Neighbors Helping Neighbors

UR Community Cares uses secure web-based technology to match local Volunteers with Community Members (age 70 and over or age 18 and over with a physical disability) who need free at-home support.

Household chores, yard work, transportation and companionship visits are requested and pre-scheduled online. Our program bridges the gaps between family, friends, and professional caregiving. Through intergenerational social connections, we help build stronger communities where residents can safely age in place and live more independently.

Michelle Puzzo, Executive Director and her Meme
Michelle Puzzo, Executive Director and her Meme in 2018

On our digital platform, Community Members put in a request for assistance, Volunteers can pick which requests make the most sense for them in terms of availability, giving them flexibility in when they’re able to provide their services. 

Our Partners spread awareness of the platform among potential Community Members and Volunteers, both through their own networks and organized “Community Days”. Additionally, we support towns in setting up their own UCC branches, by helping to raise funds, enrolling Community Members within the town, and engaging with the community at large.

We are working on spreading the word across Connecticut so that more towns get involved and begin to develop a plan to support their agin and disabled residents in a new way, directly at home so they can remain in their home. https://patch.com/connecticut/southington/southington-volunteers-sought-help-elderly-residents

Neighbors Helping Neighbors is currently funded in the following towns: Bolton, Cheshire, Clinton, Cromwell, Durham, East Hampton, Farmington, Guilford, Killingworth, Manchester, Southington, Willington, Enfield, Glastonbury, Windsor Locks, New Britain, Berlin, Cromwell, American Savings Foundation-Portland, Middletown, Rocky Hill and Wethersfield, Community Foundation of Eastern CT-East Lyme, Groton, Ledyard, Lyme, Montville, New London, North Stonington, Old Lyme, Salem, Stonington, Waterford, Connecticut Community Foundation-Beacon Falls, Bethlehem, Bridgewater, Goshen, Litchfield, Middlebury, Morris, Naugatuck, New Milford, Oxford, Prospect, Roxbury, Southbury, Warren, Washington, Waterbury, Watertown, Wolcott, Woodbury, Community Foundation of Greater New Haven: Ansonia, Bethany, Branford, Derby, East Haven, Hamden, Madison, Milford, New Haven, North Branford,  North Haven, Orange, Oxford, Seymour, Shelton, Wallingford, West Haven, Woodbridge, Community Foundation of Middlesex County: Centerbrook, Chester, Cobalt Deep River, East Haddam, Essex Haddam, Haddam Neck, Higganum, Ivoryton, Middle Haddam, Middlefield, Moodus, Old Saybrook, Rockfall, Westbrook. and Winthrop.