Neighbors help neighbors

New American, The, Dec 11, 2006 by Warren Mass

Vincent Altamuro is a resident of Holiday City Carefree in Berkeley Township, New Jersey, which bills itself as "an active young senior community." When the retired college professor, who did his doctoral work in engineering at New York University and subsequently studied law at Fordham University, saw a need among his fellow residents, he took action.

Several years ago, Altamuro observed many of his Holiday City Carefree neighbors having difficulty with everyday tasks such as replacing smoke-alarm batteries, getting Christmas decorations down from their attics, or even turning their mattresses. In response, the retiree conceived a plan. He founded FreeCare--a neighborhelp-neighbor organization.

"It's a free handyman service, really," Altamuro told the Asbury Park Press. "We do chores for people who can't do those chores themselves. We have people who answer the phones, like dispatchers for police, and then match up what's needed to be done with people who can do it."

Isabella Yadvish, who volunteers as a FreeCare dispatcher and is a friend of Altamuro, told the Press: "Vincent wanted to make a statement about helping people on fixed incomes, people who can't afford to hire help and who can't wait for an agency or relative to arrive. He saw a need for it in our community and he acted. He's a very compassionate man; he simply can't say no to anyone."

Altamuro also established The Vincent Altamuro Foundation, which supports the American Cancer Society, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the Make-a-Wish Foundation, and other charities, especially those that help children.

"They call me, and I give donations directly to children in need, something to help them get their minds off their problems," he told the Press.