Grant will support Senior Network

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — The town of Dover-Foxcroft has received a $4,499 grant to support the Senior Network from the Piscataquis County fund of the Maine Community Foundation.

    Senior Network, with the leadership of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, plans to offer a consumer protection program to educate senior citizens about the dangers of internet, phone and mail fraud schemes.  The program seeks to reduce identity theft and consumer fraud.
    Jane Conroy, extension educator with University of Maine Cooperative Extension, will be offering such informational sessions and resources on the topic of consumer protection. The program will be offered at Senior Network’s Community Room in the Morton Avenue Municipal Building and also expanded to Greenville and Milo.
    According to the National Consumers League, the 2012 top scam reported was the fake check scam.  Conroy commented that “many folks don’t realize that if they deposit a fake check into their account they are responsible for paying the money back to the bank. So my tip is to read the fine print on any check you receive, and when in doubt, throw it out and you should be able to avoid such scams.”
    Senior Network’s consumer fraud program will coordinate with area banks, churches and the law enforcement community.
    Senior Network seeks to facilitate the social, emotional and physical well-being of independent senior citizens by providing access to community resources and providing social activities that promote independence and wellness. Senior Network is a partnership with Community First, the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Mayo Regional Hospital with the support of the town of Dover-Foxcroft. 
    The grant application to the Maine Community Foundation was written and submitted by the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council. The town of Dover-Foxcroft is participating as the fiscal agent for Senior Network. Senior Network is under the guidance of a community steering committee with Sue Mackey Andrews and Conroy as co-founders.
    Conroy said, “We are so fortunate to have this grant to educate our seniors and caregivers in this area. It is so important for individuals, especially seniors, to recognize warning signs and know ways to protect themselves. I am looking forward to working with community groups, using technology and hands-on learning to prepare our seniors.”
    With offices in Ellsworth and Portland, the Maine Community Foundation works with donors and other partners to improve the quality of life for all Maine people.
    For additional information on PCEDC, visit them on Facebook or at www.pcedc.org. For more information on the Maine Community Foundation see their website at www.mainecf.org.