Members of Valley Neighbors, as well as the general public, are invited to a trio of events this fall, as the nonprofit seeks to provide older adults in the region with social activities.

Beginning Sept. 12 and followed by other events on Oct. 6 and Nov. 14, Valley Neighbors is welcoming people to a variety of events geared toward community-building. Each event will be held at the Whately Town Hall, at 194 Chestnut Plain Road.

Valley Neighbors Board of Directors member Debra Carney said the events, which are open to members, as well as the general public, serve as an opportunity for older adults to get out of their homes, socialize and maybe find a new interest.

“We know that some of the pitfalls that aging folks face are a lack of social engagement and, sometimes, a lack of interests, so we’re trying to address that,” Carney said, adding these challenges are “often accompanied by social isolation.” “These are ways to get out and keep minds active.”

The first event will be held on Sept. 12 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. and will be focused on creating gardens for birds. Community member and longtime gardening expert Dan Ziomek will teach folks how to make their yards and gardens attractive for avian visitors by showing off plant specimens and explaining the best placement for each plant.

Ziomek has decades of retail experience between Sugarloaf Gardens and the Hadley Garden Center and has degrees in nursery management, as well as plant and soil science.

The next event is scheduled for Oct. 6 from 2 to 3 p.m., with the focus on “Toys, Games and their Makers: 1880-1950,” which is a companion presentation to the Whately Historical Society’s Childhood in Whately: 1771-1950 series. Ann Lomeli will give a presentation on the display, as she shares some of the intriguing stories from the collection. Following the presentation, attendees will then have a chance to check out the Historical Society’s museum.

Finally, the Nov. 14 event is less geared toward community-building and is instead focused on older adults’ health. From 3 to 4 p.m., Andrea Conrad of FootCare by Nurses will be on hand to talk to folks about how to prevent foot wounds and methods to release tension on feet.

Every event is free to the public and Carney said the series of programs last year was successful, as the group had a “pretty good turnout.”

Valley Neighbors serves adults 60 and older in Deerfield, Sunderland and Whately with a variety of services, including transportation for grocery shopping or medical appointments, home visits and light home work, such as gardening.

The group was formed in 2018, but, after a pandemic-induced hiatus, finally launched in February 2022 to great success. Carney said they currently have 139 members and dozens of volunteers, who have met 172 requests for transport covering more than 4,500 miles. Transportation, Carney added, remains the organization’s most-requested service.

“Many people are still capable of living in their own homes … but it is not uncommon for one of the first things that people stop doing is driving,” she said. “Having a ride really extends their ability to stay in their own home.”

To register as a member, people must fill out an application and go through a short interview so Valley Neighbors can gather core information about the person to assess their needs. There are no membership fees, as Valley Neighbors is funded by donations and grants in an effort to remove any barriers from seniors receiving services.

Volunteers are provided training and are covered by insurance. They must, though, provide references, go through a background check and identify which areas of work they are interested in, as well as provide their availability.

“The fact that our membership is growing,” Carney said, “means we do need more volunteers.”

For more information about Valley Neighbors, or to join, volunteer or donate, visit Valleyneighbors.org, call 413-453-9057 or email info@valleyneighbors.org.

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com.