The Wellington Community Foundation hosted a presentation by representatives of the nonprofit Wellington Cares on Monday, Aug. 7.
The presentation by Director of Operations Diane Gutman and Board Member Marge Sullivan shed light on the organization’s unwavering commitment to enhancing the quality of life for seniors who choose to age in their own homes. Teaming up with the Wellington Community Foundation since its inception, the foundation has voted to continue to fund essential items to assist Wellington Cares in providing this much-needed support to Wellington seniors in need.
Founded in 2012 by Kathy Foster, Wellington Cares has been a beacon of hope for seniors in need, offering assistance and companionship that allow them to remain independent. The organization’s mission revolves around providing services to individuals aged 65 and above, who often find themselves unable to afford assisted living facilities or in-home help and lack close family support.
Central to the organization’s success are its 51 dedicated volunteers, whose average age is 67. These selfless individuals generously donate their time, expertise and even gas expenses to support their fellow seniors. With a participant base averaging 82 years of age, Wellington Cares volunteers provide more than 850 hours of service and travel more than 4,000 miles per quarter. The organization’s offerings include transportation services, companionship, social visits, respite companionship, hospitality calls, and even assistance with home maintenance and food pantry needs.
Wellington Cares’ unique approach has resulted in more than just immediate support; it has fostered a sense of purpose and belonging for both participants and volunteers. The presentation highlighted the expansion of services to include the Royal Palm Beach community, benefiting 122 participants across the regions. Moreover, the organization has been instrumental in addressing social isolation through community partnerships, caregiver support groups, and engaging initiatives such as birthday floral arrangements and holiday meal distribution.
The forward-looking strategies unveiled during the presentation showcased the organization’s dedication to continuous improvement. Over the next year, Wellington Cares plans to focus on combatting social isolation by investing in games, crafts and puzzles for the Social Visit and Respite Companion programs. Additionally, the organization aims to scale its efforts to meet the rising demand for food pantry assistance and expand the Lite Home Maintenance program to aid participants with essential repairs.
“We are deeply committed to our mission of supporting seniors to age with dignity and independence. Our future goals align with our core values, and we seek the community’s support to achieve these aspirations,” Gutman said.
If you or a loved one can benefit from these programs, or to learn more about Wellington Cares and its programs and initiatives, visit www.wellingtoncares.org.
The Wellington Community Foundation is dedicated to partnering with programs such as these to continue its mission. The foundation is a charitable organization committed to benefiting Wellington’s seniors, children and veterans in need by supporting and improving their quality of life with the overall goal to help “build a stronger community.”
