CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
TWENTY FOURTH COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO. M-20-5 ENACTMENT NO. ______________________
SPONSORED BY: Cynthia D. Borrego, Klarissa J. Peña
MEMORIAL
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Recognizing The Senior Corp Volunteers Composed Of Foster Grandparents, Senior Companions And Retired And Senior Volunteer Program Volunteers For Their Exemplary Service During The Time Of The COVID-19 Pandemic To The Senior Citizen Population Of The City Of Albuquerque (Borrego, Peña)
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RECOGNIZING THE SENIOR CORP VOLUNTEERS COMPOSED OF FOSTER GRANDPARENTS, SENIOR COMPANIONS AND RETIRED AND SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS FOR THEIR EXEMPLARY SERVICE DURING THE TIME OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC TO THE SENIOR CITIZEN POPULATION OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE.
WHEREAS, The City of Albuquerque Department of Senior Affairs is bolstered from the efforts of nearly 900 Senior Corp Volunteers; and
WHEREAS, Prior to the pandemic, the Senior Corp of Volunteers were recorded to provide a 348% return on investment contributing approximately 214,000 total hours annually; and
WHEREAS, The Community Engagement Management Team not only oversees the Senior Corp Programs federal grant requirements, but also helps the City to expand its volunteer base by tapping into volunteers of all ages; and
WHEREAS, The Department of Senior Affairs anticipates that focused recruitment and management strategies to be conducted by a Community Engagement Manager proposed in the City of Albuquerque Fiscal Year 2021 Budget will increase Department volunteer numbers by an additional 300 or more; and
WHEREAS, Additional volunteers are especially needed in areas such as the City’s Home Chore program, where volunteer groups provide outside yard services for seniors on an on-going basis; and
WHEREAS, Within one week of the first Corona Virus case reported in New Mexico, The Department of Senior Affairs put in place multiple new support systems such as wellness checks, outside/contactless services (like taxes), securing donations and packaging food boxes in addition to erecting five pickup meal sites and expanding emergency home delivered meals, while continuing its core services (transportation, senior information line, and case management); and
WHEREAS, Throughout the pandemic, volunteers have been critical to helping the Department of Senior Affairs provide services -such as helping pass out food at the City’s distribution sites, manning other closed centers to help answer questions and provide support to seniors, and helping the Department package bulk food packaged into 2,100 food boxes; and
WHEREAS, Food production has more than doubled during the COVID-19 epidemic, with more than double the amount of home delivered meals and nearly double the number of meals claimed at the City’s pick up and go sites. Volunteers are critical in providing support for the efforts of the Senior Affairs Department and in meeting the 137% year-over-year increase in demand during the pandemic; and
WHEREAS, Many individual volunteers and groups are to thank for expanding the City of Albuquerque’s Senior Affairs Department’s capacities to provide for the City’s Senior populations during this challenging time including: The Fresquez Companies, Calvary Church, Sagebrush Church, the New Mexico Prays Group, UNM Nursing students, and many more, as well as food donations from The Range Café and McDonalds and hygienic supply donations from Roses Paper and Western Sky.
BE IT MEMORIALIZED BY THE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE that The City of Albuquerque is extremely grateful for the extensive efforts and contributions of the Senior Volunteer Corp for their extraordinary efforts in supporting efforts to provide meals to Albuquerque’s seniors during the COVID-19 epidemic, in addition to their routine contributions to the welfare and sustenance of Albuquerque’s Seniors, and that the City of Albuquerque is receptive to ways it can support the Senior Affairs Department in its efforts to build and nurture the Senior Volunteer Corp.
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