VISTA Volunteer to Lead Project SAFE in Everett

MVES was fortunate to welcome an Americorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) member earlier this month. The VISTA program is federally funded and volunteers devote a full year of service to one initiative.

Cheryl Jakielo, a recent Holy Cross graduate, will dedicate the upcoming year to continuing the successful Project SAFE program. Project SAFE is a MVES effort to reach out to elders 85 years and older. Volunteers go door to door and meet with elders, asking if they need any assistance and detailing services that may be useful. Working in collaboration with the city police and fire departments, the volunteers identify any potential hazards in the elders’ homes and make suggestions on how to resolve any dangerous situations.

MVES is currently finishing Project SAFE in Medford and Cheryl will begin the project in Everett in the fall.

Cheryl is a natural fit for MVES. As a psychology major, she concentrated in gerontology. She also completed an internship at the Shrewsbury Council on Aging while at Holy Cross. MVES looks forward to Cheryl’s work in expanding Project SAFE.