Elder Help pitches in when other agencies cannot

John Corcoran has lots of stories to tell – good stories about neighbors helping neighbors.

There is the story about the 48-year-old quadriplegic who had been showering outside year-round because she could not afford to install a handicap-accessible shower inside her home. Elder Help volunteers went to work and she is now showering inside her Hayden Lake home for the first time in 16 years.

And there is the story about the 82-year-old man who amassed a $25,000 debt by charging his wife’s medical co-pay charges on his credit card. As a result of that debt, he could not afford to buy firewood to heat his home. Elder Help volunteers cut, split, stacked and delivered a winter’s worth of wood to his front door.

And finally there is the story of the 45-year-old woman who is on a limited income, and is caring full time for her husband who has Parkinson’s disease. Elder Help volunteers again came to the rescue, delivered wood to heat their home, and continue to provide this couple with wood.

Elder Help was conceived in 1995 by then-Coeur d’Alene Association of Realtors’ President, Peggy Sawicki.

“Elder Help became a steering committee comprised of Realtors and affiliate volunteer members who wanted to give back to their community in some way,” Corcoran said.

After many years of little activity, the organization was revitalized in 2005 by Corcoran when his wife, Karen, was elected association president and asked him to take over the Elder Help reins.

“We target primarily low-income, elderly homeowners many of whom are on Social Security and are not able to work,” Corcoran said. “We cover areas that the social services and government agencies cannot.”

Most referrals for help come from “people turning other people in,” according to Corcoran. Local churches and agencies also make referrals.

Potential recipients are then interviewed by a member of the Elder Help steering committee to assess individual need. Elder Help volunteer projects include minor roof repairs, firewood assistance, building handicap-accessible ramps, yard-cleaning and painting.

Corcoran’s previous experience as a plumbing contractor has come in handy many times, but with 80 Elder Help volunteers and a list of 70-plus people who need help, Corcoran says he has become a “good delegator.”

Under Corcoran’s leadership, the firewood program has grown immensely.

“People donate standing-dead trees on their property, and we organize a weekend work party to cut, split and store the wood, until there is a need,” Corcoran said.

Elder Help’s efforts were recently recognized by the Cloverleaf Grange by receiving the annual Grange’s Citizen of the Year award.

Elder Help of North Idaho is no longer under the umbrella of the Coeur d’Alene Association of Realtors, and, according to Corcoran, is in the process of a forming a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.

Currently serving only Kootenai County, Elder Help’s future plans include expansion to Bonner, Boundary and Spokane counties.

Elder Help also distributed food donation boxes across Kootenai County last December and successfully held its first food drive receiving and distributing more than 6,700 pounds of food to 76 seniors.

“People read about Elder Help in the media and called to donate food items,” Corcoran said. “The need was great, and one person responded by donating about 4,000 pounds of food himself.”

Asked about his volunteer efforts and the time he spends to keep Elder Help running, Corcoran smiled and said, “If Jesus would do it, so would I. My whole heart is into it.”