Christmas Message: President Urges Volunteering

The blessings we enjoy come with a responsibility attached. That was the message US President George Bush gave to Americans in his Saturday radio address on Christmas Day.

The President urged Americans to volunteer to help those in need.

"Christmastime reminds each of us that we have a duty to our fellow citizens, that we are called to love our neighbor just as we would like to be loved ourselves. By volunteering our time and talents where they are needed most, we help heal the sick, comfort those who suffer, and bring hope to those who despair, one heart and one soul at a time."

You can read the complete text or listen to the audio.

QikReview™: The Savvy Senior

If you've got a question on health, finances or family matters, Jim Miller has the answer. Jim is pretty well known in Norman, Oklahoma .. where's he's the stadium voice of U of Oklahoma football and basketball games.

But he's also the voice for savvy seniors everywhere .. helping seniors get the best deals, the right answers, and cut through the red tape. His weekly newspaper column, called .. what else? .. The Savvy Senior .. is syndicated in 400 newspapers, with a readership of over 12 million.

So much for the qualifications .. what about the content?

Jim has prepared a practical guide. For example, one of our favorite topics: volunteering. Jim offers an overview of resources on the web and elsewhere. He points out 3 national programs that might be of interest for seniors who want to volunteer. Then he briefly introduces 11 more groups, including their websites, and 1-800 numbers.

Speaking of web resources, Jim has a great section on becoming a Computer Savvy Senior. Wondering about Medicare? There are 13 sections covering everything from how to appeal a Medicare decision to deny you payment for a medical expense to cost-cutting tips on prescriptions. Questions about assisted living, health issues like prostate problems, social security "basics" and financial issues likes wills, trusts and reverse mortgages are just a small sampling of the book's contents.

You may wonder how an MTV generation guy knows all about senior issues and questions. Well, Jim knows lots .. first-hand. In October 2000, both of his parents died within 3 weeks of each other. He was devastated and lost. To work through his grief, he took a job at a retirement home, and found that being around folks his parents' age helped. He took up writing a column for seniors in a local paper. Lots of questions and lots of learning followed.

And Jim has shared it all with us. His goal?

"..provide senior citizens, and the families who support them, access to information and resources in one, easy-to-read book."

Mission accomplished!

Order here from Amazon, and Friends of the Needy gets a donation.
The Savvy Senior : The Ultimate Guide to Health, Family, and Finances for Senior Citizens