The Canton Community Foundation (CCF) has made changes to its Providing Others Renewed Confidence and Hope (PORCH) program to further support seniors in the community during COVID-19.

CCF launched PORCH in 2019 with the goal to mitigate social isolation seniors may be experiencing in rural areas. According to CCF, 43% of seniors feel lonely on a regular basis, which can lead to mental and physical health issues. The PORCH program recruits community members to visit seniors at least once per week for three months.

With the COVID-19 outbreak, CCF and PORCH volunteers remain committed to this mission while ensuring the safety and well-being of seniors and volunteers.

“The PORCH program was designed specifically to combat social isolation and loneliness,” Beth Meade, president and CEO, CCF said. “When we were recently forced to isolate, we knew the line of communication was more important than ever before.”

CCF is encouraging volunteers to continue contacting seniors remotely and help them obtain necessities while everyone in the state shelters in place in alignment with Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Stay Home, Stay Safe, Save Lives executive order.

“While we are physically isolated, we don’t have to socially isolate,” Meade said. “We are asking people to call our older friends and neighbors simply to have a conversation and break up their day. If they need groceries or prescriptions, we can offer that assistance.”

Members of CMF’s Michigan Grantmakers in Aging (MGIA) Affinity Group cite the importance of assisting the state’s aging population during this time.

“During this crisis, the philanthropic community must be agile and flexible when helping organizations that provide front-line services to vulnerable populations such as our seniors,” Vince Tilford, executive director, Luella Hannan Memorial Foundation and MGIA chair said. “In the long-run, philanthropy must also look for creative ways to rebuild and lift-up community-based organizations that will face increased demand for their programs in the aftermath of this pandemic.”

“We are a resilient, creative country and we need to use that creativity now to ‘virtually’ be there for everyone in our community,” Meade said.

Want more?

Learn more about the PORCH program.

Connect with the MGIA Affinity Group.