Agency: Jayhawk Support Services for Elders
Location: 712 S. Kansas Ave., Topeka
Contact: Dawn Pennington, a legal assistant
Phone number: (785) 354-8531
If you can balance your own checkbook, the Jayhawk Support Services for Elders needs someone like you.
Dawn Pennington, a legal assistant for Kansas Legal Services which runs JSSE, said several volunteers are needed to visit, help balance checkbooks, contact creditors and pay bills for adults older than 60. She said the program currently serves residents in Shawnee, Jefferson and Douglas counties.
Two years ago, Kansas Legal Services started the program after receiving several calls about seniors being turned over to creditors for late bills. The JSSE's purpose is to help seniors avoid financial exploitation, she said.
"We try to keep them in their home as long as possible and to keep them as independent as possible," she said.
Following a minor financial assessment with new clients, Pennington said they are matched with a volunteer and she meets with the two of them for the initial visit. Then, the volunteers schedule their own hours to meet with the clients. She said the maximum volunteer time is about four hours per month.
Volunteers must complete a training session, which lasts up to 90 minutes and includes information about Medicare, Medicaid and referral agencies.
In addition, Pennington said volunteers have access to the attorneys at Kansas Legal Services regarding legal issues for their clients. Volunteers also are reimbursed for mileage.
Ideally, Pennington said the organization would like to have one volunteer per client. Currently, she said there are eight volunteers, but 30 clients.
Pennington said she would be happy to do a presentation for groups or an organization. She said interested volunteers can call her collect.
Last week's results
Jack Connelly, local coordinator of the AARP Tax Assistance program, said he has not received any calls yet.
He said volunteers are needed for about three months to provide free tax assistance to residents of Douglas and Franklin counties. Training will be conducted Jan. 15, 16 and 17, starting at 9 a.m. each day. However, he said, interested volunteers must contact him before the school starts.
For more information, call Connelly at 865-3985.
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