I joined the Silver Spring Village seven years ago. My husband had become disabled, and I wanted to take advantage of the volunteer handyman service. Sure enough, volunteers came to my home to help me do things like repair my lawnmower and vacuum cleaner, replace a screen in a sliding door and reset a stuck kitchen drawer. I found my own volunteering niche leading a weekly walking group. I didn't become a donor until last year. That was when I broke my hip and was offered a six-week support group of volunteers while I healed. I had a volunteer coordinator who managed a group of Village members, family and friends who wanted to help me. I asked for help in mowing my lawn and gardening, support for grocery store trips and most importantly, someone to walk with me every morning so that I could regain my strength and mobility. The support group was a Godsend and relieved my children of the responsibility or organizing my recovery. I recommend joining the Silver Spring Village to every eligible person I meet. I am now a member, volunteer and donor, as well as a clinical psychologist still working in geriatric health care.
I've been a member of Silver Spring Village for about 9 years. It was my doctor that suggested that I join, since I am disabled with mobility issues and I was very isolated at the time. I was younger than many members when I joined and have found SSV to be very helpful in my circumstances. The most helpful thing for me has been the service of getting rides to medical appointments, of which I have many, as well as to social events. SSV has many social activities to offer, from groups that meet regularly to special events. There is something for everyone. They also provide volunteers to help with things in your home, for example, someone installed a new handheld shower for me, helped adjust my walker brakes, helped with computer issues, and they also can help with decluttering and downsizing--something I really need to do. I've met some really good people through SSV, and I'm not so isolated anymore. I'm really glad that I took my doctors advice and joined this wonderful organization.
Silver Spring Village is a terrific resource for people who want to remain in their own homes as they age, i.e., almost everyone! The village welcomes residents of dozens of diverse neighborhoods throughout a large part of Silver Spring. As a volunteer who makes friendly visits and phone calls, and as a member who participates in many of the social, educational, and recreational activities, the Village has enabled me to make new connections throughout the community, gain a better understanding of our world, and make many new friends. When I speak to prospective members, I say that the village is wonderful for people who may be new to the area, those who live alone, and for those whose working and child-rearing years left little time to connect with neighbors. I emphasize that the village makes it easy to admit you may need some help with things you used to do yourself, and easy to get that help. Silver Spring Village is a true virtual COMMUNITY.
Even though I have lived in this neighborhood and in my home for more than 40 years, I didn't know that many of my neighbors as my work required extensive travel. When I heard about Silver Spring Village, I decided to join and that is the best decision I made as a new retiree, almost seven years ago. The Village is a welcoming organization that provides a wonderful, caring community of people to meet and engage with through its programs and activities. As many of our members do, one can also find many opportunities to volunteer with the Village through direct services to full members, to assist with the administrative work of the organization, or to use one's professional skills to support the organization. As a Board Member and Volunteer, it's been great to meet and socialize with so many interesting people, to engage in activities, attend lectures, and so much more.
I moved to Silver Spring in 2016 to live with my sister. She had heard about the Village and we both decided it would be a great organization for us to join. Boy, were we right!! It has basically changed our lives. We have a steady social calendar, we’ve made many dear friends, we have both taken on leadership roles in some of the interest groups and we both are generally happier and less isolated than if we had never joined. I moved here from Florida and when I tell my friends down there that I went and did something with the Village People, they always laugh and start singing the Y-M-C-A song…but they don’t know how lucky I really am!
I've been with the village as a volunteer and member now for several years, since the beginning of the pandemic. It's been such a great community to have during good and bad times. The opportunities to meet new and wonderful people in Silver Spring truly makes it one of the best places to live.
I was introduced to the Silver Spring Village by a good friend of mine and a long-term member of the organization. After attending several of the programs offered by the Village and seeing firsthand how it addressed the needs of its membership and the greater community during the pandemic, I became a member and now serve on its Board.
I continue to be impressed by the direct services Village volunteers provide to members needing a ride, a friendly call, or help around the house (and more). It is truly a member-driven organization with many of the social, educational, and recreational activities it offers developed and organized by the members themselves.
People at risk of becoming isolated as they age are engaging in their communities. Individuals needing help to continue to live in the community have been able to get the assistance they need. Friendships have been formed over a game of bridge, during a discussion of a shared movie or lecture, over a meal at a local restaurant, or while biking one of the recreational trails in the area.
The impact the Silver Spring Village has had on the lives of its members has – and continues to be – tremendous. It is a great organization, one worth checking out and becoming involved in!
I've been a member of Silver Spring Village for about 9 years and a volunteer and Board member for many of those years. I have seen the benefits of the Village firsthand, changing the lives of Seniors for the better. I first joined the Village thinking the most important service we provided were rides, but I came to realize that the most valued service we provide is hosting social and educational programs as well as providing the infrastructure that empowers our members to initiate and self-manage their own events around their interests. This might be biking, playing games, writing, acting, and so on.
Early on, I remember one member telling me they liked the Village because "I now have friends". We also serve as the "Welcome Wagon for Seniors", making Silver Spring a great place for intergenerational families. I've met several members who moved to the area to be close to children and grandchildren and not knowing anyone else in the area. When they learned about the Village and joined, they were thrilled to be able to immediately make friends and continue to pursue their interests with like-minded folks. We are also the "Helping Hand for Seniors". Besides our popular rides program, our members greatly appreciate the little extra help we give them to understand technology, change light bulbs, declutter their homes and so on. Our reach also goes beyond our due paying members. I'm proud that we've hosted lectures and vaccine clinics for the greater community and that our members organize donations for other local non-profits like Shepherd's Table and refugee organizations. The Village is why I continue to live in Silver Spring and plan to age here.
I joined the silver spring village just as covid shut things down. The village still offered lots of opportunities to interact with wonderful people and now there are a large number of various activities and weekly meetings - a great way to meet and have terrific social interactions - while having fun. Plus it gives me the comfort of knowing a community that will help me age in place.
I moved to Maryland and Silver Spring about 2 years ago. I basically knew no one here so needed a way to do things and meet people. Silver Spring Village has been a wonderful way to finding great things to do, wonderful new friends and great ways I can give back by volunteering. I love the variety of activities. From outdoor activities including walking and biking, to social get togethers, to Zoom game meet ups. You name it the Village probably has a group doing that. If not, you are welcome to start a group for that idea. When a member needs help, volunteers are there to do their best to provide friendly help. From friendly visits, to rides, tohousehold organizing and small handyman help.
This organization really is worth its weigh in gold.
I joined SSV about 6 years ago. I have met so many wonderful people. After retiring I needed meaningful activities and SSV has provided so many ways to help other people in our community. We also have fun games, outings, other people to go out with for dinner or happy hour, and great educational programs. I highly encourage others to get involved with their community to help older adults stay in the community as long as possible.
I was new to Silver Spring in 2015 and saw a Silver Spring Village table at the Veterans Plaza farmers market. It seemed like they had interesting things going on and a good way to meet new people. Both turned out to be totally true. I've learned new things, met interesting people and eventually joined the Board. It's a terrific organization.
I am continually impressed by the breadth and depth of the services provided by Silver Spring Village. Perhaps even more impressive is the commitment and enthusiasm expressed by members and volunteers. This kind of locally “grown” community building is critical now more than ever as we strengthen the social fabric and maintain a high quality of life for all Silver Springers.
Silver Spring Village is a treasure that I wish more people could benefit from, providing a wonderful combination of fun, support, and community. Our members are generally older adults 50 and up, and our volunteers are younger and older adults. We offer dozens of fun, social activities – about 90 a month – that range from about a dozen types of games to memoir writing, play reading and writing, current affairs discussions, travel planning, bicycling and walking, and lots more. Some of our members need assistance and are helped by volunteers who can give them rides, call or visit, provide tech coaching, help them prepare for bad weather, take notes at doctor’s appointments, run errands and grocery shop, and do small tasks around the house. The Village community is one where people have fun together and support each other, a wonderful combination at any age, but one that is especially important and unusual as people get older.
Silver Spring Village is a wonderful organization that has helped me to feel connected to my neighbors and to my community. Over the last nine years that I have been a member, I've enjoyed making new friends and participating in a wide range of fun activities and events. I'm also glad to be able to volunteer for them and help make my neighbors' lives a little better.
The Silver Spring Village has helped me meet so many new people since I've retired. As a single person with no children, I was minimally connected to my community when working. Once retired, I looked for ways to get engaged with people doing things that I like to do and could finally spend time on activities and hobbies put on the back burner for so long. The Village has lots of interest groups, eating out opportunities, games, crafts and discussion groups where I have met lots of active, interesting, fun, and fabulous people. While I don't need the extra services the Village provides at this time, it's nice to know that they will be available when I do. Great and well-run non-profit. Beverly M