By Lois Requist
Special to the Herald

Carquinez Village is new to these pages. As an organization dedicated to connecting, supporting, and inspiring seniors, we’re glad for this space where we will be each Friday with news about the village as well as suggestions, ideas, and questions for seniors.

A brief history of Carquinez Village: In 2014, Judie Donaldson and I became aware of the “village” movement, which started in Boston in 2001, a neighbor-to-neighbor style organization assuring that seniors have what they need to live in their homes and have this “village” or community of support. The idea has spread across the country. We’ve been in touch with other villages in the Bay Area.
January 2015, we held a meeting at the Benicia Library, inviting those interested in the concept to attend. About 80 people did. In February, two other meetings followed, and about that many people showed up at each one. Right away, we could see that others would have to get involved if the idea were to move forward. By March, we had a steering committee and began doing all the things necessary to become an organization: we explored what services were already in place in Benicia; considered what we needed to become an organization; looked at our financial needs and started doing fundraising; built a mailing list and a website, wrote press releases, and sent notices; planned and held events; and recruited and trained volunteers. Faith In Action, an organization that has been serving low-income seniors in Solano County for many years, agreed to become our fiscal sponsor, so we could benefit because donations are tax deductible.
Fast forward to April 2017, when we launched Carquinez Village. We serve seniors who are members by offering a variety of services, provided by volunteers, such as transportation, friendly phone calls, technical support, and help with small jobs around the house. We also provide a list of local electricians, handymen, plumbers, painters, housekeepers, and others, so members know they are calling someone who another member has had a good experience with.
Finally, we encourage involvement in an array of social, educational, and cultural events that members can attend: everything from ice cream socials to a series on art and another on the brain, from tea or coffee to potlucks.
A connection between isolation and physical decline in seniors has been noted by doctors and researchers. It’s simply healthier to interact with others. I walk to coffee several mornings a week, where I see a group of people who have become friends. Of course, I can fix coffee at home, and I do some mornings, but the walk is good exercise, and seeing my friends is good for me, as well.
Over time, in this column we’ll talk about what we’re doing at Carquinez Village, and we’ll provide tips on every aspect of senior living. Did you know, for example, that if pulling your garbage cans out has become difficult, you can arrange with the garbage company for them to come and get your cans?
If there are senior issues you’d like to see us address, let us know. You can call us at 707-297-2472 or email us at info@carquinezvillage.org. Visit our website at carquinezvillage.org to find out what’s going on right now! And if you’d like more information on Carquinez Village or know someone who could benefit, call or email us. Our aim is to support, connect, and inspire seniors in the Benicia area, and this column is one more way to inform folks and encourage participation.

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