Community Service Connection (CSC) recognizes that in Hawthorne there are residents who need help. CSC was established in June 2015 as part of Hawthorne’s AARP Chapter 1775. Seventy plus volunteers are ready, willing and able to help our Hawthorne neighbors. Our services are confidential and there is never a charge.
Services provided by Community Service Connection to all residents include help with directory assistance for Lake County and Hawthorne, respite care (allowing time off for full time care givers), financial counseling, grief support, picking up prescriptions, newspapers and mail, running errands or doing a little grocery shopping. We do light sewing tasks, and handyman chores such as changing light bulbs. We also distribute donated grocery store gift cards. Volunteers visit residents at home, hospital or rehab and bring cookies baked by other volunteers. Volunteers help visually challenged residents read their mail. We can also help residents with some yard work if they have limited physical and financial resources and are unable to meet Hawthorne’s appearance standards. If what is needed is more than CSC can provide, we have a list of Hawthorne residents who can be hired for various services such as caregiving, house cleaning, notary and home repairs.
AARP Chapter 1775 is sponsoring, under Community Service Connection, the Emergency Team Chaplaincy Program. This program consists of Hawthorne community chaplains being on a rotating call basis to support the EMT’s when called to provide support to residents in life threating events. It is felt that a spouse or loved one would benefit by having a chaplain comforting them while the EMT’s are performing their life saving work. The service is non-denominational.
As a service to help the Good Neighbors club provide transportation to local doctors and lawyers, Gail Fuller handles the request calls from residents for the rides. Good Neighbors schedulers and drivers take care of everything else.
If you need assistance or would like to volunteer for CSC, call or text our Chairperson, Gail Fuller, at 706-528-7461. If you are unable to reach Gail, call Shirley Hurt at 352-315-9270. For grief support and Chaplaincy program, call Cindy Semenik at 352-978-1057. For rides with Good Neighbors call Gail Fuller.