“Northeast” is an altogether inclusive term when applied to the Northeast Senior Services, Inc., the dynamic community organization, housed in Windom Park and committed to “helping seniors live independently with dignity” in Northeast Minneapolis, Saint Anthony Village, Columbia Heights and New Brighton. At the helm of NE Seniors is visionary leader Kay Anderson who has served as Executive Director of NE Seniors since 2006. Her eyes sparkle and her ideas take life as she describes the organization’s current services and her vision for the future.
NE Seniors is a truly grassroots organization, formed by local churches and community organizations in 1973 and incorporated in 1975. It is housed today at the United Methodist Church on Cleveland and Lowry. Support comes from a rich mix of grants, religious and community organizations, advertisers and generous in-kind support. A priority for NE Seniors is encouragement for seniors to help each other in myriad ways.
What does a senior need to remain independent? NE Seniors has probably got a program. Housing? Take a tour of senior options, even if you’re just curious for now. Legal assistance? Take part in a real estate legal clinic and meet individually with an attorney on anything real estate related; or come to a workshop on estate planning. Sore feet? Try a foot clinic with professional assistance from a podiatrist. Need a ride? Volunteer drivers provided over 1000 rides in 2009. (Don’t picture old folks and medical visits. The brochure description observes that “we believe that beauty appointments, grocery shopping and visiting with friends are all important to your life – so if you are wondering where we will drive you, just ask when you call.” – who knew!) From personal experience I can attest that Kay will also find someone to rake or shovel a path through three feet of heavy snow.
The NE Senior Newsletter is a treasure trove of tips and links to community resources beyond the organization – pet food for animals that low income seniors cannot afford to feed, nutrition assistance, telephone equipment for hearing impaired, Senior Surf day at the library, a knitters and crocheters group. Talking with Kay got me excited about learning more about how much my senior neighbors know about computers and digital literacy – and how to integrate neighborhood seniors in plans for the re-opening of the Northeast Library, now under construction, including involving seniors in plans just underway for a local Friends of the Library organization.
Kay overflows with ideas and energy that inspire seniors to get up and do what needs to be done – for themselves and for others.
Email NE Seniors at mail.neseniors.org or call 612 781 5096
| Neighborhood Notes are updates about what’s happening in Twin Cities neighborhoods, submitted by our volunteer neighborhood correspondents (and neighborhood residents), and not edited by the TC Daily Planet. Click to learn more about our neighborhood correspondents, or about becoming a neighborhood correspondent. |
Comment