The Chore Service helps elderly and handicapped residents of Canaan, Cornwall, Falls Village, Kent, Norfolk, Salisbury and Sharon with household chores, home maintenance, errands and, occasionally, transportation. The purpose of the program is to help people stay at home safely and independently. The Chore Service also provides jobs for local workers. Client contributions are supplemented by a federal grant as well as donations from towns, churches, charitable funds and individuals so that the program can remain affordable for our target population of fixed low-income families.

Client contributions provide more than half of our budget. Although our federal grant (provided through Older Americans Act funding by the Western Connecticut Area Agency on Aging) subsidizes all clients age sixty and over regardless of income, anyone may use the service. We are particularly anxious to serve younger disabled low-income people.

Our actual expenses are about $20 an hour. Clients who can contribute this amount (or more!) will help make up the shortfall of those who contribute less. So that we can serve everyone who needs help, we have set a limit of 18 hours of service per client per month, but are happy to discuss possible exceptions.

Suggested Client Contribution
Clients pay the Chore Service, not their workers.
Suggested guidelines (2010) are:

If your monthly income is higher than the above, we hope you will consider contributing an appropriate amount to help fund the program.

How are workers paid?
The Time Sheet, a two-part form, should be signed by the client. The worker sends the white copy to our office, and the client sends the yellow copy to us with the contribution. The Chore Service pays workers $13.25 an hour (plus mileage) regardless of the amount of the contribution. We appreciate receiving Time Sheets and contributions as soon as is convenient.

Thank you for using the Chore Service!