If Facebook Can't Help, Maybe Social Security Can

By Elizabeth Wertime
Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Albany, NY

Last night I was thrilled to reconnect with my childhood best friend on Facebook. Since I joined Facebook several months ago, I have been able to reconnect with long lost friends from my alma mater, North Warren Central School. Such surprise connections can be fun and conjure up memories of times forgotten. But what if you have a more serious situation and you need to locate a particular person? Perhaps Social Security can help.

Social Security is in the business of paying benefits, not reconnecting people. But, in some cases, we will do what we can to help.

We will attempt to forward a letter to a missing person under circumstances involving a matter of great importance, such as a death or serious illness in the missing person's immediate family, or a sizeable amount of money that is due the missing person. Also, the circumstances must concern a matter about which the missing person is unaware and would undoubtedly want to be informed.

In less dire cases, such as when a son, daughter, brother or sister want to establish contact, we will write to the missing person, rather than forwarding a letter.

Because this service is not related in any way to a Social Security program, its use must be limited so that it does not interfere with our regular program activities.

There is no charge for forwarding letters that have a humanitarian purpose. However, we must charge a $25 fee to cover our costs when the letter is to inform the missing person of money or property due. This fee is not refundable. The fee should be paid by a check made payable to the Social Security Administration.

We must read each letter we forward to ensure that it contains nothing that could prove embarrassing to the missing person if read by a third party. Letters should be in plain, unstamped, unsealed envelopes showing only the missing person's name. Nothing of value should be enclosed.

To try to locate an address in our records, we’ll need the missing person's Social Security number or identifying information such as date and place of birth, father's name, and the mother's full birth name.

Unless a missing person is receiving benefits under a program Social Security administers, we would not have a home address for them. Usually, we forward a letter in care of the employer who most recently reported earnings for the person.

Requests for letter forwarding should be sent to:

Social Security Administration
Letter Forwarding
P.O. Box 33022
Baltimore, MD 21290-3022

Learn more about this service at:
www.socialsecurity.gov/foia/html/ltrfwding.htm

August Blood Drives

Sullivan Trail Chapter Red Cross AUGUST, 2009 Blood Drives

1. August 10 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Tyrone Fire Department, 3600 State Route 226, Tyrone;
2. August 21 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Schuyler Hospital, 220 Steuben St., Montour Falls;
3. August 26 from 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Montour Moose Lodge, 2096 St. Rt.14, Montour Falls;

OUT OF THE 107,000 PEOPLE IN CHEMUNG AND SCHUYLER COUNTY, ONLY 3,867 DONATE BLOOD. PLEASE HELP US RECRUIT AND RETAIN BLOOD DONORS.

For Chemung and Schuyler County
From July 1, 2009 through August 31, 2009, all presenting donors will receive a coupon for a free carton of Friendly’s Ice Cream, redeemable at participating Friendly’s restaurants. Coupons expire September 30, 2009. Tax additional where applicable.

To make an appointment to donate blood, all current eligible and new donors may:

• Call the local Sullivan Trail Red Cross Chapter House at 734-3317 days
• Call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543)
• Email betsy@redcrosselmira.org
• www.donatebloodnow.org nights and weekends

Anyone 17 years or older, weighing at least 110 pounds and in general good health may be eligible to donate blood. In New York State, 16-year-olds may donate blood provided they bring an original signed New York State Informed Parental Consent form for a 16-Year-Old to Donate Whole Blood. Appointments encouraged, walk-ins welcome and Identification is required.

Phone Number Change

The contract with Verizon for the RSVP phone number 315-694-1081 has expired and therefore been disconnected. RSVP will not be entering into a new contract until the 2010 budget and revenue figures are finalized. We regret any inconvenience this may cause our Yates County volunteers and stations. Thank you for your patience in this regard.

Happy Fourth of July!

We wish you all a happy and safe holiday!

Paid Employment Opportunity at Finger Lakes National Forest

Please note this is NOT an RSVP assignment, but a paid position.

The Finger Lakes National Forest in Hector, NY has openings for an Information Receptionist, 20 hours per week, through the Senior Employment Program. Receptionist duties include greeting visitors, answering phones, retail sales, and administrative support. Must have good customer service skills and knowledge of the local area. The Senior Employment Program helps income eligible individuals who are 55 and older enter/re-enter the workforce by providing 20 hours of paid community service with non-profit and public agencies while continuing to actively look for work. Call Pro-Action of Steuben and Yates at 607-776-2125 for information.

Again, this is not and RSVP activity.

July Blood Drives

Local blood drives will be held on:

Monday, July 6 from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at BPOE Elks Lodge, 300 North Madison Ave, Watkins Glen.

Tuesday, July 14 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Schuyler County Human Services, 323 Owego St., Montour Falls.

For Chemung and Schuyler County
From July 1, 2009 through August 31, 2009, all presenting donors will receive a coupon for a free carton of Friendly’s Ice Cream, redeemable at participating Friendly’s restaurants. Coupons expire September 30, 2009. Tax additional where applicable.

To make an appointment to donate blood, all current eligible and new donors may:

• Call the local Sullivan Trail Red Cross Chapter House at 734-3317 days
• Call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543)
• Email betsy@redcrosselmira.org
• www.donatebloodnow.org nights and weekends.

Anyone 17 years or older, weighing at least 110 pounds and in general good health may be eligible to donate blood. In New York State, 16-year-olds may donate blood provided they bring an original signed New York State Informed Parental Consent form for a 16-Year-Old to Donate Whole Blood. Appointments encouraged, walk-ins welcome and Identification is required.

Tutoring Now Available at Montour Falls Library

Do you need help with Reading, Basic Math, Computer Familiarization?? The Library now has the Computer Learner Aztec Tutorial on line. Chuck Tarshus, a volunteer Literacy Tutor, will be at the library Tuesday and Thursday evenings to assist others from 6-8 p.m. starting Tuesday, July 7th 2009.

Habitat for Humanity Is In Need of Volunteers

Habitat for Humanity in Penn Yan is looking for volunteers to assist with their current project. The house is located across from the court house in Penn Yan and they need volunteers with a variety of skills. Some of the tasks that need completing are: trash removal, demolition, and renovation. Skills needed: general carpentry, electrical knowledge, plumbing, painting, cleaning, and landscape work (shrub removal, lawn care). The also need someone to provide coffee break snacks and Saturday lunches. They typically work on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8:30 to mid-afternoon. They would be grateful for any help you can give and are flexible with the number of hours you can provide.

Please contact me via email (JLG228@cornell.edu) or phone (315-694-1081) if you may be interested in helping with this very rewarding volunteer activity!

- Jen

Literacy Volunteers Still In Need of Tutors and Receptionists

The Literacy Volunteers program in Yates County is looking for volunteers to help tutor adult students. They are also looking for individuals to cover their reception desk.

Click here for more details. (Adobe Reader required)

Interested? Give me a call!

- Jen

607-535-7105
JLG228@cornell.edu

Historical Society Needs Docents, Receptionists

The Schuyler County Historical Society is looking for volunteers willing to answer their phone, greet visitors and give a short 15-minute tour of the museum.

Click here for more details. (Adobe Reader required)

Interested? Give me a call!

- Jen

607-535-7105
JLG228@cornell.edu