By Julie Huss
DERRY — It was a caring atmosphere on Dec. 16 as Community Caregivers of Greater Derry hosted its annual holiday open house to honor its volunteers and clients.
The event was held at the Masonic Temple and more than 75 people showed up to share holiday spirit, enjoy treats, and greet each other in friendship and support.
Caregivers hosts the holiday open house each year to thank its list of supporters and volunteers and to celebrate another year where people are being helped and taken care of in the community.
In the last year, Caregivers' almost 400 volunteers logged in over 21,000 hours of helping elderly and disabled people stay independent in their homes. Volunteers have also driven more than 85,000 miles to help hundreds of clients get to medical appointments, or for food shopping and other errands.
Caregivers also lends out medical and other home care equipment as part of its Loaner's Closet program, housed in the upper floor of the Masonic Lodge building on East Broadway where Caregivers has its home base and office.
Caregivers' Executive Director Cindee Tanuma said new volunteers are always welcome to find out about becoming part of the Community Caregivers of Greater Derry. Thousands of hours and miles have been logged over the last year as part of the program's success.
To learn more about Caregivers, to be a volunteer, or to get help, contact Tanuma at 432-0877.
