PATH awards $50K to RappatHome
The PATH Foundation, a grantmaking organization based in Warrenton, has awarded $50,000 to Rappahannock at Home (RappatHome) to fund the expansion of the nonprofit’s programs.
RappatHome is developing a senior village to help support aging residents, a concept different from traditional retirement homes or assisted living facilities. The program is creating a mutual support network to assist their members to age within their own homes.
Rappahannock County’s demographic realities can make it difficult for less mobile residents to access resources. Eve Brooks, who serves as secretary on RappatHome’s board of directors, explained, “There are very few social services in place, and it is harder to connect to existing services.” These conditions often lend to the gradual isolation of less mobile residents.
This program creates a network of human connections to assist members with resources needed by aging residents. RappatHome hopes to create an organization that could be replicated in other areas with similar needs.
Membership is available to all residents over the age of 50 in Rappahannock County, the Culpeper portions of Amissville and Boston, the Warren County portion of Chester Gap and northern Madison County.
RappatHome is currently working to expand its membership base. “We plan to continue to do lots of outreach at this point,” Brooks said. As RappatHome collects more members, they will be able to expand the services they have available, and increased services will attract more members.
Kirsten Dueck, PATH Foundation senior program officer, was amazed to see how quickly RappatHome was able to establish itself as an organization. “RappatHome works to support an entire generation as it ages,” Dueck said, “and that is a program we want to support.”
In the past year, RappatHome has (with the help of the county Extension office) hosted a Senior Fitness Program, partnered with CVS to install a program that allows RappatHome volunteers to deliver prescription medications to RappatHome members, and facilitated grocery home-delivery services.
Ken Gray, RappatHome’s planning coordinator, hopes that this expansion will allow the organization to “build communities that make aging easier, more productive and more rewarding.”
In keeping with RappatHome’s growing presence in the community, Gray said that the organization is advertising for two staff positions and is moving to larger space. “We are looking for an executive director and a volunteer coordinator,” said Gray. “They can be two parttime positions or one fulltime position, depending on the skills of the candidates.” For full job descriptions, visit rappathome.org/who-we-are/ work-with-rapp-at-home.
The organization’s new space — in the Washington School on Mt. Salem Avenue — offers more room for the expanding staff and is also accessible for people with disabilities.
The community is invited to an open house at the new office, 10 to noon Saturday, Aug. 13. For more information, call 540-937-4663 or email info@ rappathome.org.