County's Friendly Calls Program For Seniors Is 'A Ray Of Sunshine'

DUTCHESS COUNTY, NY — Once a week, Christie Sepe picks up her phone and calls Roger McKnight. The Dutchess County residents talk for about 30 minutes, usually about birds and other things.

It’s all part of a new program run by the county’s Office for the Aging which matches volunteers with older adults who may be feeling somewhat isolated.

“It’s kind of lonely being old, and it’s nice to have contact with someone in the outside world,” McKnight, 80, told Patch.

“I normally don’t like talking to people,” the former IBM employee said. “This has proven to be a ray of sunshine for half an hour a week.”

Sepe said she’s been wanting to volunteer for something for a long time and saw an email from the Office for the Aging about coming events, one of which was a training session for the Friendly Calls program.

“That sounded interesting and a nice way to connect with someone,” she said to Patch during a phone interview.

Besides McKnight, Sepe speaks weekly with another senior.

“I’ve got two great friends now,” she said.

Sue Serino, who is a communications specialist at the Dutchess County Office for the Aging, said the pilot program is reaching about 70 seniors so far in its first couple of months.

She told Patch the response has been excellent, coming from the seniors getting the calls and the volunteers making them.

“Seniors grew up in a time where they never asked for help,” Serino said. “And it’s not just the recipients that are getting something out of it, but the volunteers as well.”

She said there are close to 60,000 people over the age of 60 in Dutchess County, so more volunteers are needed.

There are two OFA Friendly Calls Volunteer Orientation sessions scheduled for Thursday, April 13: one at 4 p.m. and the other at 5 p.m.

To register, call 845-486-2555 or send an email.

The OFA also offers orientation sessions at local businesses or meeting venues. For information, email Brian Jones at the OFA.

Sepe said she tells people who may be skeptical about volunteering for the program to give it a chance.

“You never know what’s around the corner, if you don’t take a step,” she said.

SEE ALSO: Dutchess Office For The Aging Promotes Senior Socialization