Grants Help Interfaith Caregivers Care for Mercer’s Elderly and Disabled

Dec. 19, 2012 - PRLog -- Generous grants from corporations and foundations continue to help Interfaith Caregivers of Greater Mercer County (ICGMC), a nonprofit organization headquartered in Hamilton, NJ, provide free caregiving services to homebound elderly and people with disabilities throughout Mercer County.

The most recent organizational supporters, with donations totaling $40,000, include the Lawrence Township Community Foundation, Nicholson Foundation, Karma Foundation, Roma Bank Community Foundation, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Jane Latini, ICGMC’s Acting Executive Director, emphasizes the importance of these grants to the nonprofit organization, stating, “The elderly segment of Mercer County’s population is growing quickly, with studies showing it will triple by 2025. As the population ages – and as families are pulled in so many difference directions – the need for free caregiving services increases. Armed with hundreds of trained and dedicated volunteers, nearly two decades of experience, and generous community financial support, Interfaith Caregivers is doing everything we can to prepare to meet this need. During trying times such as Hurricane Sandy, our volunteers were on hand to make sure our clients were safe and secure. We find that they are sometimes the only people visiting with and helping local homebound seniors on a regular basis.”

Last year alone, ICGMC recruited three new congregations/members, and added 130 new care receivers and 71 new volunteers. Close to 250 volunteers from more than two dozen interdenominational congregations provided 10,910 hours of free services to close to 300 elderly people with disabilities -- an increase in hours of more than 12.7% over the prior year. Free services included transportation to doctors’ offices, shopping, friendly visiting, light housekeeping and maintenance, telephone reassurance and occasional meal preparation, enabling care receivers to avoid institutionalization and stay in their homes -- independently, safely and with dignity.  

To volunteer, donate, and/or request services and information, visit http://www.icgmc.org and/or call 609-393-9922.