Frequently Asked SBP VILLAGE Questions
What is a Village?
A village is a grassroots organization where members of a community band together to support one another. Every village is different, and village members decide what types of benefits to offer.
What are the benefits of being a member of SBP Village?
Support - volunteer assistance for neighbors needing help with tasks like heavy lifting, transportation to appointments, recovery meals during a loss or illness, friendly visits for those living alone, technology assistance, home/plant/pet care while out of town, etc.
Belonging - a multitude of social, cultural, educational, and wellness events such as Happy Hours, Exercise Classes, Consumer Protection, Comedy Nights, Estate Planning, Game Nights, Village Voices, Axe Throwing, Dining Out, Line Dancing, Language Clubs, Brain Health, Nature Hikes, etc. If village members are interested, we can offer it!
Purpose - opportunities to make a difference in the lives of others by volunteering to help your neighbors, to share talents with others, and to find friends with similar interests/hobbies.
Do I need to be a certain age to join the village?
No! Unlike many senior-only villages, SBP Village is multigenerational. We offer a range of social, educational, and wellness programs and interest groups. All adult residents of Strathmore Bel Pre community are welcome and encouraged to join.
How much does it cost?
Contrary to most villages in the county and around the country, which charge anywhere from $25 to $650 a year for membership, SBP Village offers all memberships at NO COST TO MEMBERS.
How is SBP Village able to operate without dues?
Our village benefits from the generosity of several individuals and organizations:
While many villages hire and compensate staff, SBP Village is managed entirely by neighborhood volunteers.
Montgomery County Villages Consortium, Inc., a 501c3 nonprofit funded by grants from the state and county, provides our insurance and enables SBP Village to accept tax-deductible donations as a fiscally-sponsored program.
Village Support Network, another nonprofit dedicated to supporting developing villages in Montgomery County, is helping with our first year of monthly technology costs as well as funding for branding and marketing materials.
Village Rides, a nonprofit division of the Jewish Commission on Aging, generously reimburses SBP volunteers for background checks and provides additional training and marketing materials.
Tax-deductible Donations are welcome: payable to MoCo Villages Consortium (MCVC) with SBP Village on memo line.
What personal information is being collected and why?
For its customer relationship management system, SBP Village utilizes village-specific software designed by a cyber- security expert who prides himself on safeguarding personally identifiable information (PII). Certain demographic information is asked to better understand and meet the needs of members; however, each member may opt not to disclose their data. Some village data will be aggregated and used for county impact reports and grant applications, but this type of information is reported only collectively and not linked to specific members. Only the Village Director, Membership, and Volunteer Coordinators have access to detailed personal information.