031 Paulette Broadbent–Sewing American Girl Doll Outfits
American Dolls–Recipients of One-of-a-Kind Handmade Outfits
Paulette Broadbent isn’t your average seamstress. She has been sewing since she was twelve years old. Her grandmother and mother knew this seemingly “lost art” might be a worthy hobby for a young girl. It wasn’t long before Paulette was using her babysitting money to buy patterns and material to create clothes for herself as well as Raggedy Ann dolls and robes for her family!
Paulette’s passion for creating led her to sew her wedding dress and years later numerous dresses for her daughter and tiny clothes for her Barbie doll. With the granddaughters came a new opportunity. To the delight of the girls, their American Girl dolls are now the recipients of Grandma’s one-of-a-kind outfits.
But Paulette doesn’t just sew to benefit her own family. She also creates and donates doll clothes to churches for their silent auction fundraising. Additionally, she sells the special outfits and tithes the income. The remaining money helps keep her sewing more!
For more about coming podcasts, sign up for Ed’s free Retire-To newsletter: retire-to.com/ed-s-newsletter and visit retiretovolunteering.com.
030 Everett Davis–Bookkeeping & Morgan Scott
Two Different Ways of “Doing Good for Someone Else”
In Everett Davis’s own words, he gravitates to “doing good for someone else.” Retiring after a career in a bank’s accounting department, Everett found that his expertise in the world of finance (his “head” knowledge) led him not only to volunteer to help his local church with its general ledger but also to assist the broader world of Christian churches. When the international organization, World Convention, needed a financial person, Everett was asked to share his time and talents. World Convention works globally to connect various branches of Christian churches in fellowship, understanding, and common purpose for the sake of unity in Christ Jesus.
Through their local church, Everett and his wife, Judy, also give their hearts to a very different volunteer opportunity. After a series of visits to the most poverty stricken counties of Tennessee, Morgan and Scott, Everett and Judy realized this project was an outreach to which they wanted to devote their time and energy. The Morgan-Scott Project serves the counties’ elderly, disabled, and unemployed persons through activities, training, assistance, and support to help break the cycle of poverty and enable people to help themselves.
Ambassadors for the Morgan-Scott Project, Everett and Judy have been instrumental in recruiting volunteers and donors in Nashville. Storing clothing, shoes, and appliances…actually most anything…in someone’s garage is the norm. When the storage space is filled, a caravan of volunteers travels to Morgan and Scott counties with their wares—all of which will be sold in a store similar to Goodwill—to benefit both the Project, as well as the families who live in these impoverished areas.
For more information about these two organizations, visit worldconvention.org and morganscottproject.org.
For more about coming podcasts, sign up for Ed’s free Retire-To newsletter: retire-to.com/ed-s-newsletter and visit retiretovolunteering.com.
029 Anna Kapoor—Volunteers in Mission
Volunteers in Mission-Making a Difference Domestically and Internationally
Anna Kapoor is making a difference wherever she goes. Professionally she has served as a registered nurse in oncology, and now as a retiree she volunteers with the United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (VIM). Having been part of 18 mission trips, she currently arranges specific trips, especially for the Mexico Medical Mission. She knows from her own participation that volunteers of all kinds are needed, not only medical but also those in a helping capacity. Anna promises that no previous experience is necessary—just a willingness to serve.
United Methodist Volunteers in Mission exists to promote, encourage and enable Christians to exemplify “Christian Love in Action” through short-term mission service at home and abroad. It provides opportunities for service by developing and nurturing relationships with domestic and international leaders. The VIM program continually nurtures their contacts with these leaders to respond to the needs of local communities. The organization also provides comprehensive training resources for team leaders to help them prepare their teams for the mission field.
For more information visit their website www.umvim.org or contact UNITED METHODIST VOLUNTEERS IN MISSION, 100 Centerview Drive, Suite 210, Birmingham, AL 35216. Phone 205-453-9480 or email sejinfo@umvim.org.
For more about coming podcasts, sign up for Ed’s free Retire-To newsletter: retire-to.com/ed-s-newsletter and visit retiretovolunteering.com.
028 Bob Lewis—Council on Aging
Middle Tennessee Council on Aging
Bob Lewis’s education in management plus his career experiences in large corporations, including Xerox and Northern Telecom, prepared him well for his volunteering in retirement. Having moved to Nashville, he soon discovered this was the place to put down roots and work on behalf of the community.
For many years now, Bob has volunteered for Middle Tennessee’s Council on the Aging. He volunteered in several different programs and found a special match for his managerial and strategic planning skills as he served on the COA's Board of Directors for a six-year term. He is also active in Toastmasters, honing his communication skills. He is pleased to say that both competencies are ways he is able to give back to the community.
For information on Council on Aging of Middle Tennessee, visit their website: www.coamidtn.org.
For more about coming podcasts, sign up for Ed’s free Retire-To newsletter: retire-to.com/ed-s-newsletter and visit retiretovolunteering.com.
027 Betti Lose—Food Programs
Joyfully Serving the Community—St. Luke’s Community House
Community volunteer Betti Lose goes above and beyond in everything she does. St. Luke’s Community House presented her the Joe Sowell Legacy Volunteer Award, the agency’s highest volunteer award, which is given annually to a volunteer who gives of herself or himself, champions St. Luke’s to others, and sets a great example of servant leadership. Sounds like Betti Lose, for sure.
Betti enjoys the variety of opportunities at St. Luke’s, helping the many people served by that organization. On any given day, she might do administrative tasks, schedule free VITA income tax preparation, assist a senior citizen playing bingo, or shelve books in the wonderful preschool library. She is also the volunteer coordinator for St. Luke’s food programs.
She is continually impressed with the staff, facility, and other volunteers who help the people who live in the neighborhood. Betti says, “I’m embarrassed to be honored for doing something I love doing. My heart is so filled—I haven’t words to describe how I feel.”
St. Luke’s mission is both to help low-income families, seniors, and other individuals in West Nashville achieve their potential and to prevent problems that threaten the stability of families and community, such as food insecurity. From the many ways the agency reaches out, it seems they are accomplishing their mission every day!
An overview for the food programs at St. Luke’s is listed below. Visit their website www.stlch.org for additional information, as well as their front office at 615-350-7893. Christie Bearden, Volunteer and Community Engagement Manager, can be reached directly at 615-324-8375 or christie.bearden@stlukescommunityhouse.org.
Food Bank—Weekdays • 9:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m. St. Luke’s partners with Second Harvest Food Bank to provide emergency food boxes to families and individuals in need. Food boxes provide three meals for two days for each person in the household.
Mobile Meals—Weekdays. This service delivers hot, nutritious meals and a friendly visit to seniors and homebound individuals living in West Nashville.
For more about coming podcasts, sign up for Ed’s free Retire-To newsletter: retire-to.com/ed-s-newsletter and visit retiretovolunteering.com.