23. Take care of our neighbors
Across Butler County, there is no shortage of opportunities to give something back to the community.
There are seven senior centers run by the Butler County Area Agency on Aging, who are always looking for volunteers to perform various functions. According to Brittany Gilfillan of the agency, volunteers are mainly responsible for serving meals.
“We don't actually cook any of our meals on site; they're just heat-and-serve,” Gilfillan said. “We do need assistance serving the meals, as well as with the cleanup.”
The agency is also looking for volunteers for its ombudsman program and PA MEDI program. The PA MEDI program advises elderly residents on their Medicare decisions, while the ombudsman program investigates complaints made by or on behalf of elderly individuals in senior care facilities.
“They make an observational report, and the staff ombudsman will mediate if there is a high-level complaint,” Gilfillan said. “For example, if a resident is ringing their cowbell for two hours and no one’s there to answer.”
For residents in or near Cranberry, there are multiple opportunities to get involved in the community, depending on the time of year. These include Leaf Angels, a group of volunteers who rake leaves during the fall for those who are unable to do so, and Snow Angels, who shovel snow during the winter for those who can’t.
