Caring Neighbors History
(2016 to 2024)

In 2016, Anne Bosler, who lives in the Village of Hadley with her husband Ed, thought about a New Year’s Resolution. She came up with a doozy! She would start an organization in The Villages similar to a service provided by their church. She would assist her fellow Village of Hadley neighbors with what they needed to make their life easier. Sometimes that meant getting a ride to the doctor’s office, walking the dog as they recover from knee surgery, relieving a caregiver for a short respite—all free of charge. The idea caught on. In that first year, the “Hadley Caring Neighbors” evolved from a handful of volunteers whose mission was to see who in the neighborhood needed help or even just provide company through a phone call or a visit.

The Caring Neighbors program was structured to protect both the volunteer and the neighbor-client. All volunteers are background checked and all clients are assessed and must agree to relinquish their right to sue in the event there is an accident while they are receiving services. There are guidelines to ensure volunteers follow the same procedures and know what to do in the event of an emergency. The program was organized so that the same volunteer is not constantly asked for assistance. Volunteers are never put on the spot. When a neighbor calls for assistance, an email containing pertinent information is sent to all the volunteers in that Village. The volunteer who can fill that request RESPONDS TO ALL and then calls the neighbor to schedule the service. Everyone then knows that the request is filled and they can delete the email.

In the beginning to recruit both volunteers and clients, this spirited, passionate, energetic Caring Neighbor founder would stand outside of the neighborhood mailboxes with a sign that read “Ask me about Hadley Caring Neighbors.” Inquire they did and so the program grew to 30 volunteers who would call and visit, give rides and perform many other acts of kindness. Initially, funding was provided by Lake and Sumter County United Way thus allowing us to provide a dedicated phone number for service calls and then to print and distribute brochures in the community. In the first full year of operation, volunteers logged 237 hours of service.

In 2018, growing from the Village of Hadley, the program spread to Summerhill, followed by Buttonwood and Fenney Area. Volunteers logged over 600 service hours throughout the year. Again, transportation, respite care, dog walking and temporary meals topped the list of needs. Each Caring Neighbors Group formed with the same intention: to make life easier.

A neighborhood social event in 2019 called Snacks N Facts created a setting for neighbors to meet and greet the team and ask questions to learn about the organization. These events are currently held about once or twice a year in Villages that have the Caring Neighbors Program. Through these events, Caring Neighbors has recruited more volunteers and service-needing neighbors. Indefatigable, Anne Bosler, stepped down as the Director of Hadley Caring Neighbors to spend her time forming new groups.

Still going but the momentum slowed with Covid-19 making the scene. It restricted or closed many services but Hadley Caring Neighbors and Summerhill Caring Neighbors tried to provide transportation services by figuring out a way to maintain social distancing. This is time when fear was rampant and services were needed the most.

During 2021-2022, Polo Ridge, Santo Domingo and Tall Trees joined the network expanding the program; however, all was not rosy as they met the challenge of losing their funding. The United Way’s financial support was halted. Never say never, Anne with the help of a few friends found a way to keep going.

2023 was a busy year. Not only did Caring Neighbors become a 501c3 non-profit, they also began fundraising to provide supplies and printing to advertise their cause. All the while, still expanding with new Caring Neighbors Groups in Hemingway, Ashland and DeLuna.

Another initiative this year was Team Startup, a group of volunteers who will assist Anne to get the program started in new Villages. Amelia and El Cortez are in the first phase of organization. With over 200 volunteers in eleven Villages, volunteers with special talents are coming on board: grant writers, web designers, media specialists, and others. As the word about the Caring Neighbors Program spreads and with generous publicity from The Daily Sun newspaper, we expect the program to continue to spread throughout The Villages helping to fulfill Anne Bosler’s dream which still is loud and clear:

“My goal is one day to have Caring Neighbors in every Village in The Villages.”