Search is on for Virginia’s outstanding senior volunteer

The Salute to Senior Service program, sponsored by Home Instead, Inc., franchisor of the Home Instead Senior Care® network, will honor contributions of adults 65 and older who give at least 15 hours a month of volunteer service to their favorite causes, according to a news release.

Nominations for outstanding senior volunteers will be accepted between Feb. 1 and March 31, 2013. State winners then will be selected by popular vote at SalutetoSeniorService.com. Online voting will take place from April 15 to April 30, 2013. From state winners, a panel of senior care experts will pick the national Salute to Senior Service honoree, the release said.

Home Instead, Inc. plans to donate $500 to each of the state winners’ favorite nonprofit organizations and post their stories on the Salute to Senior Service Wall of Fame. In addition, $5,000 will be donated to the national winner’s nonprofit charity of choice, according to the news release.

Jack St. Clair, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office in Manassas, was quoted in the news release as saying, “We all know seniors who do so much for our community, These silent heroes give selflessly, expecting nothing in return. And yet, their contributions often make a difference not only to the organizations they serve, but in changing how the public views growing older.”

Senior care professionals and those who work at hospitals, senior care facilities and other places where seniors volunteer are encouraged to nominate older adults. So, too, are family caregivers and the adult children of aging parents. Older adults also may self-nominate.

To complete and submit a nomination form online for a senior age 65 or older who volunteers at least 15 hours a month, and to view the contest’s official rules, visit SalutetoSeniorService.com. Or mail completed nomination forms to Salute to Senior Service, P.O. Box 285, Bellevue, NE 68005.

For local information about Salute to Senior Service call Jack St. Clair at 703-530-1360.