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Wash Park Cares Folks Say "There's No Place Like Home"
by Mary Swann
Meet Bill and Pera Beth Eichelberger. At 86 and 83, they are models of active seniors, gentle of manner and energetic enough to start a new non-profit organization.
In 2005, Pera Beth read an article in an AARP bulletin about a grassroots organization in the Beacon Hill area of Boston, formed to help seniors remain living in their own homes as long as possible. She realized the Washington Park area was an ideal community for the same sort of venture and started knocking on a few doors in her neighborhood ... without generating much enthusiasm. Pera Beth does not give up easily, and she continued talking to people.
By this point, her husband, Bill, was involved and gradually they gathered like-minded folks by having house meetings once a month with the most committed people. In May 2007, they set up two community meetings inviting anyone who was interested to find out more about this new idea – calling it Washington Park Cares.
Those meetings were well attended, so in June 2007 the Eichelbergers formed an Organizing Committee; in December 2007 this became a Board of Directors. Their neighbor Bill Hummel is now president of Washington Park Cares and is shepherding the organization to its non-profit status, and the “official” launch, next month.
“Neighbors Helping Neighbors” is the motto of Washington Park Cares. Its mission: to help neighborhood seniors connect with services and resources to continue life on their own terms with dignity and independence – in their own homes. The vision includes some services performed by volunteers and others by prescreened service providers, plus cultural and social activities for the membership. One phone call will put a member in touch with a volunteer or service provider
A Kick-Off Party is planned at the Boat House in Washington Park on Tues., June 10, from 4-7p.m. Memberships will be accepted, information given, and light refreshments served. All area residents interested in this project are cordially invited. Membership fees are $100 per person, $200 per household per year. WPC plans to serve people from Broadway to Colorado Blvd., and from Evans Ave. to Speer Blvd. For more information, visit www.washingtonparkcares.net or call 720-381-2470.
Washington Park Cares is the group for all Washington Park seniors who believe, “There’s no place like home!”
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