Back in April of 2009, Moira Lukas and Nancy Colman began talking about and researching the formation of a “Village” in Brisbane to help older community members stay in their homes and connected to the broader community.
However, it wasn’t until May 2013 that this idea was proposed to the community at a public meeting attended by about 50 residents. Following the meeting, a small group of dedicated volunteers began working hard, studying the feasibility of establishing a Village in Brisbane that would best meet the needs of older residents and community volunteers, and building the infrastructure for an organization that would connect neighborhood volunteers with elders in need here in town.
After looking at various Village ‘models’, we decided to keep our Village simple, all-volunteer, low-cost and inclusive. The City of Brisbane has helped us realize these goals by providing us with limited co-sponsorship that includes financial and administrative support, and the Brisbane Lions Club has given us invaluable financial assistance as well. Brisbane Village Helping Hands is a California nonprofit corporation with federal and state tax-exempt status.