Supporting Local Seniors During COVID-19

One woman spearheads rapid response group

Leah Sakacs is the coordinator of Retired Senior Volunteer Program Mahoning and Trumbull Counties (RSVP). In addition to that position, and her work with the League of Women Voters, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and many other community groups, Leah found time to head up an ad hoc pandemic response group—the Senior Support Action Group (SSAG).

As the lead organizer, Leah pulled together multiple organizations and dozens of volunteers to create SSAG, which supports seniors and immunocompromised residents who are home-bound because of COVID-19. Working with SCOPE Senior Center, Shepherd of the Valley, RSVP, and other organizations, SSAG recruits and mobilizes donations and volunteers to meet critical needs. Leah directs this volunteer network in delivering meals, bags of food, medication, toiletries, and personal protective equipment (PPE). On top of that, the Senior Support Action Group provides transportation to medical appointments and coordinates Phone Pals to keep seniors feeling cared for and connected.

One of the first groups to come together to fill gaps, SSAG meets the needs of and supports seniors, a population particularly impacted by COVID-19. This network will hopefully continue to be a resource to help overcome barriers to food access and transportation in Mahoning and Trumbull Counties as the work shifts from crisis response to ensuring long-term safety and health of seniors and other vulnerable neighbors in our community.

Leah has truly stepped up to lead during this crisis. She is a shining example of how to take professional skills and a personal passion to help people and move quickly to action. Leah has been a Woman Warrior on the front lines of the coronavirus health crisis, and her passion and the network she’s created with SSAG will help our community make it through this #Together.