REAL Services

Real Services has the responsibility of planning, developing, implementing and administering a network of services that are of high standards, are known, available, and used by older adults and low-income households in our area, based on their age and/or economic status.

The ultimate objective of REAL Services is to assist in establishing a community in which those we serve can maintain their independence to the maximum degree possible and find meaning and satisfaction throughout their lives.

REAL Services was created in May of 1966 as part of a planning division of United Way. The purpose was to develop a service network designed to meet the needs of older adults in St. Joseph County. Interviewers were hired to go door-to-door with questionnaires targeted at the elderly. The project was to determine the immediate needs of the elderly and to refer them to health, welfare, employment, housing, legal aid and other community services. Today, REAL services has many faces, the Meals on Wheels program, the Lunch and Learn programs designed for the Caregivers, we offer Energy Assistance, Nutritional sites, Guardianship and Ombudsman Advocates, Home Respite Companions, Family Development programs, Adult Protective Services, the Older Adult Crime Victim program, Weatherization, Volunteer Programs and intern opportunities and many more . We continue to develop as needs arise. REAL Services now covers 5 counties of Indiana, St. Joseph, Elkhart, Kosciusko, Marshall and LaPorte.

SPRING CLEAN UP invites groups to clean gutters, rake up winter debris, wash windows, and haul out the lawn furniture, clean homes, closets, garages. Days are optional and flexible!
PAINTING DAZE! We provide the paint and supplies, you provide the labor! Help seniors to paint their homes, inside and out, paint garages, stain ramps, all painting projects. Days are flexible!
FALL CLEAN UP! Join students from all over the 5 counties to rake and clean yards, put away the summer furniture, wash windows, clean up what the summer leaves behind!
FRIENDLY VISITORS! Make a new friend! You can bring joy to someone who has a lot to offer, share stories, enjoy conversation, watch a game, and trade a joke! Volunteering here can be fun!
BE A HANDYMAN! Bring your repair skills, we need not only professional electricians, plumbers, and tradesman, we need someone who knows how to use a screwdriver or sling a paintbrush.
PROVIDE ENTERTAINMENT at a nutrition site! Let your group sing, bring your talents and entertain while the seniors enjoy a nutritious meal, offer to help set up, serve food or clean up!
LEND YOUR CLERICAL SKILLS to the agency for special projects!
ANY SKILL WILL DO! Volunteer

PAINTING DAZE! We provide the paint and supplies, you provide the labor! Help seniors to paint their homes, inside and out, paint garages, stain ramps, all painting projects. Days are flexible!

FALL CLEAN UP! Join students from all over the 5 counties to rake and clean yards, put away the summer furniture, wash windows, clean up what the summer leaves behind!

FRIENDLY VISITORS! Make a new friend! You can bring joy to someone who has a lot to offer, share stories, enjoy conversation, watch a game, trade a joke! Volunteering here can be fun!

BE A HANDYMAN! Bring your repair skills, we need not only professional electricians, plumbers, tradesman, we need someone who knows how to use a screwdriver or paintbrush.

Provide entertainment at a nutrition site! Let your group sing, bring your talents and entertain while the seniors enjoy a nutritious meal, offer to help set up, serve food or clean up!

Lend your clerical skills to the agency for special projects!

Since the beginning, REAL Services has been reaching out to serve the elderly and disabled in our communities. Today due to an increasing population of frail elderly and disabled individuals, families unable to meet the rising cost of their care and the continuing depletion of government funding, those in need must wait for formal services. This agency is committed to assisting families with informal services through the generous talents of volunteers. Our volunteers are caring people who want to make a difference in the lives of the elderly and disabled, and in our community.  Please contact us today to discuss the many volunteer opportunities that are available for an individual, a family, your school or church group or you and your neighbors!  Please call our Volunteer Coordinators Glinda Nicodemus at 574-284-7138 or Dee Pasternak at 574-284-7150 today!