Umbrella of the Capital District, Inc.

I work for Umbrella driving clients where they want to go. Travel is much more accurate than a cab and much less expensive. I like providing a service to people, and people enjoy having that service. It leaves me with a good feeling.

I have 2 helpers in my area that help me with my outside maintenance and indoor repairs and home chores that need 2 people {like windows}....I am 74, a widow and have had multiple joints replaced due to arthritis and would not be able to maintain my home and flowers without umbrella services....My assigned helpers are responsible,on time,pick up all tools and debris when they are done....They are knowledgeable and have a good working knowledge of their chosen chores....I have never called umbrella for a new service like plumbing,electrical,or appliance service that a suggestion was unavailable.....I have used their service for over 13 years including rides to appointments that require another person to get you home and most grateful that I have the peace of mind that I can stay in my own home until I decide it's time to downsize.....communication with the organization and it's helpers is smooth,direct and honest... I would highly recommend Umbrella to seniors in the area ...AAA+ thanks for providing this wonderful service to us independent home owners.....

I have been a customer of Umbrella of the Capital District for many, many years, am very satisfied with their services and think they are a fantastic resource for older people.
In addition to regular help with house cleaning and garden maintenance, they also have helped me with the following chores:
Remove window airconditioners in the fall and reinstall them in the spring; fix my dining room table, rewire a table lamp, hang up canoes and bicycles in my garage and take my patio furniture to the basement in the fall and bring them up again in the spring.
I am ever so grateful for the fact that Umbrella exists in y town, and hope they continue to be here forever.
Jenny Overeynder

I signed up for Umbrella's service about five years ago. My husband had passed away and I was facing the demands of maintaining my house and property without assistance. Not anymore. Umbrella was founded on the simple but creative idea of matching seniors who need help maintaining their property with retired people looking for part-time work helping others. From that time to the present, Umbrella has assigned workers for a variety of projects, from yard work and gutter clearing, to cleaning and staining my deck. The workers have been conscientious and courteous, and they continue to be a big help in making home maintenance more affordable.

Umbrella of the Capital District is a great organization that provides an important service to our seniors and the community as a whole. The program allows senior citizens to stay in their homes by providing valuable services such as home repairs and home maintenance that has become a burden both financially and physically to these homeowners. Keep up the good work!

Umbrella of the Capital District, Inc. has really helped me out countless times. It is like having a friend talk through the best way to get the project done and connecting you with someone to help get the work completed. They help with all aspects of getting many varied projects done that you need. I have had so many items that needed doing, especially this year. I have been utilizing their help for a number of years now. When you don't know where to start, this kind of help is invaluable. They stand by their recommendations as well. I appreciate Umbrella and what they do,

Wind catches the old door Sunday morning, glass all over the place,...call Umbrella.

Thermostat dies Saturday of holiday weekend heat wave...call Umbrella, troubleshoot by phone, then call suggested repair service. (Weekend rate, but worth it for three days of comfort.)

I try not to call on weekends when the office is closed, but it's comforting to know they will try to help if we're stuck.

As we moved on in years Umbrella has been there with handypersons and professionals to help with chores we used to do ourselves: build hand rails to basement and garage steps, install cat door, service and use lawn mower and snowblower, replace crumbling drain pipe and 50-year-old shut-offs, update electric outlets, rebuild inside of toilet tank, change ceiling light bulbs, troubleshoot roof exhaust fan, help with major yard cleanup spring and fall, for the mental health of this 24/7 caregiver fence in the vegetable garden, and much more. All this with simple phone calls and email to Umbrella.

Umbrella makes us comfortable in this house we like, that the "man of the house" adapted to our unique needs and interests throughout his younger years. Now he contentedly snuggles with a cat. Please support Great Nonprofit Umbrella of the Capital District, and volunteer if you can. We need you.

I have requested help from Umbrella for a wide variety of services including; plumbing services, house painting, yard work, boat and house cleaning, and sorting clothing to donate to various charities and consignment organizations. They are extremely helpful and provide very knowledgeable and talented men and women of excellent work ethics. Just an outstanding agency to do business with.

I depend on Umbrella for different jobs around my home . I have several high light fixtures . It may take them less than a half an hour to complete . They say” I still have to charge for the hour.”
And I say” $15 or $15,000 for the nursing home If I fall trying to change the light fixtures! Love Umbrella

I started my work as a “handyman” for Umbrella nearly one year ago because I was drawn to its mission of serving seniors and persons with disabilities in my community. I also hoped that it would offer me the opportunity to share some meaningful time with a clientele that often faces diminishing social contact and increasing isolation. I can say, without a doubt, that Umbrella has more than met my expectations. I enjoy the variety of jobs that I am asked to take on, as well as the satisfaction of knowing that my “customers” are typically very appreciative of my efforts. Most importantly, I have met many wonderful people, shared many rich conversations and established ongoing relationships with a few repeat customers. Based on my experience, I would argue that Umbrella is an exceptional nonprofit because the benefits and value it offers to the community go far beyond the obvious and usually exceed expectations.

After my husband died several years ago, the house fell into a state of disrepair. The list of things that needed attention grew longer, and I never knew who to call for which job. And often, they didn’t show up or complete the job, or I felt like I needed multiple estimates. My friend’s husband started working for Umbrella when he retired and suggested I check it out. I’m so glad I did! They have an army of people who seem to be able to do almost anything at an affordable rate. For more complex jobs, they have community connections for high quality specialists and they offer a discount for Umbrella customers. The office staff is responsive and helpful, and I’m so glad I found them!

I have been a member of Umbrella of the Capital District since 2015. Umbrella provides a great service to seniors in the Capital District and a strong security net. They are available nights and weekends for emergency home repair situations. I have used their handymen for lawn services, gutter cleaning, spring and fall cleanup. They have someone who repaired my lawnmower and a plumber who came several times. Umbrella has vendors they recommend for jobs their handymen cannot perform. And I’ve used those companies several times also.
I would not be able to stay in my home without the people Umbrella has sent to help me.
I highly recommend this organization!

I am a single woman who lives alone in a good sized house. Having an organization like Umbrella literally at my beck and call gives me a great sense of security and peace of mind. My kitchen sink drain stopped up on a Saturday evening. Absolutely nothing would go down. A call on the emergency number connected me with someone who gave me explicit instructions on how to deal with it as well as a back-up number to call for assistance if the "DIY" did not work. I have called them when I needed to replace torn window screens and had the job taken care of without my having to do anything. Most recently I asked for received a safety check of my home and had two new smoke detectors installed where I had not realized I should have had them. Over the years I have had many small tasks performed, things I could not do myself or did not have the tools to do. Installing a cat door into my cellar was one such task, weather proofing my deck was another. The list is literally endless. It is a great organization that provides both service and peace of mind.

Always my go-to place when I need to get anything done around my home. I don't do ladders any more, the workers are already checked out and always there for a better-than-reasonable price when I have to have work done. Don't know what I'd do without them!

The goal is only to accommodate the needs of senior citizens in the community.

There are many things I like about Umbrella. They are definitely a small hands-on organization. You can reach out to them any time and even have a nice chat with their CEO and founder Ron Byrne. I am helping my Aunt and Uncle (until he passed in May at 102) and their mentally challenged son (my cousin) have as good a quality of life as they can by continuing to stay in their home of over 50 years. But I live in Oklahoma. So having a group like Umbrella in the Capital District is a godsend. Their free home inspections have revealed needed fixes that I didn't even know about such as a moss-covered roof. Then they have been great in finding their own people or contractors who can do the work. Kind of your own personal Angie's List only much better. My Aunt and cousin give high marks to the various Umbrella personnel who have come by to clean their gutters, fix their flagstones, or unclog their plumbing. Great job you've done, Ron, in setting up and running this organization. Every community should have one.

My husband has been working with Umbrella since about 2005. This organization truly addresses the needs of the senior homeowners in our area. All workers are checked out regarding background through the local police department and references obtained.
Ron Byrne and his staff run a tight ship. They keep track of what is going on. Any complaints are settled to the customer's satisfaction.
Umbrella assists in making some of the less fortunate people in the community have a nicer Christmas through their gift giving.
For all the seniors out there that need a helping hand Umbrella is the answer.
Please look into it for yourself or your parents. It's one of the best kept secrets of the Capital District.

Over a period of many years, Umbrella has allowed me to stay in my home. Ron Byrne and his people in the office are always there to take my call and discuss my issues. They then send outstanding handymen or plumbers or whomever is needed for the task, from big to small. My favorite story shows why I feel so secure with Umbrella taking care of me. It was a frigid winter night and when I woke up at 3 a.m. my house was freezing. The thermostat read in the low 50's. I had no heat. My gas boiler was silent. I panicked. What do you do at this time of night with no heat and sub-zero temperatures? Then I remembered Umbrella has a 24 hour emergency number. On the second ring, Ron Byrne answered the phone. First he calmed me down and made sure I was ok. Then he got to work and someone was at my house an hour later in the middle of the night to fix my boiler. Heat came on and I truly felt wrapped in a blanket of safety and protection, which is what Ron and his staff and his workers provide to members. I stay in my home, without constant worry about finances or my lack of knowledge about the things that go wrong or need repair in my home. I also get help with tasks I cannot do myself. Umbrella is there, even in the middle of a freezing night. I am grateful beyond words.

To readers - I have been a handyperson for Umbrella since June 2019, and in this short period of time have seen firsthand the value of this organization to our senior population and am very proud to be part of it. Ron and the staff in the office are very supportive, caring people whose clear objective is to assist seniors to remain in their home, providing necessary domestic services as needed. I share this view totally, as having worked in a nursing home for over 12 years (and still do), have sat with countless incoming and existing residents (especially ladies) who not only suffer the loss of their loved one, but now must face entering a nursing home and vacating their home as well. While all isn't necessarily bleak about this (there are some advantages), most would agree they'd do almost anything to remain in their home in lieu of this. We all know most family members try to assist as they can, but many are part of the sandwich generation, who still have young people at home, and trying to care for an aging parent is nearly impossible-regardless of their intentions. Enter groups like Umbrella, who do their best to make up the difference. As a retired senior myself and still working p/t, I am once again, very proud to be part of this organization and will continue to be a handyperson for them for as long as I'm physically able.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Mike Hurley

Recently my Umbrella man wasn't satisfied with the output of mowing my tall grass backyard using my battery operated mower.

So the next day he returned with his gas powered mower and did a terriffic job of eliiminating the tall grass. We were both very pleased with the result.

Don't get me started on talking about Umbrella; I'll never stop. It is impossible to convey the benefits my sister and I [and now I alone] have received from being Umbrella clients. No matter what help we called Umbrella for, our needs were met just about immediately. We could not have asked for more pleasant and capable people willing to give us the help we needed. I have recommended Umbrella to several "older" friends and acquaintances who mentioned needing assistance with something. Every one of those people called me after their own dealings with Umbrella and "staff" with high praise for the service and servicers. cg

I am so grateful for Umbrella. As a recent new homeowner, I know all I have to do is call Umbrella whenever I have a problem with my house or work to be done. All of the handymen are very knowledgable and respectful, and you cannot beat the price. I also love knowing that in the event of an emergency, I can call Umbrella 24 hours/day. That gives me great peace of mind.

As a paid volunteer for Umbrella, I've had the pleasure of meeting many seniors over the past 4 yrs & enjoy greatly doing things to help them, wether it is driving to appts or cleaning, etc. Never realized the needs till I got involved. Wonderful services provided.

I have been with Umbrella since it was first conceived, launched and celebrated.
I felt I had found another brother, a brother who was put here for the express purpose of watching out for me. And, sure enough, it strikes me that way now. It's still here and it's still here to "watch my back. - M. Hatfield

I retired a few years ago but wasnt ready to sit on the couch. I found Umbrella and it sounded intriguing, a far cry from the cubicle world. It has been very rewarding, you can decide what tasks you want to perform, set your own hours and the Clients are SOOOO appreciative of even the little things you do.
One of my most rewarding days was showing up to one Client's house for the first time and smelling an obvious natural gas leak. Luckily it was an outside meter connection. Being a bit elderly, she could not smell the leak. We called the utility, they showed up in minutes , verified the leak and made the repair. That was in Nov '18. It is now Aug '19 and the Client is still thanking me for finding the leak. Now that's a rewarding day.
As for my advice : get off the couch, contact Umbrella, start working a make a difference in someone's life.

I have worked for umbrella since 2004 and have experienced many satisfied customers. Umbrella's ability to match workers with customers is very uncanny.
I thank umbrella for the opportunity to help satisfy their customers.

my husband and i are huge fans of this program, umbrella of the capital district. we have been grateful members for two years and have always been more than happy with the entire process, from calling in a problem that needs fixing to getting it resolved. the people who answer the phones are friendly and efficient, very professional. every one of the workers who has come to the house, including plumbers, electricians, a small engine repair person to basic handy-people have been wonderful. this program is the best -- affordable and extremely helpful in keeping us in our home. i wish my friends and family in other states had this. we sing the praises of this umbrella program all the time.

this is my second year as a volunteer with Umbrella. Umbrella does a world of good serving our seniors. I have developed a handful of weekly members who look forward to seeing me (and I them) every week & truly appreciate the assistance I am able to provide. I usually chit-chat with the folks I am helping for a few minutes before getting to work, usually following up on their week, their families, any concerns I need to be aware of, and catching on on each others jokes. I initially started out mowing lawns, but that quickly developed into all kinds of yard work, staining decks, washing windows, changing light bulbs, hanging bird feeders, and a number of other chores. Chores that have become harder to tackle for our senior citizens. It is truly a warm and wonderful experience for me to know that I am helping people who really need help with basic daily projects we all take for granted. I was looking for a volunteer organization to become involved with when I retired, and a friend referred me to Umbrella, and Umbrella has worked very well for me. The staff at Umbrella is always helpful, the seniors I work with are wonderful, and I truly look forward to my weekly visits helping people move forward with their daily lives while still living in their own homes. I certainly hope to continue with Umbrella for many years to come.

I've been using Umbrella services for over 10 years, since my husband died. I can't do any heavy work due to orthopedic problems. If it wasn't for the services provided by Umbrella, I wouldn't be able to keep up my home.
The people who have provided services are very competent and pleasant. On a rare occasion when I have had a problem with a service person, the issue was resolved by Umbrella promptly.

I find the office personnel very friendly and responsive to any need that I have that the organization is able to provide.

Twice I've had an emergency (water pipe broke) very early in the morning and a plumber was dispatched immediately to take of the situation.

I heard of Umbrella through a neighbor who used the service -- and still does. I have recommended Umbrella services to many others.

My wife and I are trying to stay in our home of almost 50 years and it becomes more difficult as we age. I did most of the upkeep and renovations on my house myself and had my own handyman business for a number of years. But now as I look out my window I see projects and upkeep not being done to health problems.It is very frustrating not to be able to do what you used to do easily. When I heard about Umbrella I met with Brian and soon became a member. They have helped with a number of projects and now I can look out my window and feel pride that my home is being taken care of. The reduced labor cost helps to do things on a fixed income that might not be possible at market priced labor. Umbrella gives us peace of mind we can continue to enjoy our home.

What a great organization! I have volunteered through Umbrella for several years. By providing assistance to those that can't do what seem to be simple tasks, they are helping people remain in the comfort of their homes and not have to move to care facilities.

I have been a supporter of Umbrella for decades. They always had the best fundraisers, using lots of umbrella themes! I rapidly came to the age group that this awesome agency serves. Bingo! With Ron Burns in my kitchen describing the overwhelming task of downsizing, I joined Umbrella with the huge goal of downsizing and selling a two family home, and moving into an accessible apartment to prepare for surgical procedure. I know I will miss many names but I started with a Paul M, and spent hours with Ron H. who so kindly worked with me to empty many closets, attic, and basement of my many “treasures”.
I am now in my fully accessible apartment (no more circular back stairs) to climb. I am sporting a super new hip, and have settled in with the help of Brian M a wonderful carpenter who built me shelves, put in my hand rails, and hung my photos. Thanks to Ty M and Nancy F for their early help. Now working with Ona, who has been delightful in helping me with my new place as I’m still recovering. Thank you all for helping me reach my goal. Lastly the wonderful office staff, Valerie and John always kind and helpful. Filling my request almost within hours.. Thank you all. Maryellen Rudolph

This program is a life changer for myself and my daughter, both disabled. We've been members for a couple years now. Tom is a life saver for yard help and handyman type stuff, while Dan is right on top of those pesky snow falls and keeps our drive and walk ways clear so everyone is safe. We've had house cleaners too, which worked out great. The list of available help we can get is amazing for a nominal yearly fee. We'd be lost without our Umbrella!

My wife and I have been members for about 1 year and have relied on help with snow blowing. Kenny has been very helpful, cordial and reliable. We anticipate using the service for more projects around the house. Highly recommended!!

I am glad i finally signed up with the umbrella.their service is affordable friendly and you can talk about things you may have concerns about and it wil be followed up. I recommend this company to the single women in the community

Umbrella allows me to live well AND within my means, in my lovely home. I am disabled with chronic pain that makes many activities of daily living impossible or extremely difficult.

With no judgment, before I was granted SS disability, Umbrella gave me the lowest membership rate, and sent me a life-saving house cleaner named Sandy. She's been my partner in maintaining my home now for over two years. A retired educator herself (as am I), she's got the strength that I don't have, and for modest recompense, keeps my home lovely. This weekly help, plus lowered rates on plumbers, handi-workers, etc, as needed, means that I can keep up with maintaining the appearance and value of my home. I also have roommates to make ends meet, and with Sandy cleaning all the public areas, that keeps the household running smoothly and pleasantly among us.

Every encounter with Umbrella feels respectful and is helpful. I am treated like a client, not a charity case.

I cannot say enough. I'd been living in a tiny, dull apartment somewhere without their help.

Umbrella was such a good find for me. The first thing they do is send someone to inspect your home. Areas that need attention are pointed out thus avoiding problems that could occur. After that at your request they send people who have been vetted to do jobs around the house. It is reassuring to know you can trust these strangers who come into your home. I tell my friends and family what a comfort it is to be a member of Umbrella.

My wife and I have been clients of Umbrella for many years. The people of Umbrella have helped us through some pretty tough times. They have been there when we needed an exterminator. to building a new front step. We still have Sylvia come once a week to help clean our house. They were very helpful when both my wife and I needed transportation to various Dr. appointments. They have bent over backwards when I was having financial trouble when it came time to pay our yearly dues.

Just became a client several months ago. I use a walker & wheelchair but still drive. Umbrella sent a wonderful woman to help with housework every other week. I plan on asking Umbrella for help with some other odd jobs that are not easy to find reliable, affordable people to come to the house and do. I am impressed with Ron and the office staff I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with. I am amazed at this organization’s effectiveness.

I called Umbrella in a near panic one evening, because the (4) globe lights over the mirror in my lavatory would not shut off, even when the fuse box switch was turned off . The room is small and would be quite hot in a short while, even with the door and window open.
Ron calmed me down, suggested that it was a bad switch and he'd get someone over in the morning to take care of it. In the meantime, I could (with heavy gloves) turn each bulb until it went out. I did. Felt very relieved and thankful, again, that we have an organization like Umbrella for us Seniors in the Capital District.

I have been a member of umbrella for a little more than two years. I am in my early 60's and own my own, two story home. I have some balance and mobility limitations and concerns. I have a very limited income.

I am a widow and my children, although living very close to me and willing to help out as they can, have young families with children all under the age of 3. I find Umbrella to be wonderful as they screen the people to do the work. I have had painting done, primarily...quite a bit of painting both inside and outside. Prior to Umbrella I have had several dealings with unethical and overpriced individuals who were not concerned at all with providing ethical, affordable service.
It is a relief to have workers screened and ready to do the work. Help with housework, vacuuming, washing floors, doing the stairs....moving things downstairs to the basement so I can organize.....and downsize....so many little details...a blessing.
My home has been brought to an acceptable standard because of the efforts of these angels.
It is very difficult to find affordable, reliable, and caring people to help me. I have found affordable, reliable and caring help through Umbrella.

I rely on Umbrella for maintaining my home. If they weren't around I wouldn't be able to keep my home. They are reliable resourceful and friendly. They provide workers at a reasonable rate from mowing grass to helping you finder reliable and cheaper workers to install things like a hot water heater. Their great!

Umbrella has made a great difference in my parents life. They provided services that helped my father with keeping their home up as his health declined. The people who have worked for umbrella have been reliable and kind. I recommend them highly and I'm thankful to Ron for his leadership.

Sincerely

JimHale

I was extremely impressed with the quality of treatment and work I received through Umbrella during 2018. Richie was very clear and efficient about the steps we would be going through to add a small bathroom to my house. I was pleased with promptness and results. Also, I had Morgan here to help me with a faucet replacement and a few other things I probably would have wrecked if I'd tried them myself. She knows what she is doing, is honest and worthy of the highest recommendation.

Been member of umbrella for 4 years. Able to find help with umbrella for many issues related to cleaning plumbing etc

I have been a member for over 10 years. At first, I infrequently used services because my macualar degeneration did not cause loss of vision. But gradually, I did use driving services for evening events because since 2011 I did not drive after dusk. Then in 2016 I realized that my driving days were over and have used the service for doctor appointments, shopping, meeting friends. I also have used their home inspection service and these have given me invaluable advice for maintenance and repairs to my home. I will be using their handyman services and expect to rely on the wonderful volunteers who offer a vast variety of support and help to seniors like me. Thank goodness for Umbrella. They are dependable and reliable.

I regard Umbrella as the best and cheapest insurance in town. For only $315 a year I know that in an emergency that help is just a phone call away -- 24 hours a day -- and that the Umbrella repair person will arrive at my home within 90 minutes. In addition to this wonderful gurantee, which is very comforting, I have often called upon Umbrella for the annoying problems other services aren't willing to handle or advice on larger issues. I have been a member for several years and have recommended Umbrella to many others. I plan to continue to be a member as long as I am "aging in place."

I am a senior citizen with COPD. Anytime I have a need for repair in my home Umbrella has always been there with assistance in a timely manner. The people who work for Umbrella are honest and wonderful. It is an incredible feeling to know whenever you need help whether it is a home repair or other assistance it it a phone call away. I really wonder if other areas in the country has any organization similar for its seniors and handicapped people. I feel that this type of service should be available all over America. The people at Umbrella have been wonderful. Thank-you so much. Barbara Carter

Umbrella of the Capital District helps seniors and persons with disabilities live comfortably and safely in their own homes by providing low cost home maintenance and a variety of personal services. They help them keep the two things they cherish most . . . their homes and their independence. It is an exceptional program that meets the need of seniors and persons with disabilities to remain self-sufficient in their own homes.

I have known Umbrella for around 4 years in a business capacity and now serve on their board. The work they do for seniors in helping them to stay in their homes and enjoy a better life style is amazing. The dedication of the executive directors is inspiring as is the volunteer help given by so many. I have been in the homes of some of the people they have helped and have witnessed first hand the great work that Umbrella do. There is such a great need in the communities they serve and Umbrella deserve and need all the help they can get. Their work in the community is outstanding and needs to be expanded as much as possible.

Umbrella has helped me a great deal. I have arthritis and am unable to do many of the things that need to be done. Whether getting the house ready for the change of seasons, or doing odd jobs that I can't do anymore. They are just a phone call away. I have one worker whom I know and trust. He can do almost anything, so I always ask for him. Some of my friends have gone to "maintenance free" condos. I have my own "maintenance free" living, and am able to stay in my house.

Umbrella has been a real life saver for me. The Handymen are great, and they have a Plumber who is quite simply a Genius. I would not be able to remain in my Home without their Help. Thank You for Being There.

"Umbrella" has the goal of providing low cost services to handicapped and older community members so that they can remain independent and stay in their own homes. This is accomplished by organizing a large number of volunteers who are able to almost any service that a client can no longer do for themselves. Based on my own experiences and observations, "Umbrella" is achieving this goal for the clients that have availed themselves of these services.

My wife and I are both disabled and doing basic chures around our home is difficult. Umbrella provides workers to help us do the basic jobs about our home such as cleaning our the raingutters. Umbrella also provides plumbers and electricians at a discounted rate that help make maintaining our home affordable. Umbrella has made it possible for us to stay in our home.

Umbrella has helped me maintain my independence in my home, the house keeper is lovely and helps me to do the things I can't do on my own very well any more.For larger problems like maintaining my heating system, I have great confidence in Umbrella directing me to the service provider I need. over the years Umbrella has been a great comfort to me.

We have been members of Umbrella for at least a 15 years and have used many of their services. Not just the workers who have mowed, raked, gardened, painted, and cleaned, but also the plumbers, and electricians. During this time we have had many differenet workers come to the house. They have all been friendly and have done their assigned tasks in the alloted time. Considering that they are paid a rather minimal hourly rate their dedication to their tasks is joy to see. It is also a great comfort to know that if we are not satisfied with the work all we have to do is call the Umbrella office for help. The office staff has also been very helpful and understanding. Over the years as we have had to have more help we have been very greatful that Umbrella is available to us.

I have been a customer of Umbrella for over four years. Umbrella of the Capital District provides an array of services which allow Seniors and People with Disabilities to maintain their own homes. Umbrella has supported my independence through allowing me to hire volunteers to support general home repair, grocery shopping, lawn care, snow removal, home repair screenings, and a number of other services. Via a modest Membership due, I have been able to be a part of my own community, receive needed supports, which has afforded me almost complete independence despite mobility issues.

I am a quadriplegic homeowner who has been a member for several years. It wasn't until I started to write this review that I realized just how important Umbrella is to my quality of life. Umbrella cleans my house, takes care of my lawn, has fixed plumbing emergencies, repaired doors and windows, painted, helped me find reliable contractor to fix my roof.. the list goes on. As a wheelchair user who loves the independence of living in my own house but simply can't do many of the things necessary to maintain a home, I rely on Umbrella to keep me safe and secure. One of the best things about the organization is that they know each of their members personally and care about how they are doing. That is pretty extraordinary!

I am an electrical contractor and I became affiliated with Umbrella two years ago when a friend of mine, who is a member of Umbrella, told me about their organization. I called their offices and met with Ron to get more information. I was immediately impressed by Ron's passion to keep senior citizens and people with disabilities from having to leave their own homes and enter a caring facility. Their program is wonderful, it allows seniors and disabled people to stay in their homes with peace of mind that their needs will be met with honest reputable workers at reasonable prices. Umbrella's interview process was thorough, and feedback from their clients, both positive and negative, is addressed right away. The staff, volunteers and workers are freindly outgoing people, and like myself, love to talk with the members while working in their homes. For some clients this may be their only social experience for some time, and it is apparent how much they enjoy the opportunity to chat. I feel that our services (as affiliates) provide more than just the completion of projects that they require, but it is a friendship and trust, as many will request a specific worker to return again in the future. I am honored to work for Umbrella, and I am relieved that as I approach my sunset years in life, I may one day need, and be able to rely on Umbrella to meet my needs.

I joined Umbrella after I retired in 1995. They interviewed me to make sure I was trustworthy and that impressed me. Over the years I have helped many people(old, disabled,or just mechanically inept) by making simple repairs in there homes. It might be as simple as the reset button on a GFI outlet or a new battery in a phone. Without Umbrella these people would be forced to call an electrician.

In 2009, Civic Ventures awarded Umbrella of the Capital District an Encore Opportunity Award for providing meaningful, paid work to people 50+. Out of over 100 applicants, Umbrella was one of eight winners. What's innovative about Umbrella's model is that it matches older adult clients with their peers - fellow older adults pursuing their encore careers - with the end goal of keeping clients living independently in their homes, longer. Umbrella is a terrific organization with a sustainable model.

I am 80 years old and a retired Union College professor. With the recent death of my wife of 46 years I now live alone in a rural setting that I love very much but which challenges my maintenance abilities. With the appearance of my Umbrella associate I have regained the freedom basic to travel and keeping my social and professional network intact. It is wondrous to me that Umbrella could find a person who lives near me who has the diversity of skills to both assist and advise on matters needing attention. I consider Umbrella one of the great social inventions of our region! Carl J. George, Glenville