Dexter Public Health nurses distribute ‘Warm Heart, Warm Feet’ socks

DEXTER — On Jan. 31, the Dexter Public Health Association received a generous donation of new, warm socks from the Maine Senior Corps to distribute to older adults in need.

The “Warm Heart, Warm Feet” program was initiated to commemorate Gov. Janet Mill’s inauguration call for everyone to serve fellow Mainers. The Senior Corps, which operates from the University of Maine’s Center on Aging, partnered with Reny’s Department Store in a statewide campaign to donate the socks from Jan. 5-31. The “Warm Heart, Warm Feet” project demonstrated the power of collaboration among citizens, businesses, and agencies to fulfill a basic need of older adults in Dexter, Garland, and Ripley, the towns that are served by the Dexter Public Health Association nurses.

Contributed photo
WARM HEART, WARM FEET — Denise Webb, RN, Dexter Public Health Association, left, and Paula Burnett of Senior Corps hold donated socks for older people in Dexter. The Dexter Public Health Association received a donation of socks through the “Warm Heart, Warm Feet” program.

Reny’s shoppers and employees in Dexter bought 75 pairs of socks to contribute to the Dexter Public Health Association. With the temperature frequently hovering around zero lately, Dexter Public Health Association nurses are grateful to be able to give the socks to their needy patients for warmth. For low-income, older people, a pair of warm socks can bring some significant relief.

Other programs at the Center on Aging that benefit older Maine citizens are the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) and the Senior Companion Program. For information about these programs and how to benefit, visit www.mainecenteronaging.com.