ROCHESTER – The Rochester Housing Authority, working with several other agencies, will offer the first, but hopefully not the last, Senior Day of Caring this weekend.
John Kennedy, service coordinator for the RHA, said the event will be held on Saturday, Aug, 20, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the RHA at 77 Old Farm Lane.
“We are working with Boxes of Love and the Share Fund to bring our seniors what they need always, but need now more than ever,” Kennedy said. “This is the first of its kind event, but I know Boxes of Love is planning a second in Portsmouth soon. Most seniors living in housing make $1,000 a month. Try paying for housing, and then buying food and paying for electricity. People are struggling and we need to help.”
The event is only open to seniors. Boxes of Love does similar events for homeless and are reaching out this time to include seniors.
Stacy Bergeron, founder and executive director of Boxes of Love for the Homeless, said they approached the housing authority as part of their mission to extend their services to the elderly.
“When we do these events for the homeless, we see seniors coming who need help,” said Bergeron. “I shop for an elderly couple, 98 and 99. The cost of food is at a 40-year high and I watch as their shopping list gets shorter and shorter. So, we decided to do homeless events in the winter and senior events in the summer.”
Bergeron said Saturday will include therapy animals, live music, a barbecue, stylists, clothing, a food pantry, and personal care items.
“People can get haircuts, a meal, clothing and personal care items, food, kitchen supplies and more,” said Kennedy. “All of it is free, fresh, new, donated from local stores and suppliers. There will be entertainment. It is going to be quite the event.”
Entertainment will come from Skip Smith, executive director of The Share Fund, a Rochester agency that helps people in need with food pantries, and money to help with emergency needs like car repairs, medicine, rent and utility bills.
“We have seen a 93% increase in need in the senior population this year over 2019,” said Smith. “Part of that might be COVID. Another factor we see is that people are being forced to overcome pride, a big barrier for this population. Seniors are reluctant to ask for help but they need it so we have begun doing mobile pop-up food and supply pantries, visiting area housing complexes. We are going to them and they are responding.”
When he is not feeding Rochester residents, Smith and friend Mike Quigley, who lives in Lebanon, have a musical group. Three Shades of Gray will provide the entertainment Saturday.
“We play at a lot of events like this one,” said Smith.
