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What is NAN?
Bannockburn Neighbors Assisting Neighbors, Inc. (NAN for short) was formed to serve the needs of seniors wishing to age in place and to serve intergenerational health and other quality-of-life needs of all of us in the Bannockburn community. Montgomery County is actively encouraging organizations like NAN and views us as a model for other neighborhoods. About 30 neighborhoods are organizing, but we are the only one that is intergenerational.
Each Block in our community has a Block Coordinator. You may have met yours when you were invited to complete a survey last summer. Their names are in the September 2008 issue of the Bannockburn Newsletter (http://bannockburncommunity.org/newsletters/2008/Sep2008.pdf) and on the NAN website (http://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/612611/ - Click on Announcements).
Last summer NAN surveyed our community to identify neighbors who need help and people who are willing to provide help. To better manage that information and to minimize phone calls to organize help, NAN has a protected page on the website LotsaHelpingHands.
How do you join the NAN community?
Go to http://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/612611/login. Fill in the right-hand side of the form that says "Interested in becoming a member of this community." It takes only minutes for a message to go to the Lead Coordinator, Miriam Kelty. She will "approve" your joining and you will get an E-mail with a link to set a password that gives you access to the protected site.
How do you ask for help?
Go to the website www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/612611/ , enter your E-mail address and Password and click on Coordinator and she will generate an E-mail with your request. You also will see and have access to announcements, resources, etc.
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E-mail or call Miriam Kelty, Lead Coordinator for the NAN website (keltym@verizon.net or 301-229-5639) and ask that she sign you onto the site and disseminate your request. Be sure to include your E-mail address and phone number in your message. (If you do not use E-mail or the Web you can team up with a neighbor who does and will enter your request for you.)
NAN, as a result of our community survey, is prepared to assist neighbors who need transportation, errands, equipment loans, household organization/management, help with chores or would enjoy a social visit with neighbors. Your need may be a short-term one or a long-term one and does not have to be related to illness. There are some situations that are likely to be inappropriate for NAN, and we will refer you to other resources if that's agreeable with you.
How do you volunteer to help a neighbor?
When a neighbor requests assistance, you will get E-mail about it. Click on the website, www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/612611/.
A request for assistance will appear on the calendar in GREEN. On the Home Page click on the date that is GREEN. In the box that appears, click on the link that says "View Details." This will take you to a larger calendar, provide details and a link to sign up in the "Details" box to the right of the calendar. If you are able to assist, enter your availability and information necessary to make the arrangements. Your neighbor who requested assistance will be notified by the Coordinator. The GREEN date on the calendar will turn to BLUE when somebody signs up to provide help. The volunteer helper will get a reminder E-mail.
Please register on the website and become a Neighbor Assisting Neighbors (NAN) participant.
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