Marie Duncan has been living alone for 45 years and she’d

like to continue to enjoy her “little view of the river” from her Kennewick

home for as long as she can.

The 92-year-old credits the Tender Care Village for enabling

her to remain independent at her own home.

“It’s just wonderful. I just can’t say enough about it. It’s

impossible to imagine when you stop driving how many little things you need

that car for,” she said.

The Kennewick-based nonprofit is part of a national network

to help establish and manage communities wanting to offer aging-in-place

initiatives called “villages” that pair seniors with volunteers.

For an annual fee, village members can tap into a network of

screened volunteers for non-medical assistance, like rides to the grocery store

or doctor’s appointments, light home maintenance, seasonal yard chores or

companionship.

Since launching a year ago, Tender Care has assisted with

450 requests from seniors, with about 90 percent of those requests for

transportation.

The group has 30 members and 30 volunteers.

But it can’t accept any more members until more volunteers

sign on to help.

“I think I’m even more passionate about it now because I see

that it’s working. Some of these people wouldn’t have any social life at all,”

said Traci Wells, director and president of Tender Care Village.

Volunteers can pick and choose which “jobs” to do from an

online list, from taking seniors to appointments, to grocery shopping to light

housekeeping or yard work.

Recruiting more active volunteers is the network’s most

critical need going forward, Wells said, adding that retirees would be great

candidates to help.

“Finding volunteers is the hard thing. That is going to be

the key to keeping this going,” she said.

Wells encourages anyone looking for a place to volunteer to

send her an email at tendercarevillage@gmail.com.

“Our volunteers choose the days and times they volunteer on

a weekly basis. No set schedule,” she said.

Tender Village also seeks donated office space and licensed

providers willing to offer members reduced rates for yard work, window

cleaning, or other referral services.

But Wells emphasized the need for volunteers above all else.

“I hate to bring in too many members if we can’t fulfill

their needs,” she said.

The network’s best niche is seniors who have just begun to

lose their independence, she said.

“Those who just lost their driver’s license or spouse, or

they need that extra little help so they can be out in the community, but they

just need a ride,” Wells said.

The volunteer-member relationships tend to blossom into

friendships. The group also provides opportunities for social interactions,

like socials or exercise sessions like walks along the river.

“I really do want it to be a community mixed with

volunteers,” Wells said.

Duncan heard about the program after reading about it in the Senior Times in April 2018.

She said her membership allows her to maximize her time with

family without her feeling like she’s a burden to them.

“I tell you what. I have my family here, with their

families, and I have really good relationships with them, but I felt like I was

wearing them out and worried I was making them dread coming by,” Duncan said of

her requests for assistance.

She said getting older requires more doctors’ appointments

and errands. “The list goes on,” she said.

“Every time I put in my request, (volunteers) let me know

what time and who will pick me up,” she said. “It’s just wonderful. I have all

kinds of appointments and need things done around the house.”

Duncan said making friends with Tender Village volunteers

has been a bonus.

“They are such nice people. Friendly, accommodating and

cheerful. They’ve become friends, some of them. At my age, most of my older

friends that I have chummed around with are gone. It leaves a big hole in your

life,” she said.

Sharon Inscore of Kennewick signed up to be a Tender Care

volunteer, as well as a member, about a year ago.

“I live by myself and you never know when something is going

to happen,” said the 72-year-old, who hasn’t had to tap into the volunteer

network until recently, as her arthritis has been acting up, she said.

Inscore recently asked for assistance with a 50-pound bag of

salt for her water softener, flipping her mattress and moving her patio table

and chairs.

“It’s a good community,” she said.

Inscore has helped those who need to get to their doctor

appointments or with their shopping. She likes that she can select which jobs

to perform.

“It’s non-pressure, which is really great, as opposed to set

hours and driving every day across town,” she said.

“You also get to make personal connections — that’s good for

me, as well as for them,” she said.

» Tender Care Village: 509-290-0617; tendercarevillage@gmail.com; tendercarevillage.org.