The town of Newburgh town board recognized Friends of Seniors and Jewish Family Services at the June 10 meeting, acknowledging the work the organizations have done for its senior residents.

The town of Newburgh’s Friends of Seniors program is about to celebrate its ten year anniversary. Over the past decade the organization has served 164 seniors. This has amounted to 18,000 services provided by volunteers who gave 15,000 hours of their time. In 2018, the program offered an estimated $50,000 worth of services, adding up to hundreds of thousands of dollars over the past ten years.

“They provide much needed transportation for our seniors, and medical appointments including life-saving dialysis and cancer treatments. They provide much needed company and companionship for a few hours a week,” said town supervisor Gil Piaquadio.

Volunteers of the program will also go grocery shopping for residents, and refer seniors to other agencies to apply for health, social, and government related services.

The town presented Anita Manley, the co-founder and coordinator of the Town of Newburgh Friends of Seniors, with a certificate of achievement for her work. She also happens to be councilman Scott Manley’s mother. Volunteer Cheryl Fischer accepted the other certificate on behalf of Jewish Family Services.

“The town of Newburgh Friends of Seniors help our senior population to maintain dignity and quality of life as it helps to create incredible relationships between this community and invaluable volunteers,” said Piaquadio. “For this, the residents of this town and the town board are extremely grateful.”

“I applaud my volunteers who have made this all possible,” stated Anita Manley. “They’ve been wonderful. They’ve done everything from taking people to the doctor, waiting for them, bringing them home, stopping for prescriptions, stopping for groceries. And it’s been a wonderful experience. And I can’t believe it’s been ten whole years.”