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Retire-To Volunteering

Host Ed Zinkiewicz uncovers engaging—sometimes surprising, but never dull— volunteer opportunities available to retirees. Interviewing volunteers and volunteer coordinators each week, Ed highlights the meaningful contributions volunteers make and also the rewards volunteers receive. Imagining a retirement that matters starts here. Sign up for Ed's free, weekly newsletter at retiretovolunteering.com and get listings of coming episodes.
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Now displaying: 2018
Dec 26, 2018

100 Jan Lockard—Tennessee Respite Coalition

That’s What Friends Are For—Tennessee Respite Coalition

What’s a friend? Someone with whom you can laugh, someone who helps you with little things and big things, someone who makes you feel special—that’s a friend! Jan Lockard is good at being that friend to two ladies, who happen to be in a nursing home. That’s her volunteer service as a Senior Companion with the Tennessee Respite Coalition.

Jan has two “special ladies” she stays with for eight hours twice a week. They look forward to their day because time with Jan is fun—something that is too often lacking for ladies in their 90’s in nursing homes.

Jan is intentional about the “little things,” like playing Bingo or other games, taking her ladies to the onsite dining area to be with others instead of having meals delivered and eaten alone in the room, and setting up a personalized playlists of favorite music. She also listens to their stories of the good old days—something that busy staff aren’t usually able to do, but something a friend does willingly.

Because she listens, Jan learns what might be “big things” for her ladies—and she follows up. Reminiscing one day, one of the ladies told Jan she had never had a visit with Santa Claus. When the jolly old gentleman was due for a stop at the nursing home, Jan made sure that the lady was there and actually got to talk with Santa. The 93-year-old left with a big smile, a teddy bear she treasured, and new memories to reminisce about.

Another “big thing” Jan does is make each one’s birthday special—a birthday lunch that Jan prepares and invites the lady’s friends to come too. The party generates lots of laughter as everyone has a good time, and everyone at the table looks forward to celebrating their birthday with Jan’s special lunch.

Although she is giving service, Jan says she is “rewarded every day.” She sees her special ladies light up and enjoy themselves. The families also express their gratitude. Eyes that sparkle and words of appreciation are seemingly little things, but they are truly big things between friends.

For more about the Senior Companion program of the Tennessee Respite Coalition, listen to Retire to Volunteering Podcast, #96 with Jennifer Abernathy, the volunteer coordinator. Or visit tnrespite.org.

 

Dec 19, 2018

099 Tom Starling—Mental Health America

Before Stage 4—Mental Health America

“Before Stage 4!” Tom Starling, the chief executive of Mental Health America (MHA) of Middle Tennessee, explains his organization’s mantra: “People with something wrong with their body wouldn’t knowingly wait until the disease reached Stage 4 before seeking treatment. But when something is wrong mentally or emotionally, they suffer in silence.” Why? Because of the stigma that society attaches to mental illness.

MHA is not a direct-client service provider for persons with mental illness. Rather, their role is to crack open the hard shell of the stigma so that more people can move from suffering to recovery. A big crack starts with the awareness of just how many people are affected by the diseases labeled “mental illness”: 1 in 5 annually!

Some of those people might come to mind quickly, perhaps ones with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, but many more are “under the radar.” Mental illness spans the spectrum from “womb to tomb,” including moms with post-partum depression, children with anxiety or attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), teens who are bullied and become suicidal or who are in the grip of an eating disorder, soldiers with post-traumatic-stress disorder (PTSD) or addiction or depression, employees stressed to the max with family and worklife pressures, adults self-mediating their pain with alcohol or opiods, caregivers of their aging loved ones with dementia. All these illnesses take a huge toll on the individual, family, and society. Suicide, for example, is the 10th leading cause of death in Tennessee, greater than the number caused by car accidents.

After the illness “blows up” and can no longer be denied (Stage 4), people often say they “knew something was wrong.” But they didn’t know what was going on or where to turn for the prevention and intervention (at Stages 1–3) that could have helped. The Stigma had blamed the signs on bad parenting or sin, or on the individual being lazy or not taking responsibility or just being “trouble.” MHA’s goal is to educate individuals, families, caregivers, pastors, law enforcement, and society, moving them past the stigma to recognizing the signs and to helping those who suffer receive services that lead to recovery and greater well-being.

How do volunteers help? MHA of Middle Tennessee has numerous, important one-time opportunities, such as preparing for a health fair or other educational event, staffing the registration table at events or screenings, writing thank you notes to donors, scanning papers into the computer, or answering the phone. But volunteers who have a story to share have an opportunity to make an even bigger impact. They’ve lived through a mental illness of their own or of a family member. The reality—and the hope—they bring to a conversation, a workshop, or a speaking engagement is more powerful than all the statistics.

Volunteers do not need to have a counseling background. MHA provides training for the tasks, concentrating on the words not to use (the ones that inadvertently reinforce the stigma) but especially on the words to use in talking with people and sharing their story so that 1 in 5 people get help before Stage 4!

In Middle Tennessee to find out more or to volunteer, call 615-269-5355 or visit the website, mhamt.org.

Mental Health America is a nationwide organization with more than 100 years of service. To find a chapter near you, visit mha.net.

Dec 12, 2018

098 Mariah Ragland—The Nashville Food Project

Grow, Cook, Share—The Nashville Food Project

Think about times you have been hungry. Have you ever missed multiple meals? Have you not known where your next meal was coming from? One in every seven people in Nashville experiences food insecurity every day. Nearly 1,000 volunteers every month have looked back on their own experiences of hunger—however brief or long—and decided that they don’t want their neighbors to go without. They put their love of food and their love of people to work at The Nashville Food Project (NFP).

The Food Project serves 200,000 fresh-cooked, nutritious meals each year! With only 22 staff members, they can do what they do only because of the volunteers who grow, cook, and share the food.

Grow. Scattered around Nashville are five small—but very productive—organic gardens. Volunteers help with preparing the beds, planting, weeding, harvesting the food, and even composting. Although the largest garden is only 1.5 acres, these gardens produce all year long. In addition to the summer growing season, they work in the winter too—because volunteers tend them.

Cook. Preparing 200,000 meals annually means lots and lots of cooking! Yet NFP faithfully turns them out daily except Sunday and Monday, using only two kitchens—and lots of volunteers who wash, chop, dice, and cook lots of fresh vegetables and fruits and other ingredients for lots of entrees, salads, side dishes, and sometimes desserts. Volunteers also contribute through the Project’s food recovery program, gleaning from a grocery store items that are about to expire, which they then turn into meals.

Share. With only two trucks, NFP nevertheless manages with the help of volunteers to deliver all the meals to partner organizations serving persons in need. Those include among others low-income senior citizens at a center, a church with a community meal, an apartment building that houses refugee families from the Congo, and school children in need of a snack.

Mariah Ragland, a former volunteer and now the volunteer coordinator, invites individuals, families, and groups to participate. Neither experience nor expertise is required. Everyone who comes will be supported by others helping them know what to do and how. Service can be one-time or regular. Sign up is online and easy.

Volunteers, who are themselves nourished by food, also are fed by being part of the mission of The Nashville Food Project: Bringing people together to grow, cook, and share nourishing food, with the goals of cultivating community and alleviating hunger in our city.

To learn more or to volunteer, visit thenashvillefoodproject.org and look for the Give Back tab. If you are not in the area, you may find similar opportunities by searching for “hunger” or “food justice” in your browser. You may also check to see if your locality is in a Hands On...network.

Dec 5, 2018

097 Dr. Rhonda Switzer-Nadasdi—Interfaith Dental Clinic

Restoring Smiles—Interfaith Dental Clinic

Two dentists, members of West End United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee, had a calling to use their professional skills to help the poor. They traveled to impoverished countries on mission trips to serve, but when they came home, they also saw the effects of poverty right around them. They came up with a proposal, took it to their church where they found a supportive community, and shortly, the Interfaith Dental Clinic opened.

What began twenty-five years ago with two dental chairs and some volunteers working part-time in the church’s basement has grown to two fully equipped, 18-chair offices—one in Nashville, another 45 minutes away in Murfreesboro—and many more volunteers plus a few full-time staff, serving annually 2,800 people who have no other options. Dr. Rhonda Switzer-Nadasdi, a dentist herself and also the chief executive of the Interfaith Dental Clinic, points out that neither Medicaid nor Medicare provides dental care. For people struggling with meeting needs for food, housing, and other basics, going to the dentist feels like a luxury they simply can’t afford.

Too often people don’t realize the essential nature of good oral care, which affects overall health, social contact, and economic opportunity. Research has confirmed a strong link between poor oral health and stroke, diabetes, heart issues, and cancer. Research has also shown how vital having good friends and other social contacts are to well-being, but persons with bad teeth don’t feel comfortable speaking or eating in front of others. They withdraw and become isolated and locked in depression. In a job interview, most potential employers within seconds screen out persons whose teeth are rotted, missing, or stained. Without a healthy smile, people suffer in surprising ways.

Dr. Switzer-Nadasdi matches volunteers with patients. Nearly 200 dentists with many different specialties and other dental professionals such as hygienists and dental assistants give their time and expertise regularly, some once a week, some once a month, others as they can. Dental students and younger students exploring dentistry also volunteer. Retired dentists often serve as mentors as well as providers. Additional volunteers help welcome and comfort patients and give them the dental hygiene bags they’ve assembled. Still other volunteers bring their skills for accounting, data crunching, advocating for better policy, grant writing, and fundraising. Patients are charged on a sliding scale, based on income and family numbers, but the rest of the cost is covered by donations and grants.

Committed to providing long-term, comprehensive oral health care, done with dignity for the recipients, Interfaith Dental Clinic does not simply deal with emergencies such as extractions and alleviating acute pain, rather they seek to change lives. Restoring smiles is a great start!

To find out more or to volunteer, visit interfaithdentalclinic.com. Many major cities, in addition to Nashville, have similar programs. Check in your local area, perhaps with your own dentist, to find one near you.

Nov 28, 2018

096 Jennifer AbernathyTennessee Respite Coalition

A Win-Win-Win OpportunityTennessee Respite Coalition

If you've ever flown, you've likely heard the airlines instruction that, in the case of an emergency and the oxygen mask drops, you are to put yours on before assisting someone else. For people whose natural inclination is to help others, the directive seems harsh, but its a lifesaver because unless you take care of yourself, you will soon run out of oxygen, which is crucial for you to function. Without it, you will not be able to help someone else in need.

That truth motivated the formation of the Tennessee Respite Coalition in the 1990s. The organization gives the gift of time for caregivers to take care of themselves, providing a bit of relief from the extraordinary and intensive demands of providing ongoing care. The services are for caregivers of patients anywhere on the whole life span and include a statewide helpline, vouchers to reimburse some of the costs of caregiving, and the Senior Companionship Program.

As "companions" these volunteers do not administer medications, provide any physical rehabilitation activities, or assist with transfer. Rather, they are what the doctor ordered for loneliness. They may simply come to talk, to play cards or other games, or to accompany a patient on a special outing. They are friends who care. Their cheery presence gives the fulltime caregiver—family member or professional—a break and the patient some welcome social interaction.

To be a Senior Companion requires meeting three criteria: Being friendly, being 55 years old or older, and being under the federal guidelines for income. The companions receive a small stipend from the Corporation for National and Community Service. The income cap assures that older adults with limited financial resources themselves can benefit also through giving of their service to others. The program is a win-win-win! The patient, the caregiver, and the Companion all gain.

But Jennifer Abernathy, the volunteer coordinator, hears from the Companions in their monthly meeting. They talk about the relationships with the people they serve—not the stipend—as what keeps them coming back. Those monthly meetings also provide continuous training for the volunteers and regular counseling for them, as well, because they too experience grief when their new friends die. One consolation for the volunteers is often the outpouring of thanks from the family as they recognize the gift of friendship the Senior Companion has given to their loved one.

Caring and being cared for are both the essential oxygen that enables the Senior Companions to help others.

In Tennessee, for more information visit tnrespite.org. Nationwide, as well as in Tennessee, for more information about Senior Companions and other opportunities, visit nationalservice.gov. Look under Senior Corps and then go to Senior Programs.

Nov 21, 2018

095 Johnny Rose—Hummingbirds at the Park

Caring for Something Bigger—Hummingbirds at the Park

Johnny Rose has always loved nature. After moving to Nashville, he discovered the 3,100+ acres of the Warner Parks and spent many wonderful hours there walking with his dog or with friends. When he retired, he decided he would like to be part of something bigger than himself. Nature was the logical answer for him: “The parks have always given to me; I wanted to give back to them.” From the first day of volunteering there, he knew he had found the right place.

As a volunteer, Johnny has done a variety of tasks, but his passion is with the hummingbirds. Knowing that the little ones need to consume half of their body weight each day in order to survive, Johnny is diligent in his care of the 25 feeders around the Warner Parks Nature Center. They have to be cleaned and refilled twice a week. Johnny also enjoys talking with the many visitors to the park about the hummingbirds.

But his real delight is the August–September hummingbird banding season. The Nature Center has been a Premier Banding Site in the Southeast since the 1980’s. As a volunteer, Johnny assists the accredited banders in the tasks of capturing the birds, assessing their weight, age, gender, and condition, banding them (if needed), and logging in the information.

Releasing the tiny birds is a ritual of its own. Johnny can transfer the quiet bird to the hands of a child or an adult so that they too feel the magic of gently holding this tiny gem. They can hear the heartbeat, open their hands, and allow this marvelous creature to fly free again. Through the banding program, naturalists have learned that hummingbirds come back year after year to the same locations, so lots of the birds captured each year at the Nature Center know the routine. Sometimes, when the hands open, the birds will remain quiet for a few extra seconds before flying off, giving the holder an unforgettable moment of appreciation of the wonders of nature.

Caring for the birds’ immediate needs for food; helping gather and share the information that enables humanity to understand, appreciate, and care for their long-term needs, such as reducing the use of pesticides; and facilitating those momentary, yet life-changing connections of holding a trusting, precious jewel in one’s hands—these are the rewards that bring Johnny back week after week to give back to something bigger than him.

The Warner Parks and the Nature Center have need for volunteers in many areas. To find the one (or more) that speaks to you, visit the Friends of Warner Parks at warnerparks.org.

Nov 14, 2018

094 Faye Maynard—Project Connect Nashville

Not to Fix, But to Love —Project Connect Nashville

Founded in 2013, Project Connect Nashville (PCN) exists “to help disconnected and vulnerable men, women, and their families build relationships with others who will encourage and guide them, providing assistance when needed, educating and equipping them for the challenges each day brings, and celebrating every victory along the way.” In other words, to be with vulnerable people as friends, helping them GOSO (Get Out Stay Out) of poverty—not through fixing them, but by loving them.

It was a friend who first connected Faye Maynard to the people in the program. She saw how the organization was assisting people in poverty—people who wanted to change their lives. She saw also that, in addition to a well-thought out curriculum for transformation, Project Connect has a heart for the poor, coming from their ultimate mentor—Jesus Christ. She volunteered first to bring a few meals, but her own commitment grew as she also saw the undeniable results in the people.

People sign up for a six-weeks, four-nights-a-week curriculum dealing with work and life skills, faith and finances, and understanding the story of God’s love for them. They come from a variety of places in the area, but many live in a nearby apartment complex where PCN volunteers also do programming, including Vacation Bible School, for the children and alongside the residents work in the garden there, growing relationships, as well as food.

An artist, Faye has put her interests and skills to work on behalf of her new friends, enabling them to engage their own creativity, to learn to think differently about themselves, and to experience community through various art projects that are woven into the Work Life curriculum, which recognizes that creativity, self-worth, and team work are also important in the job market. “God has opened my eyes to the needs of people in my own community and led me to greater compassion. I’ve been blessed,” Faye states as she reflects on how the relationships she has made through her volunteering have had an impact on her, as well.

Volunteers bring whatever skills and interests and available time they have. Their training is focused on helping them understand the challenges people in poverty face and to see them—not a project to be fixed—but as persons to be loved, as friends.

To find out more or to volunteer as an individual or as a congregation, visit projectconnectnashville.org.

Nov 7, 2018

093 Cathy Shull—Salvation Army

Fighting for Those in Need—The Salvation Army

Ask anyone about the Salvation Army and they'll very likely respond, "Oh yes, they're the ones who have the bell-ringing Santas with the big Red Kettles and the Angel Trees. They've been around forever!" The respondents are right, of course. The Salvation Army began in 1865 and has collected money Christmas after Christmas for people in need, including children and seniors who benefit from being chosen from the Angel Trees.

But that's not all the Salvation Army does, Cathy Shull points out. A 30+ year volunteer, she has seen the ins and outs of the organization. Both as a member of the Women's Auxiliary and also as an Advisory Board member, she has rung the bell, recruited other bell ringers, worked the onsite Thrift Shop, filled backpacks and Christmas stockings, helped with meals, raised money for the renovation of a facility, and been part of the oversight and decision making that keeps the Salvation Army on record as a charity with one of the highest percentages of contributions going directly to serving the needy (rather than to administrative or marketing costs). "Every penny is helping someone," Cathy declares.

Recognizing that there are no quick fixes, the Salvation Army has wrap-around services to get individuals and families back on track. Starting with the basic needs for food, shelter, and clothing, the assistance often extends to training for employment, including learning and practicing interview skills, as well as physical, mental, and dental health care. But the heart of all the caring is focused on turning hearts to God, who is the ultimate Healer and Provider. Those in need participate in Bible study, worship, and prayer; and they are surrounded by a loving community—including volunteers—who know the love of God and share it.

Cathy is impressed by how much the Army does and how effective they are as they "fight for those in need." But even more, she is humbled by the selflessness of the staff and volunteers as they carry out their mission. "They are the most giving, loving people I've been around—I benefit too," she declares.

Volunteers can do as "little" as ring a bell for a two-hour shift or shop for one of the Angels. Whatever time a volunteer has available to give helps someone in need. Those pennies and dollars in the Red Kettle are also helping!

To volunteer, visit slavationarmyusa.org. The website will direct you to a facility near you. If you want a vacation where you can also volunteer, the organization is in 131 countries! 

Oct 31, 2018

092 Paul Fowler—Friends of Warner Parks

One-and-Done or Falling in Love—Friends of Warner Parks

As urbanization grows, so does the longing for the counterbalance that being in nature supplies. Annually, nearly 1.5 million people in the Nashville area take advantage of their convenient access to 3,200 uncrowded acres in the Warner Parks to feed their soul.

Percy Warner, Edwin Warner, and the neighboring new Birch Reserve invite people to immerse themselves in restorative "play"—alone or with friends and family—through 17 miles of hiking trails, easy access (closed to vehicle traffic) roadways for walking or biking, six miles of the Little Harpeth River, many horse trails, two golf courses, picnic pavilions, playgrounds, and much more. Additionally, staff and volunteers present educational programming year round, including wildflower walks, geology talks, natural gardening, hummingbird close-ups and banding, plus docent service at the parks' Nature Center. Combining all that with various festivals, runs, fundraisers, and other events, the parks are a treasure with something for everyone.

Behind the scenes, volunteers are working with nature and the staff to care for the parks. Paul Fowler, the volunteer coordinator on staff, offers monthly stewardship opportunities for people with various skills and interests to participate. For example, in the spring especially, the Muddy Buddies care for the trails; summer finds volunteers cleaning up the picnic areas, cooling off while clearing the Little Harpeth River, or restoring the historic rock walls. These activities continue through the fall. In winter volunteers tackle the invasive plants that would otherwise crowd out the native flora and limit the biodiversity of the parks.

These occasions are one-and-done options for people to give their time and energy for just a half-day or so, but often volunteers find that experience a gateway into giving more. They fall in love. Fortunately, Paul knows how to match volunteers who wish to commit to a regular schedule or longer period with other soul-feeding ways to give back to nature and specifically to the parks they love.

Paul points out that other natural areas—both in metro Nashville and in Tennessee's state park system, and also across the country—need volunteers to preserve and protect as well as to enjoy them. Giving back to nature, whether through a one-and-done or regular commitment not only feeds the volunteers' soul but everyone else's for years to come.

For more information visit warnerparks.org or email paul.fowler@nashville.gov.

Oct 24, 2018

091 Kathy Jackson—Greyhound Pets of America Rescuing

Greyhounds From Misconceptions—Greyhound Pets of America

As a U.S. mail carrier, Kathy Jackson also carried treats for the dogs on her routes. One of her very special "friends" was a former racing greyhound. When Kathy retired, she knew exactly what type of dog she wanted. She adopted Manny, a newly retired racer who won her heart.

Kathy doesn't use the word "rescue" very often in her conversations about greyhound racing. Too many people have the misconception that the dogs are mistreated during their competitive phase, which is far from the reality. Nor are they euthanized when those racing days are over. Greyhound Pets of America (GPA) steps in to find responsible, loving homes for the retirees. People like Kathy and her husband.

GPA sponsors weekly Meet 'n' Greets at local pet stores, inviting greyhound owners to come with their dogs to talk with interested people about the desirability of retired greyhounds as pets. Many people have another misconception that such a big dog might not fit well into a family situation or even be OK in an apartment. But standing there, petting such a gentle giant and listening to enthusiastic owners, people gain a new perspective. Across the U.S. through the efforts of the organization's volunteers, more than 200,000 greyhounds have found their forever homes. In 2017 alone the Nashville Chapter placed 92.

In addition to the Meet 'n' Greets, volunteers help adoptive parents know and understand what "responsible" greyhound ownership is. For example, zoomies! The hounds are bred for speed, and unlike some other hound breeds their strength is sight—not scent. If the dog were off leash in an open area and something caught its attention, it would instinctively set off. Greyhounds are the second fastest land animal (behind cheetahs); they can reach 40 miles per hour in three strides! So intent, they don't respond to an owner's voice and they are unaware of such things as cars. When they do slow down, they may have no idea of how to find their way back since sight, not scent, is their guide. Instead, allowing the hound to zoom around a fenced yard for a few minutes or taking two 20-minute walks a day are responsible—and adequate. Those always lead to a good long nap or two or three. Greyhounds are easy keepers.

In addition to adoptive parents, GPA chapters need volunteers as foster parents, exposing the animals to experiences different from the ones they had as racers, for example, seeing a cat or a child for the first time, going up and down stairs, or walking on slippery wood floors rather than on a dirt track and concrete. Also, the chapters seek board members. As one, Kathy keeps the website current.

If you want to learn more about volunteering or about the greyhounds, visit the site, greyhoundpets.org. Or check in your area for a Meet 'n' Greet at a local pet store. In Nashville you can find Kathy many Saturdays at PetSmart in 100 Oaks Mall. Manny will be there too.

Check out www.greyhoundpets.org.

Oct 17, 2018

090 Sue Baumgartner—Senior Ride Nashville

Still Going Strong—Thanks to Senior Ride Nashville

Ninety-three years old and still going strong—thanks to volunteers at Senior Ride Nashville! Three days a week this lady goes to the Y for exercise, and once a week she goes to her own volunteer commitment at St. Thomas Hospital. She doesn't let her age hold her back from what is important to her, but without Sue Baumgartner and the other volunteers at Senior Ride she would be homebound. Losing opportunities to take care of herself physically, to have social contact, and to contribute to the well being of others would almost certainly send her into premature decline.

Senior Ride Nashville's creators—the Council on Aging of Middle Tennessee and the Senior Transportation Leadership Coalition—recognized the hazards of no longer being able to drive and found a way to meet the need. Begun just in 2017, the program is growing as more people learn about it—both riders and volunteer drivers.

As a volunteer, Sue is appreciative of the how easy the management team makes her job. Every Friday the next week's requests are posted online. She can select what fits her schedule and preferred driving radius. She gives half a day a week. The minimum requirement for volunteer drivers is one time a month.

Typically, riders need to go to doctor appointments, the grocery store, or a social engagement. They can request a second stop on the same trip if need be. They must also be able to get themselves in and out of the car, and the management team works to match their abilities to do so with the vehicle that will be most suitable for them. Currently, riders need to plan their outings at least three days in advance; however, sooner turnarounds may come as the organization grows. Any last minute cancelations are quickly communicated to the driver, respecting the volunteer's time.

Riders pay $6.00 per round trip. Very often in appreciation they want to tip or give a gift to their drivers, but the volunteers are strictly volunteer. They find their pay in knowing their service contributes the quality of life of their aging riders.

"I marvel at the people I meet," says Sue. She enjoys the conversations and is inspired by their spirit. Retired herself, she finds in them great role models for her own path ahead. She sees possibilities for when she is 93 and is glad Senior Ride Nashville will be around for her too.

For more information about the program, visit seniorridenashville.org.

Oct 10, 2018

089 John Hisle—Jubilee Jobs

Second Chance for a Better Life—Jubilee Jobs

Nearly 40 years ago the Church of the Savior in Washington, D.C. stepped into the job market—not for themselves, but for others. A group of members realized their neighbors in a nearby low-income housing project were struggling to find work. So with the call to "love your neighbor" in their hearts, they began Jubilee Jobs, which has subsequently prepared and placed nearly 26,000 people in the workforce.

Volunteers with the program begin helping applicants develop a resume´. Most have never done so, which is one of their barriers to employment. Most also come with other obstacles they must overcome, including past incarceration, addiction, or homelessness, as well as having barely any computer skills and very limited access to computers.

Jubilee Jobs, however, is a wrap-around program, providing not only that first-step resume´ assistance, but also computer access and coaching on filling out online applications. What's more, applicants receive training and practice in interviewing, which helps them overcome their fears and become confident. Too, the program coaches interviewees on dressing appropriately and will secure needed apparel. Additionally, volunteers work with applicants on expected workplace behavior and anger management.

A growing number of employers know about Jubilee Jobs and will invite applicants who have gone through the program to interview. Prospective employers view the organization as a trustworthy first-round screener that makes their job of hiring easier. If after an interview applicants are not selected, they still have hope because Jubilee Jobs volunteers will continue their work with them until they do land a good job.

For 10-year volunteer John Hisle, retired from executive management in health care, working with Jubilee Jobs one day a week is a blessing. Through the program he has met, gotten to know, befriended, and been befriended by people he would not have otherwise. He is inspired by the resilience of the human spirit he sees in these applicants who are eager to learn and who don't give up. For John, mentoring his new friends is a way to give back. He knows he is blessed to be a blessing to others.

Why would a church become involved in the job market? The answer lies in the name "Jubilee." In the Bible the Jubilee Year (every 50th year) was a part of God's economy of grace, which provided for the land (the source of wealth at the time) to be redistributed to the original owners, giving a second chance to people who were caught in some way by forces that had left them impoverished and on the margins. Helping people have a second chance at a better life is the vision of the faith-based program and the volunteers at Jubilee Jobs.

For more information about Jubilee Jobs, visit jubileejobs.org.

For other faith-based organizations, including churches, that have "entered the job market" in various ways, check your local area. In the Nashville, Tennessee, vicinity one church to contact is Brentwood United Methodist Church at bumc.net and type in "career transitions" in the search bar.

Oct 3, 2018

088 Pat Dishman—Full Moon Pickin’ Party

The Full Moon Pickin’ Party—A Natural for Volunteers

Like many people whose professional life keeps them behind a desk, Pat Dishman longed to be outside. Unlike many people in that circumstance, Pat did something! Ten years before she retired, she began volunteering on weekends with Friends of Warner Parks.

Only nine miles from downtown Nashville, the fields and forests of Percy and Edwin Warner Parks provide a nature experience in their 3,100 acres to a million people annually. In support of this 91-year-old treasure in the city and working in partnership with the Metropolitan government, the Friends of Warner Parks organization coordinates volunteers, raises funds, carries out trail maintenance, preserves the historic aspects of the parks, and provides nearly 1,400 educational programs each year—plus six Full Moon Pickin' Parties! (After all, Nashville is Music City!)

On the Friday nights closest to the full moon, May through October, musicians and music lovers come out Percy Warner Park's Equestrian area to make music under the stars. Three bands play "on stage" during the course of this family-friendly evening, but everywhere else are impromptu groups of people playing their own instruments with friends and strangers alike. Everyone is having fun!

A very popular event, the Pickin' Parties raise money for the various projects of the Friends of Warner Parks, but the Friends are also investing their time and energy as volunteers so that the funds go into making the parks a place for all to enjoy for free. Pat and her husband typically staff the booth selling "BeFriend Warner Parks" T-shirts.

But Pat has done many different things, including rolling up her sleeves to help rid the parks of invasive plants, planting new trees, and assisting with the work needed to open a new section, the Burch Reserve, which was purchased and prepared by the Friends, adding more than 200 acres to the parks exclusively for hikers. While "trail maintenance" may sound daunting to unskilled or older volunteers, Pat has great praise for how well the volunteer coordinator, Paul Fowler, matches the task to the skill and energy levels among the ones who come to lend a hand. She credits him also for developing a culture of helping volunteers learn new skills so they enjoy the work and are proud of their accomplishment and contribution.

To find out more about the Friends of Warner Parks, go to warnerparks.org. Or come by the parks' Nature Center, where you may well be greeted by Pat Dishman, who also volunteers in the museum. But you won't find her behind the desk!

Sep 26, 2018

087 Nelson Santos—Volunteer Overseas for Free

Spreading Love Through Action—Volunteer Overseas for Free

You care about others, and you are adventuresome. Volunteering overseas appeals to you, but not at the price quoted in the fancy brochures! You and Nelson Santos are kindred spirits. Fortunately, he's blazed a trail for you. With his help, you can volunteer overseas—for free.

Nelson has only had to spend plane fare for the last several years to volunteer in amazing places: Alaska, helping with a donation drive for hospice; Nepal, building schools; Mexico and Thailand, working in dog shelters; Myanmar, attending to the sick and dying in the care of a monastery; and Mexico, caring for children in a refuge for the underprivileged. He spends two weeks to two months in each assignment.

The experiences have challenged him and, in his words, made him "a stronger man." They have also been deeply satisfying as he sees that his putting love into action has changed not only him but also those he has served. To find these opportunities, Nelson had to do a lot of searching on the web. That has led him to creating a path for others. Now with more than 7,000 "members" in his online Facebook community, he is able to assist them in finding volunteer opportunities for free, as well.

In addition through his online service, Nelson prepares those who are interested. He recommends starting to volunteer close to home, on a week-long mission trip, or on a minimal commitment basis while on an overseas vacation, such as at a dog shelter or soup kitchen. These "toe in the water" experiences are often enough to help people take the plunge, dedicating more time in more challenging situations.

Nelson also encourages people to volunteer from their strengths, rather than going hoping to learn a new skill. Carpentry, construction and repair skills, medical expertise, and teaching and training others at various levels are especially needed and of great value to the serving agency. He also reminds new volunteers that the host will provide food and accommodations but not to expect too much. These places willingly share from what little they have, which is not like going back to a hotel at night for a shower and a steak. Volunteers may work harder than they have ever before, but the payment of love is priceless.

Now working full time volunteering and expanding his online assistance to other potential volunteers, Nelson supports his own financial needs only through the sale of his T-shirts. He says, "My purpose us to show kindness, help the needy, and inspire others to do the same." For him volunteering is a lifestyle—not an event. It’s a way to spread love.

To find out more, follow Nelson on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/travelingvolunteeryogi. He is also working on and will soon launch a website: volunteeroverseasforfree.com. Look for it.

If you are interested in supporting Nelson's efforts or you just like really cool T-shirts, check out smilingtimes.com.

Sep 19, 2018

086 Amy Bond—Monroe Harding Foster Care Services

Disrupting the Disruptions—Monroe Harding Foster Care Services

Disrupted! Disruptive! Disruption. These three words are a concise description of the experiences of children who land in foster care. Something has torn apart their family. The trauma may come from within the family or from forces outside. The family is disrupted.

In children, trauma frequently manifests itself in disruptive behavior. Losing their family and their sense of safety, security, and being loved shoves children into "survival mode," off balance and struggling desperately to regain their footing. Acting out is a frantic grasping for a steadying hand. Disruptive behavior is also an indicator of another change in the brain itself. Unchecked, those changes have generational consequences. Often the young people in foster care have parents whose lives have also been previously wounded by trauma.

"Disrupted" and "disruptive" need disruption. Monroe Harding Foster Care Services steps up to interrupt the negative and help children and families heal and, when possible, to reunite and move forward positively. Key in that "disruption" are the volunteer foster parents. Currently through Monroe Harding, 45 families have opened their homes and their hearts to provide stability, security, and love. Research has shown that routine, that feeling nothing bad is going to happen, and a sense that someone cares all help the brain to heal and the disruptive behaviors to cease. The love and support that the foster families give make change possible even for the most traumatized.

Amy Bond, Monroe Harding's Foster Care Coordinator, prepares prospective foster parents and provides training and other support for them. The process may take as long as six months before receiving a child, but many of those 45 families have been fostering children for multiple years, one for 25 and another for 30. They've found great reward in doing so. With nearly 9,000 young people in foster care in Tennessee alone (and nearly half a million in the U.S.), more volunteers are needed. Countering a pernicious stereotype, Amy points out that foster parents don't get rich off the limited funds they receive from the state. Foster families are carefully screened, and the remuneration is only a minimal attempt to cover the extra expenses incurred by taking in a child.

Monroe Harding has been providing care for 125 years, first for orphans and now for the young people in foster care. They regularly see foster families open their hearts (regardless of the expense) because they know that their loving care is a needed and positive disruption for a young person and for generations to come.

For more about Monroe Harding, including other volunteer opportunities, visit monroeharding.org.

For similar programs in your area, search for foster parenting.

Sep 12, 2018

085 Don Schulze—Nations Ministry Center Citizenship Classes

Citizenship Classes—No Trivial Matter!

"I'm a lot of fun at parties," quips Don Schulze. "I know a bunch of 'trivia.'" Don also makes his classes lots of fun, but his class material is not trivial. As a volunteer for the Nations Ministry Center in Nashville, Tennessee, he teaches citizenship preparation to immigrants who want to make America their official country as well as their home.

Most of Don's students are refugees. They've fled persecution, survived war, endured the hardships of overcrowded camps, and now have to navigate a new culture, a new language, and a new life. Not shying away, they choose to take the next step to become United States citizens.

To pass the test, applicants must answer only six questions correctly. Sounds easy, but the catch is that the questions chosen come from a pool of 100. So students have to know all 100 answers to be sure of passing the six they are asked. No trivial task! The test is the equivalent of a final exam from a high school civics courseU.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, government structures, American history, and the principles upon which this country was foundedinformation many native born citizens couldn't easily answer at a party!

Don teaches with a lightness that includes fun as well as facts, learning to know each student and recognizing the ranges of challenges individuals face, and listening to their stories as well as teaching the material that will be tested. "I have enormous respect for these people," says Don. "It's humbling to realize the obstacles they have had to overcome." Getting to know the people and seeing them desire this next step into citizenship keeps him volunteering.

After retiring, Don and his wife moved from California to Nashville in 2011. His interest in teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) led him to the citizenship classes when he learned about the Nations Ministry Center from his church. The Center, which resources new arrivals to this country in a variety of ways, has other volunteer opportunities, as well. Among those are job coaching, helping school children learn to read in their new language, and assisting families, as they find their way in a new city and a new life.

For more about the Nations Ministry Center, listen to Retire-to Volunteering Podcast #80 or visit their website nationsministrycenter.org.

Sep 5, 2018

084 Katie Richards—Nashville Neighbors

Friends for Good—Siloam Family Health Center

Take a moment to appreciate your friends. You know you can count on them for a listening ear when you're trying to figure out things, for good information and advice when you need direction, for help when you're in a bind, and yes, even for fun. Research has documented the value of friendships, showing that they contribute to the health, wellbeing, and confidence of people.

Siloam Family Health Center serves the under-served population of Nashville, especially newly arrived refugees. The 25+ year-old program includes a primary care clinic, seeing 4,000 to 5,000 patients a year. Additionally, the center provides health education programs for their clients. And as "a whole-person health care ministry," Siloam has developed a program connecting the refugees with volunteer teams of new "friends," their own Nashville Neighbors.

According to Katie Richards, Siloam's volunteer coordinator, a team is composed of six to 14 adults, usually ones who already know one another, such as being from the same church or sharing another type of friendship tie. Siloam provides training about the kinds of needs and questions the refugees face and also about the specific culture from which the refugees have come. Siloam also pays for an interpreter to facilitate communication between the team and the family. Team members share the responsibility for being good neighbors so they, as friends, can support one another in this new venture and no one person is overwhelmed. The team commits to six months as Nashville Neighbors.

What happens during those brief months? Many of the refugees have fled violence and war in their home country only to be "housed" in a crowded refugee camp in yet another country, sometimes for as many as 14 years. Leaving behind whatever little support system they had and coming to America, they face a new language, new systems, new expectations of them, new challenges. Having friends to "walk along side them" makes something as "simple" as filling out an application (in a language that they don't speak) and negotiating other common tasks of daily living in a new culture and society much more manageable.

As for the friends on the team, as they get to know the names, faces, and stories of their new neighbors and see them blossom with better health, wellbeing, and confidence, the Nashville Neighbor teams find their own hesitations dissipating and the blessings flowing both ways.

For more information about Siloam, visit siloamhealth.org. To find out more about Nashville 4rNeighbors, contact Katie Richards at 615-921-6114.

Aug 29, 2018

083 Kate McKinnie—The Next Door

Wild Praying Women Create The Next Door

They called themselves the Wild Praying Women! Concerned for the sufferings of people, they didn't know what to do, but pray. Funny thing about prayer—it often leads to action, which is what the Wild Praying Women found out. But now they had a clearer vision of where to concentrate their efforts, as well as their prayers: women and their families.

The result is The Next Door, where 82 women at a time struggling with addiction (especially with opioids), mental illness, trauma, and/or incarceration can receive effective, caring treatment in a comprehensive residential program for 30 days plus outpatient services, alumni meetings, family services, and affordable housing options for themselves and their children after they have completed the initial stay at the facility. In 2017 alone 1,442 women and 367 family members found their way to a new life, simply by walking through The Next Door.

Kate McKinnie, the volunteer coordinator, points out that many treatment centers for various reasons do not use volunteers, but especially since The Next Door was founded by volunteers—those Wild Praying Women—the organization values the contributions of volunteers and offers numerous meaningful ways to support the women and the center, including lunch and dinner teams, childcare helpers, clothing closet workers, ambassadors for the program, and Bible study leaders. Girls Night In events provide fun activities, led by volunteers who may bring their own expertise, such as in arts or crafts, or who can create a good time for all, perhaps around a movie or a special theme.

While many volunteers are on site, others work behind the scenes. Serving nearly 1,500 women a year requires lots of supplies, and the wish list is long—including such items as socks, shampoo, feminine hygiene products, hairbrushes, even stamped notecards so the women can write to their families. Volunteers organize collection drives to fulfill these basic needs. Still other "virtual volunteers" (working from home) write notes of welcome and support to the women, most of whom have not had a lot of encouragement and hope in their lives.

Undergirded by prayer and supported by caring volunteers as well as a committed professional staff, the center has an 80% success rate, as measured by the lives of the women after three years. Those Wild Praying Women—and all the other volunteers along the way—are truly helping women and their families through their own “next door” to a better life.

For more information about the program, volunteer opportunities, or the wish list, visit thenextdoor.org.

Aug 22, 2018

082 George Bone—Memphis Catholic High School

Building for the Future—Memphis Catholic High School

After more than 20 years of volunteering, George Bone was no stranger to the rewards of giving back. But one reward was a big surprise to him. His alma mater, Memphis Catholic High School, wanted to honor him not only for his academic and athletic accomplishments while he was a student but also for the ways he had lived out the potential shown during those years in his work life and on behalf of his community as a volunteer.

At the dinner to pay tribute to him and the nine others being inducted into the school's Hall of Fame, George especially noticed the students who were serving. They were respectful, well mannered, and passionate about their schooling, so much so that George wanted to know more. A second visit and what he learned opened yet another volunteering avenue. "I became fascinated by what the school does and basically just asked, 'What can I do?'" he recalls.

Memphis Catholic High School, much changed from George's day of 50+ years earlier, serves low-income students, 75% of whom are from single-parent families, and for four years in a row all of the seniors have been accepted for college. Part of the high school's success is their internship program. Students go to school almost year round but only for four days a week. The other day they are working in a Memphis area business, earning $2,000, which in turn helps to offset the cost of their private school. The students value the work experience and the knowledge that they are earning their education.

An executive in his career, George put his skills to work laying the groundwork for an alumni association to ensure the continuation of excellence for the school, which will celebrate 100 years in 2022. But his volunteering with the students has kept his passion high! The school has an emphasis on helping the learners develop a moral compass so that they can better navigate the ups and downs of life. Invited to share his stories from his life with the students, George, as a 70-year-old, was surprised and humbled at how readily the 17-year-olds responded, giving back to him a reward he cherishes.

George admits not everyone can volunteer at his alma mater, but schools are all around us, which means opportunities are there too! Schools where parents, grandparents, and other adults are involved are better able to surround their students with needed resources and a crucial message—that people care—both of which make a difference in lives immediately and for a lifetime.

For more information about this school, visit memphiscatholic.org. To find a school-related volunteer opportunity near you, do your homework.

Aug 15, 2018

081 Mita Felman—DC Safe

Never Ever Dull—DC Safe

When Mita Felman retired from her career in public health administration and counseling, she didn't leave behind her compassion—nor her sense of adventure nor her willingness to take a risk. She brought all of that to her volunteer job with DC Safe, which takes her into areas of her city deemed unsafe and into circumstances no one wants to be a part of. As Mita says, the job has "never ever been dull"!

Responding to a domestic abuse call dressed in everyday, "normal" clothes, Mita is in contrast to her partner, a uniformed police officer. In such conflicts, experience has shown that having the volunteer along can be calming and reassuring because the police are often viewed in that community with trepidation. With the kind of listening and counseling skills Mita and the other volunteers have, victims will more readily open up in ways that they would not have to the police, especially not to a male officer if the victim is female. Consequently, Mita is able to assist the victim and also the officer, who can then better focus on the situation, the perpetrator, and the law enforcement needs, knowing the victim is in good hands.

A relatively new program of the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department, DC Safe is growing as its effectiveness is proven again and again. Volunteers go through a lengthy application process (about six months) as they are thoroughly screened by the department, making sure that the volunteers are a good fit for the challenging encounters ahead. Then the training they receive prepares them further.

Mita has been especially pleased to work with the police, appreciating first-hand their politeness, skill, dedication, and professionalism in the face of conflict and danger. Initially wondering if she'd be viewed as a nuisance or as in the way by the officers, she has experienced only kindness, support, and admiration from them.

For Mita, who has had a wonderful life and career, seeing how others struggle day-to-day has given her a strong commitment to continue to use her skills and life experience in ways that make a difference and give back to others. That commitment also makes her life never dull!

If you have further interest in DC Safe, either to volunteer or to explore possibilities for setting up a domestic violence liaison program in your area, visit https://mpdc.dc.gov/page/domestic-violence-liaison or call 202-506-2901.

Aug 8, 2018

080 Chris Lovingood—Nations Ministry Center

Huge Challenges/Great Opportunities—Nations Ministry Center

They have fled persecution, violence, war, hunger, life in makeshift and overcrowded camps. As refugees coming to America, they have been given a chance for a new life. But now they face a new set of ordeals having to navigate the complexities of daily life in a new culture and do so with minimal language skills. Resettlement agencies assist newly arrived refugees for three to four months with many of their firsts, including obtaining housing, registering the children for school, getting the required health screening, figuring out how and where to buy food, and finding a job and the means to get to it. But the needs don't stop at the end of those few months. So the Nations Ministry Center steps up.

The Nations Ministry Center is specific to Nashville, Tennessee, which has a surprisingly large refugee population (8,000 to 10,000). Chris Lovingood, the Executive Director, characterizes the efforts of the organization as moving the families toward self-sufficiency. The goals are for the children, youth, and seniors as well as adults to integrate, assimilate, live meaningful lives, and contribute ultimately as citizens.

The Ministry Center works tirelessly to help everyone in the family improve their language skills and literacy. Volunteers especially assist middle school and elementary children after school with homework and in the summer with reading skills, as well as occasional field trips and other fun events. Other volunteers assist seniors with basic language and cultural literacy in their new home.

Chris and other staff, with some clerical assistance from volunteers, work to help the adults find better jobs, so the family can become more economically stable. In addition, they aid the adults with understanding the regulations and applying for their Green Card and for citizenship.

Volunteers know they are helping the families, but they also report being in awe, inspired by the resilience of those who have suffered much, especially the children, and also by their drive to learn in order to make a better life for themselves and their family. The refugees have faced and continue to deal with huge challenges, but they embrace them as great opportunities. That spirit is the gift they give back to the volunteers.

To find out more about Nations Ministry Center and its volunteer opportunities, visit nationsministrycenter.org or call 615-828-9664.

Aug 1, 2018

079 Bill Martin—Scouting

Preparing Better Grown Ups—Through Scouting

Laid off and laid up—two unexpected setbacks in life forced Bill Martin onto a different course, one that 18 years later he is still happily following as a volunteer in Scouting. His wife had been helping with their young sons' first two years in the program, but without a job, Bill suddenly had time and took his turn in leadership. Shortly after, he broke his leg in a biking accident. Always a hands-on doer, Bill could have simply quit, but he found himself enjoying Scouting, so he learned to delegate. As a result, a leadership team jelled for the troop.

By the time those temporary setbacks in Bill's life disappeared, he was hooked. Even after his own sons had grown, Bill continued with Scouting. He has participated in all three levels of volunteering with Scouting.

The first level is one that often attracts parents and grandparents—working with their own sons and daughters in a pack, troop, or crew as part of the leadership team. Participating with the Scouts, seeing the young persons, including their own children, experience wholesome camaraderie, grow in their skills, and mature in the values the program emphasizes often keeps the parents and grandparents volunteering beyond the tenure of their own family.

Some volunteers move into various district level Scouting opportunities. Bill is a Commissioner, assisting three troops. As such, he facilitates communication among the three as well as between the district and the troops. He also helps coordinate special events, including camporees and special ceremonies in which all three troops are together.

Bill also volunteers as a merit badge counselor, the third volunteer level. To earn the rank of Eagle Scout, the young persons must complete at least 21 badges. With more than 130 badges possible in Scouting, volunteers with some expertise in the various interests and skills are needed. Bill's specialties are model railroading and public speaking, for example.

While this level of engagement with the Scouts is relatively short, each volunteer must submit an application and go through the program's Youth Protection Training. In fact, keeping the young ones (kindergarten through age 20) safe from predators, abuse, and even cyber bullying is such a priority that all regular volunteers repeat the course every two years.

Scouting is designed to be a mostly outdoors experience. The youth do not have to be physically strong—Scouts learn to help everyone succeed. The active nature of the program is often the hook that brings in the boys, girls, parents, and grandparents. But the mission of Scouting is to instill the values and judgment that are defined in the Scout Oath and Law, preparing them to be responsible, participating citizens—better grown ups, who, like Bill, are also able to deal positively with life's setbacks.

For more information about Scouting in your area, visit scouting.org.

FYI: In 2019 watch for a name change. Boy Scouts of America will officially become Scouts BSA to celebrate the inclusion of girls!

 

Jul 25, 2018

078 Laura Valentine—Penuel Ridge

Away From It All—Penuel Ridge Retreat Center

Helicopters, sirens, traffic, deadlines, quotas, to-do lists, demanding devices—noise, noise, noise, pressure, pressure, pressure—the hallmarks of everyday life! Where is the escape, the safe space away from it all, a place to simply to be, to renew, to reconnect? Laura Valentine knows.

Laura is the executive director of Penuel Ridge, a small retreat center not far from bustling Nashville, yet nestled in 135 acres of quiet, where individuals and small groups (of no more than 18) can find themselves. Open 365 days a year, Penuel Ridge is a contemplative, interfaith center offering safe, sacred space to be still in a peaceful setting to listen to one's inner voice and for the voice of God (however persons define the divine).

People come to walk the land, to listen to the sounds of nature, to study sacred texts, to journal, to rest, to simply be away and at peace. The retreats are self-directed. Consequently, each experience is unique to the individuals or groups who come. Some may walk the meadow-sized labyrinth; others may seek out the benches by the two-acre lake where the wildlife comes to share a moment. Some will gather by the fire circle, perhaps to listen to and tell stories or simply to savor s'mores and watch the dancing flames.

Others, especially in the extremes of weather, will find sacred space in the welcoming retreat house with its floor-to-ceiling windows. Still others will dip deeply into The Well, a circular, covered structure constructed with straw bales and stucco that invites people to connect with one another and with nature. No where are there TVs or cell phones.

The numbers of individuals and groups who come add up—nearly 2,200 each year. With a staff of only Laura and a part-time assistant, volunteers are essential for making the center a place of gracious hospitality and for being good stewards of the pristine wilderness. Whatever volunteers have interest in is needed—assisting with the administrative tasks, greeting and orienting guests, preparing rooms for the overnight visitors, bush-hogging, mowing, gardening, trail building and maintenance, filling the bird feeders, even checking the light bulbs.

Once a month, volunteers can be part of a cook team and hosts for Penuel Ridge's retreat for homeless persons. The center has as part of its mission to be in solidarity with the poor.

Volunteers are needed and are only limited by their imagination in terms of what they can contribute. As a way of appreciating those people who give their time, Penuel Ridge gives them equal time for their own personal retreat. After all, everyone needs safe, peaceful, sacred space.

For more information, visit the website (penuelridge.org), email Laura (l.valentine@penuelridge.org), or call the landline (615-792-5936).

Jul 18, 2018

077 Wayne Schmidt—Special Olympics Coach

Scoring a Strike—Special Olympics

Looking for a way to connect with his son who was learning disabled, Wayne Schmidt remembered the fun he had bowling when he was growing up. He began teaching his son the sport. Soon the son was playing better than the father—and others were noticing. "Who's his coach?" they would ask.

With his answer Wayne's life scored a strike! Soon he was coaching Special Olympic athletes in bowling for his community. As his teaching skill developed and the program grew to more than 60 special bowlers, he began coaching new coaches. Now, as head bowling coach for Team Florida, Wayne coaches on the county, area, state, and national level. At all levels Wayne, a volunteer himself, relies on other volunteers to make the games go smoothly and to help the athletes progress.

In addition to volunteer coaches, other volunteers manage the logistics of getting 60 bowlers to the right place at the right time. Some volunteers participate with the athletes in Unified Partner contests that pair a volunteer with an athlete for the event, and still others cheer all the athletes on, reminding each one that they are Olympians!

The ultimate objective of Special Olympics Florida is to help people with intellectual disabilities participate as productive and respected members of society at large, by offering them a fair opportunity to develop and demonstrate their skills and talents through sports training and competition, and by increasing the public’s awareness of their capabilities and needs. That's a goal that volunteers make possible—and everybody is a winner!

To find out more about Special Olympics in your state, visit specialolympics.org.

Jul 11, 2018

076 Jennifer Crews—Desert Sounds

Volunteers and Music—Making a Difference for Students

A 14 year old voluntarily helping a friend has inspired a movement that now reaches nearly 600 students each year and is growing. Jeremy and his friend played in the high school band until the friend’s parents divorced and he no longer had a trumpet to play. In their school district, funds were tight and consequently parents had to provide most of the instruments. Jeremy convinced his friend to switch to a clarinet, which the school did have, but neither the school nor the friend’s dad could afford to buy the reeds for the instrument. Jeremy found a job and dedicated his earnings to his friend so that he could play in the band. His selfless action became the Jeremy Project, which is now Desert Sounds.

The mission of Desert Sounds, based in the Phoenix area, is to provide children and youth access to music education. Research confirms what parents see when their children begin to play an instrument: Because music engages both sides of the brain, students do better in both math and reading. Jeremy knew this phenomenon first hand. He had struggled with a learning disability and did not read until he was in band in the eighth grade.

The organization, now ten years old, provides not only instruments to nearly 600 students but also works with volunteers to create and manage programming that gives students a sense of belonging, the opportunity to learn, and occasions to share their music. Musical Mentors gives one-on-one music lessons but goes a step further to create a mentoring relationship that helps students thrive in life as well as in band. The Mariachi Band goes out into the community to perform, to the delight of the hearers and the performers. The Electric Orchestra brings together technology and music, which appeals to particular students and consequently helps stem the dropout rate from traditional band in the vulnerable early teen years.

Like Jeremy, volunteers make all that possible. Musicians and non-musicians alike are crucial for not only working with the students but also for communicating to the community about the need and the organization. Volunteers also handle the administrative tasks that keep Desert Sounds on track for their stated goal of reaching 1,000 students each year!

To learn more, visit www.desertsounds.org.

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