FAQ

Phone: 202-656-7322

East Rock Creek Village is volunteer-managed. Phone hours are 8am to 8pm Sunday through Saturday. If you get a voicemail recording, please leave a message. Your call will be returned within 24 hours.

E-mail: [email protected] or send a note through this website

This email address may be used for ALL MESSAGES including service requests.

Website: www.eastrockcreekvillage.org
Social Media: ERCV Facebook Page, YouTube channel

Mailing address: ERCV, 7707 13th Street NW, Washington, DC 20012

ERCV includes the neighborhoods of Brightwood, Colonial Villages, Manor Park, North Portal Estates, Shepherd Park and Takoma DC. View our map.

Residents 50 years of age and older in the neighborhoods listed above may become members with the payment of an annual membership dues. Volunteers need not be members; they must over age 18 and can live in any neighborhood but must be trained and vetted as Village volunteers.

Members, volunteers, and guests are welcome to attend all ERCV sponsored health and wellness, social, and educational activities, as well as some programming offered by other metro-DC Villages. Only ERCV members are eligible for services.

• Become an East Rock Creek Village member.
• Join ERCV as a volunteer to provide services.
• Join a committee to help behind the scenes.
• Become a Donor to support ERCV’s mission!

No, we are neighbors helping neighbors. We are a community of members who live at home in either Brightwood, Colonial Villages, Manor Park, North Portal Estates, Shepherd Park or Takoma DC in the District of Columbia’s Ward 4. We are NOT a real estate development company or retirement community.

It’s a brilliant idea that has become a nation-wide movement for aging at home with dignity. Technically, the Village model consists of self-governing, grassroots, community-based organizations with a mission of enabling people to remain in their homes as they age. ERCV is part of that national movement – organized Villages in cities and towns to assist seniors with “aging in place.”

East Rock Creek Village is not a precise physical location. It refers to a community of neighbors in Brightwood, Colonial Villages, Manor Park, North Portal Estates, Shepherd Park and Takoma DC in the District of Columbia. We use the term “Village” to describe a group of people who share a common goal to support each other socially, emotionally, and physically.

To find out if there’s a Village near you or for more information on how to start one, please visit the DACL website and their map showing all DC Villages. The Village to Village Network lists hundreds of other Villages across the nation.

The Village creates opportunities for adults to connect, make new friends, and participate in social activities. But some of our members need some help to continue to live independently in their own homes in our community. That’s where our volunteers come in. Volunteers are the heart of our Village. You allow us to meet the needs of our neighbors in their homes. While our members receive much-needed assistance, many volunteers will tell you that it is they who receive the biggest reward, as their help creates life-enriching connections.

Volunteer assistance includes:

• Rides to doctors, cultural events, and other destinations
• Grocery shopping and delivery,
• Help with small household chores, lawn care, and yard tasks
• Social visits and conversation
• Help with cell phones and other gadgets as a trained Technology Coach
• Medical note-taking
• Respite for caregivers
• Help the Village behind the scenes, writing for the newsletter, assist with mailings and other administrative work
• Create and/or manage social activities and events
• Become a volunteer leader serving on planning committees or the Board of Directors
• Participate in social and cultural activities, meeting neighbors, making new friends

As a volunteer, you decide when you are available and the kind of assistance you can provide. Time commitments can range upward from an hour, depending on what you agree to do. You create your own schedule. We understand you have a life. It is ok to say “no” when being asked to fulfill a service request. If you choose to stop volunteering with ERCV, just let us know.

We welcome individuals over age 18 from all backgrounds and abilities and we will work with you to identify the way you are best able to assist our members. All volunteers must pass a background check and attend a training session that focuses on best practices and ways to assist our members. Volunteers who provide transportation must also provide a copy of their driver’s license, vehicle registration, and car insurance. You can attend a group training session, or we can arrange personal training at a convenient time. Volunteers do not need to be ERCV members or live in our service area.

It’s up to you. Some volunteers like meeting a variety of members, while others particularly enjoy building a deeper relationship through regular contact with one member.

Absolutely, and we can’t operate without you. ERCV is a volunteer-managed Village. Volunteers assist with every aspect of the Village: coordinating services, planning events, writing or editing the Village Voice newsletter, update our website or social media, doing outreach for membership and volunteers, speaking at community events and serving on the Board of Directors. Let us know your skills and preferences and we’ll be happy to match you to the right position.

Members are eligible for services performed by ERCV’s vetted and trained volunteers, including rides to medical appointments, grocery shopping and delivery, small household chores, and technical assistance, as well as consultations with our Village MSW Case Manager to assess needs & opportunities.

Yes. There are some requests that require certain expertise, tools, equipment, or access to other resources that our volunteers simply do not have. East Rock Creek Village volunteers cannot provide home health care services. When a project request is beyond the scope of what our volunteers are capable of, we may be able to help members find a provider. We contract with a social worker who is available to assess need, help find additional resources and work with members when needed.

All ERCV volunteers undergo a background check and attend a training. Volunteers who provide transportation must also provide a copy of their driver’s license, vehicle registration, and car insurance.