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For homeowners or renters who are advanced in years or disabled, tasks like replacing smoke-detector batteries, flipping a mattress or washing the windows can pose a major challenge. To those who live in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, cost-free help is available from local Realtors in cooperation with local senior centers. The community outreach program, called the Realtor Service Volunteer Program, provides senior citizens with a friendly visit and free assistance with household tasks during a designated week each year.
The annual hands-on effort, which is organized by the members and affiliates of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors and the San Mateo County Association of Realtors, will take place during the week of May 28. Teams of Realtor volunteers will go out into the community to help senior citizens in their residences by performing various health and safety tasks. This year's deadline for seniors to request assistance is April 2.
"The RSVP program enables seniors to enjoy their homes for a longer time," said Ron Gates, president of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors. "Realtors not only earn their livelihood in our communities, they are also neighbors, and as neighbors, we want to help. This way, we can give back to those who have built these communities."
The Realtors' community outreach program was launched in 2001. Seniors can choose to have light bulbs replaced, house numbers installed, furnace filters changed, windows cleaned, mattresses turned or new smoke-detector batteries installed. The volunteers can also handle minor plumbing tasks, plant spring flowers, clean gutters or help with recycling.
In Los Gatos, seniors can get an application at the Los Gatos Senior Center at 208 East Main St. or call 408.354.1514 for more information. In Saratoga, seniors can go to the Saratoga Senior Center at 19655 Allendale Ave. or call 408.868.1257.
For further information about the RSVP program, contact the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors at 650.949.9115.
Information provided in this column is presented by the Realtor members of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors at www.silvar.org. Send questions on any topic to jnewton@jnpr.com.
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