Today, October 15, marks the 23rd (can’t believe it, but it is) Senior Safety Saturday that I am leading in the area where many older people live in my hometown neighborhood. With a cadre of some 100 volunteers, including many guys & gals who are with the Fire Department where I am a Life Member, we will…

…visit 72 homes to install motion-sensitive lighting to improve visibility of the path between the bed and bathroom at night; install grab-bars and non-slip mats in key areas; test smoke alarms and replace batteries; replace smoke alarms that are more than 10 years old; check, repair, or replace CO detectors; and install where necessary dual hand rails on stairs.

This post on my blog last year describes what we do. Senior Safety Saturday is a dedicated, huge undertaking, but a product of love for the community where I have lived and made my home for a long, long time — right here in sprawling suburbia.

Stats and updates for this year:

* A team of four volunteers reached out to the community over the last six months to identify homes where these services are needed and would be welcome. They visited the homes and completed a checklist that I use to determine what supplies are needed for that home’s safety improvements. They also got the required indemnification forms signed (sigh; a reality in today’s litigious society.) 90 homes were visited and 72 fully completed the process and signed the release forms. This level of attrition is common.

* Recruited volunteers to do the home visits and held three trainings. We divided the volunteers into teams of three. The teams will install the products designated for the particular homes assigned to them and conduct some fire safety and falls prevention education.

* $10,000 in pledged support from a major foundation underwrote the costs of the equipment we are installing. The Foundation bought us store credit at a major home supplies retailer. Employees of the retailer ordered and assembled all of the required products (motion-sensitive floor path lighting, smoke alarms, CO detectors, batteries, wood & carpentry supplies, non-slip mats, etc.) on my master list. They loaded the supplies on four large pallets and shrinkwrapped them. Three buddies from the Fire Department and I picked up the supplies on Wednesday night and brought them to the Firehouse where we store them, and divide the materials into packages designated for each home we will visit.

* $2,500 in cash donations from small donors that I use for: a) supplies we need that we can’t get from the retailer partner we work with; b) an insurance rider for the event and our volunteers (sigh, again… the need to have special insurance is sad, but necessary); and c) requisite “starting fuel” at the morning pep rally/kickoff event — coffee, doughnuts, and bagels. (Gotta have bagels, lox, and cream cheese for this crowd!) And don’t forget the pizza after the event at the Firehouse!

* Arranged logistical support with the fire and police departments as we may need. Also, for the first time, our county Department of Environmental Protection will send a truck to the Firehouse to collect the old batteries, smoke alarms, and CO detectors that we are replacing. These things are actually considered hazardous waste and must be disposed of properly. So instead of having to make a special trip to a designated receiving facility to discard these items, the County will take care of that for us. I really appreciate that because that last trip to discard these things at the end of a long day adds to my exhaustion.

* Contacted local elected officials and media who will join us at the kick-off and thank the volunteers. This is where a representative of our major sponsor receives press attention and is formally thanked. All of the donors receive a certificate of appreciation for their contribution to my small non-profit organization that supports the financial needs of this effort.

Today I will be booted in my trusty Chippewa Firefighter boots given to me by my local fire department, tactical pants and local FD shirt, as I run point on overall event logistics. Even my itty-bitty clamshell cell phone will get a workout. Spouse will stay home. He will look forward to my report at the end of the day and help me relax and unwind.

Life is short: show your community how much you care.