Recently the Eastside Pioneers Neighborhood Association (ESPNA) board was presented with a proposal from Family Services Rochester (FSR) to participate in a partnership opportunity that would be a Neighbors helping Neighbors pilot program focused on senior citizens. Neighbors Helping Neighbors utilizes the skills and talents of everyone in the neighborhood to enrich each others lives and make it possible for seniors to remain living in their homes. After much discussion the board approved moving forward with this worthwhile effort and is now bringing it to the ESP neighborhood association for your approval at our Thursday, March 12 meeting. The meeting will be held at the Boys & Girls Club in the 4th floor conference room at 7 PM.
FSR would like to talk to our neighborhood association about partnering with them to help our elderly neighbors with the things they need to be able to remain living in their homes. Family Services partners with the senior and their family circle to determine what is helpful to them—then they partner with neighbors and others to make that happen right at home and in the neighborhood. The concept reinvigorates the ways of a by-gone era where neighbors helped neighbors.
Attached to this cover sheet is a 4 page survey that we would like neighbors to complete to help us determine level of services needed and determine interest in volunteering in the neighborhood. Please fill out the survey and return to Family Services Rochester by Friday, March 20. Please send completed surveys to Family Services Rochester, c/o April Sutor, 1110 6 St. NW, Rochester, MN. 55901. Those neighbors that would like their completed survey picked up please contact Mike LaPlante at 507.244.1898. The survey is also available on-line in English, Spanish and Arabic. Go to
One survey is provided per household however each adult is welcome to complete a survey. If you need more surveys we will have more available at the neighborhood meeting or you can contact Mike LaPlante at 507.244.1898 or at eastsidepioneers@gmail.com
If you would like to invite your neighbors over for a house party to complete the survey you are more than welcome to do so. To host a party, a neighbor would invite 6-8 neighbors to their home and Family Services Rochester would provide a member of their staff to introduce the Neighbors Helping Neighbors concept and answer questions. Guests would then complete the survey. Contact Scott Maloney or April Sutor at 507-287-2010 For more information about this neighborhood partnership opportunity go to www.espna.us
ESPNA newsletter Winter_2015_Final_one_page (1)
