The Next Chapter - A Monthly Column

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When you stop to think about it, don’t you picture a guy walking around in ill-fitted boots without socks? While so subtle, it’s one of the top tell-tale signs of someone who lives on the streets.

But the members of the Montrose Chapter are aiming to do something about it. One of their primary projects this year will be to help fund with donations and volunteer support a program that provides socks for weary feet. The Chapter also has been collecting plastic bags that are being woven by the program, Christ’s Kitchen, and made into mats for people on the streets and in shelters for a clean place to lay their heads.

“Those are just a couple of things we plan to do this year,” said Lavon Campbell of the Montrose Chapter. “The House of Promise is a program for teenage abused mothers. We donate financially; we donate clothing and take care of things for the babies. The program has four apartments and once the teens graduate, they can move into an apartment and we also help them with furniture.”

The Montrose Chapter hosts a large garage sale each spring. Money earned from the sale goes to help people in the community. Last year, the money went to fight food insecurity under the banner of Drive to End Hunger, an initiative by AARP and AARP Foundation to raise awareness about the issue of senior hunger.

In addition to supporting teens and the homeless, Campbell says the Montrose Chapter typically hosts informative discussions on topics relating to aging, including ways for older adults to stay living in their own homes as long as possible and how to improve driving skills as they face changes in hearing and sight.

“Some of us work at the desk of the senior meal site, some do Meals on Wheels and we organize senior dances twice a month,” Campbell said. “We assist with the computer classes and have our people in AARP help with the ceramic classes at the Senior Center at the Pavilion.”
The Montrose clan also cares for its own. One AARP member in his 80s cares for an ill wife at home, but he’s not alone. Chapter members step in and help out there, too. Hats off to the Montrose Chapter, whose members don’t wait to be asked; they step up and make a difference in their community.

Chapter 995 in Denver, also known as the Queen City Chapter, is celebrating its 40th Anniversary this year. Jean Devine, a founding member, is still with the Chapter. Congratulations to Chapter 995 and to Jean.

Angela Cortez is Associate State Director Communications. Reach her at acortez@aarp.org, or 303-764-5988.