , $ 44 out of county . Periodicals permit at Newburgh , N . Y . POSTMASTER : Send address changes to Wallkill Valley Times , 300 Stony Brook Court , Newburgh , N . Y . 12550

By JESSICA COHEN

“ She has a great sense of humor . Seniors call and say they had a wonderful time with her ,” said Steed .

As for Christopher , she knew when she started volunteering for TOMSIP a year ago that it was a good fit for her , a need she would enjoy filling . She is one of 37 TOMSIP volunteers who provide rides , visits , grocery shopping , check-in phone calls and more for 72 seniors . The assistance enables seniors to continue living at home even if they can no longer drive . At a dinner to honor all TOMSIP volunteers on Wednesday , April 19 , Christopher will be honored as TOMSIP Volunteer of the Year .

Chistopher recognized the feeling of isolation that befalls seniors when they have trouble getting out .

“ Here on the farm , you could be dead three times over , and no one would know ,” she said .

She had moved to Montgomery from Nyack after retiring in 2010 from her Orange and Rockland job as commercial operations manager , coordinating utilities for subdivisions and other projects . Her husband had a long time vision of having a farm , and Christopher obliged him only after many trips to look at property that she rejected . She had wanted to have a bed and breakfast , but ended up with Foxtail Farms , with multiple ponies , dogs , cats , ducks , goats , and alpacas , plus a pony party business run by her daughter .

“ In Nyack , there are people all around you ,” said Christopher . “ Here , people don ’ t come out of their houses . And it ’ s harder to make friends as you get older .”

She had seen a news story about TOMSIP and liked the “ unregimented ” nature of volunteer expectations . Volunteers can choose the times and types of assignments they take .

The training involves two classes , says Steed . Some people realize TOMSIP is not for them after the first class . People who return for the second class are more likely to continue , she says .

“ I sat through the class , and I thought , I ’ ll do this ,” Christopher remembers . “ I got my first call on March 27 , 2016 , and I ’ ve been doing it ever since . Eileen sends a list of tasks , mostly transport . I go and sit and wait for people during their appointments .”

Deborah Christopher will be honored Wednesday at the Maybrook Senior Center .

Some people have become increasingly isolated as friends and family died , says Christopher . Others have family they try to avoid troubling with their needs .

“ They may have feelings they want to talk about ,” she says . “ It ’ s nice to get together with people . I have experience with walkers — my brother had one . So that breaks the ice . It ’ s rewarding . I enjoy it as much as they do . They talk and I get to talk .”

She gives five rides a week to “ neighbors ,” which is how volunteers refer to people they assist .

“ If they want to stop and get a sandwich , we do that . One day I dropped off one and picked up another . If I visited as a caretaker , I ’ d get too involved . I don ’ t know if I could pull away ,” she says .

Sometimes her granddaughters , who are seven and nine , come along .

“ The neighbors are happy to see them . One woman who is legally blind would ask , ‘ Are the girls with you ?’”

Christopher keeps a journal about people she assists , so she can remember what they need . She also remembers other details .

She recalls giving a ride to a couple and taking them home along a more scenic route .

“ That ’ s the best day we ’ ve had in a long time ,” she recalls the woman telling her as they parted .

One woman has regular dialysis appointments , and Christopher often drives her to them or picks her up . Over the course of 30 or 40 trips , they got to know each other .

“ She ’ s loving and caring , a single parent . We talk ,” said Christopher . “ She ’ s coming with me to the dinner along with my daughter and two other friends . They ’ re not just neighbors . They ’ re friends .”

Vendor of the Year

A majority of requests are for transport , Steed says , then shopping , visits , and lawn mowing . For “ going the extra mile ” in yard work , Sean Bauer was chosen as TOMSIP Vendor of the Year .

“ He does snow removal with a plow , then shovels steps by hand ,” she says . “ He moves heavy topsoil and mulch where it needs to go and leaves the yard clean , without a loose blade of grass . He blows it clear .”

Walden is particularly strict about walkway shoveling , Steed says , so seniors get fined because of their inability to shovel .

“ We ’ ll strive to address that next year ,” she says .

Volunteers Needed TOMSIP continues to be in need of volunteers , said Steed . They can be any age if they come with their parents . To do shopping errands , the minimum age is 18 , but to do transport , they must be 25 . Jewish Family Services of Orange County , under program director Doris Rubinsky , provides trainings and screenings , including background checks for volunteers , Steed says .

“ They ’ re trained to help but not to handle medical emergencies ,” said Steed of the two two-hour training classes . “ For emergencies , they call 911 .”

As for expectations of volunteers , Steed says , “ What you can do is what we ’ re looking for , even if just a call or visit once a month .”

Volunteers tend to be people who enjoy being helpful , she said . Because they tend to be seniors themselves , some have become “ neighbors .”

For information about volunteering , call 845-457-4138 or 457-2660 , or email TOMSIP @ Townof Montgomery . com .

TOMSIP Dinner : $ 20 for guests and complimentary for TOMSIP Volunteers and “ Neighbors .” April 19 , 2017 , 6 to 8 p . m . at the Maybrook Senior Center . For more information call 457-4138 .