A Friend in Need Inspires Giving
What inspired Rose Giancola and Adele Mocerino to volunteer in Surrey Havertown’s Meal Program (www.SurreyServices.org) initially was friendship. Every week Rose and Adele play poker in a group with their friend Vince Girondi, Havertown’s Meal Supervisor. One week Vince was scrambling to find additional volunteers to help with Surrey’s Meal Program, which packs meals for delivery to homebound seniors in the community and helps serve meals to guests at Surrey Havertown. For many of the homebound seniors, the meal delivery also provides a wellness check to see how these seniors who live alone are doing. In response to his plea for help with this much needed service, both Rose and Adele said, “Yes, we can help. What do you need us to do?” Now, every Monday finds Rose and Adele in the kitchen packing meals for the Home Delivered Meal Program and setting up trays and working the cafeteria line for Congregate Lunch. While a call for help from a friend was the initial motivator, both Rose and Adele are very glad to volunteer. Rose said, “Volunteering makes me feel good. I feel like I’m helping people. ” Adele shared, “I feel like I’m doing something valuable for others.”
Review from #MyGivingStory
Volunteering at Surrey means I have both interesting challenges such as extracting data from a data base or building racks with my husband for the beautiful new building in Devon and a chance to interact with other volunteers, the supportive staff and the members as I serve lunch or greet people in the lobby. Lots of people volunteer for a specific job that’s good for them but I like doing different things.
Surrey Services provides a full set of services to enable senior citizens to stay in their homes with dignity and continue to contribute to the community. Services include: transportation, health-care, home-care, maintenance home maintenance services, and a full set of activities. The lunch program which promotes social interaction is excellent. The chef prepares excellent meals and they are a real bargain for $3.00. It is not necessary to be a member to attend the lunch program. Lunch is served on Monday thru Thursday and 2 Fridays each month. Surrey has just moved to a new facility in Devon with an exercise facility that accepts Silver Sneakers. The exercise equipment has been selected specifically for senior citizens. The Surrey staff and the volunteers are very friendly and always welcome new members and volunteers.
This fantastic community-based organization helped 7,500 seniors just last year. As a long-time volunteer, I have watched this organization grow from a front row seat—and now as a board member too, I can attest to the professionalism and compassion of the staff and the entire board of directors. It is one of the best run non-profits with which I have been associated. They have over 1,000 volunteers plus a staff of professionals, so they get the job done effectively and efficiently and make every dollar count. Last year Surrey provided 23,000 rides, 33,000 home-delivered meals, and 78,000 hours of home-based services such as home care. And at their five centers, they provide exercise, social and educational programs all year long—meeting our seniors’ needs so they can stay in their own homes and live life! I’m sold on Surrey.
Review from Guidestar
The Main Line Antiques Show is a Benefit for Surrey Services for Seniors. The show provides significant funds for Surrey and expands goodwill and awareness in the community. Distinguished art and antiques dealers offer for sale beautiful objects for the seasoned and new collector. Visitors to the show experience how art and antiques will enrich their homes and lives and learn the stories these objects tell about previous owners and times. The loan exhibit and lecture program "Visiting the Main Line - Railroad Ties" places the show in our home towns along the Main Line. Surrey helps older adults stay in their homes and stay connected with the community.
Surrey Services has sponsored The Main Line Antiques Show since it began, bringing 30+ antiques dealers to our community. The show based on the Main Line features lectures and an exhibit about different issues related to The Main Line. This year the theme was The Main Line Railroad, allowing visitors to discover the history of the main line how it developed and stories about the Railroad and how it impacted the development of our community.
The Main Line Antiques Show located at The Radnor Valley Country Club in Villanova raises significant funds for Surrey Services for Seniors whilst at the same time bringing beautiful antiques and art works into our community by these 30+ dealers from up and down the East Coast.