By Kate Hill
Staff Writer
This fall, the New York State Office for the Aging recognized Cazenovia resident Beverly Thorp for her outstanding volunteer contributions.
Thorp was named the winner of “The New York State Senate’s Outstanding Contribution by an Older New Yorker” award during a Nov. 17 virtual event.
Presented in celebration of Older New Yorkers’ Day, which traditionally takes place each May in Albany, the event honored 87 individuals from 49 counties who volunteer their time and energy to more than 460 different organizations throughout the year.
Thorp, 84, has been working to improve the Cazenovia community for almost half a century.
“She has been a giver her entire life,” said Theresa Richardson, Thorp’s daughter. “[She started] at a young age delivering food to the poor that was harvested from her family’s farm . . . Mom is a wonderful support to her entire family and a role model in so many ways: love, kindness, giving, sharing.”
Thorp is a member of the board of directors for Community Resources for Independent Seniors (CRIS), a member of the Cazenovia Area Senior Association (CASA), a charter and lifetime member of the Cazenovia Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps (CAVAC), treasurer of the local chapter of Philanthropic Educational Opportunities, and a lector, usher, money counter, and funeral committee member at St. James Catholic Church. She also conducts a prayer service at the Crouse Community Adult Day Care Center in Cazenovia.
“Over the years she has served on many committees at St. James,” said Richardson. “Since COVID-19 started she has been sending cards and letters to the shut-in parishioners. She also makes and sends over 500 greeting cards a year for birthdays, anniversaries, get well, sympathy or just a note to brighten someone’s day.”
Additionally, Thorp is an RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) Bone Builders facilitator at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. Offered through the Madison County Office for the Aging, Bone Builders is a research-based educational exercise program designed to help seniors prevent and alleviate osteoporosis and improve their general fitness.
Pre-pandemic, Thorp and a friend distributed unsellable flower bouquets donated by Tops in Cazenovia. The pair separated the flowers into smaller bouquets and delivered them to the Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing Home in Chittenango while visiting with residents.
Thorp was born and raised in Minoa, where she met her husband, Bob. After getting married, the couple moved to Erieville and Bob began managing a farm. They eventually relocated to Cazenovia, where Bob worked as a carpenter and kept bees on the side. He later combined his bees with an apple orchard to start a new business, Thorp Apiary. Thorp managed the books and assisted with honey production. Today, she continues to bottle the honey and help with the marketing.
In May 2020, Thorp was named Madison County Older Volunteer of the Year.
On Nov. 24, Senator Rachel May presented Thorp with a proclamation from the New York State Senate recognizing her as Older New Yorker of the Year.
“I am very honored to be chosen, first [by Madison County] and now [by the state],” Thorp said. “Helping others has always been an important part of my life. It is so rewarding to know that I am making a difference in someone’s life, if only in some small way. I am blessed to be able to help others in so many ways. Good things always come back to you.”
To view the Older New Yorkers’ Day Celebration 2020, visit youtube.com.
