Catholic Charities grant to give jobs to elders

Catholic Charities Worcester County announced this week that it has received a grant of $849,022 from Senior Service America Inc. This funding - originally from the U.S. Department of Labor  -  will pay wages and benefits to at least 133 low-income older adults living in Franklin and Worcester Counties to work in temporary, part-time jobs through June 30, 2015. These older adults will participate in the Senior Community Service Employment Program, established by the Older Americans Act more than 40 years ago.
Administered by the Department of Labor, Senior  Employment Program  is the only federal government program mandated to assist unemployed older adults seeking to rejoin the workforce.
For each of the last 37 years, Senior Service America has awarded an annual grant to Catholic Charities Worcester County, one of its five local partner agencies operating the senior employment program in Massachusetts.
While enrolled as program participants, the older workers will be assigned to one of more than 40 local nonprofit and government agencies, including Centro Las Americas, Worcester Senior Center, Salvation Army, and the Connecticut Watershed Association.
The older workers will be paid the minimum wage while receiving on-the-job training to enhance their opportunities in the local job market, according to Susan Maedler, program administrator for Catholic Charities.
“It’s a great program for individuals who want to return to the workforce to develop new skills and confidence,” she said..
Michael Truckey, director of the Franklin-Hampshire Career Center, praised the work of the Senior Employment Program.
“For more than 30 years, SCSEP has been an integral part of our organization.  Working in collaboration with Catholic Charities, this program enables us to enhance the services we provide to our older customers,” he said.
Truckey pointed out that his organization has hired eight of the participants to work in his organization.
“Far too many low-income older adults are among the long-term unemployed,” said Tony Sarmiento, Senior Service America executive director. “This program provides them with skills and renewed hope as they serve their community. Older Bay Staters are fortunate to be served by the dedicated staff of Charities Worcester County.”

– For more information, call Susan Maedler, Program Administrator, at (508) 860-2241, or smaedler@ccworc.org