A top priority at Springwell since our 2022 merger has been getting better acquainted with key organizations in the twenty-two communities we now serve. By better understanding how services for older adults are delivered in each town, we are learning who we can partner with to help support healthy aging and how to enrich those partnerships. Larry Poirier, Springwell’s Outreach Manager, calls himself the “boots on the ground” in this work. “Building relationships leads to partnerships to find solutions to the problems our community faces. We work together for the sake of the people we serve,” shares Poirier.

Cynthia Listewnik, LCSW, Outreach Coordinator for The Center in Holliston, says she often contacts Springwell to connect people with resources and has found everyone very responsive and helpful. She started working closely with Poirier last summer after he visited the Center and provided an overview of Springwell services and resources. Listewnik began attending the regular meetings of Outreach Coordinators led by Donlyn Cannella, Director of Community Services at Springwell. “I appreciate being part of these conversations to address the needs we are seeing in the community,” she noted.

Listewnik and Poirier are also working together to recruit local volunteers to serve as Friendly Visitors in Holliston. Listewnik shared, “Holliston’s older adults are part of the nationwide epidemic of loneliness. If we can get people to re-engage through Springwell’s Friendly Visitor program, they will be healthier and happier.” The two have also worked together to bring Springwell’s Pathways program for LGBTQIA+ older adults to Holliston. These are two examples of the types of partnerships Springwell is striving for in each of our twenty two communities.

“As the relationships with our community partners develop, there will continue to be more areas where we can work together for the sake of the older adults and families living in our shared communities,” concluded Poirier.