Recent News - Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America

01 Apr 2006

Volunteers are essential partners

Former President George H. W. Bush has said, “A volunteer is a person who can see what others cannot see; who can feel what most do not feel. Often, such gifted persons do not think of themselves as volunteers, but as citizens — citizens in the fullest sense: partners in civilization."

At each one of the 17 Presbyterian Manors and Villages, a group of these gifted citizens are fundamental to the sense of community our residents enjoy. Volunteers come in all shapes and sizes, from the very young to other retirees — even residents themselves. Whether they help out with residents’ daily needs and activities, or serve as members of an advisory committee, the efforts of our volunteers make the time residents and staff spend together even more enjoyable. At the Kansas City location alone, more than 4,300 hours of service were provided in the past year.

“As a not-for-profit organization, volunteers are important in helping us provide the quality of life and services our residents expect and deserve,” said William Ward, president and CEO of Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America. “We are grateful they choose to share in our mission and indeed, they are the embodiment of it.”

During National Volunteer Week, April 23 through 29, Manors and Villages will recognize the contributions of their volunteers and luncheons and dinners. We invite you to visit the calendar during this week to see when these celebrations of those who enhance life at our Manors and Villages will take place.

A quick search on presbyterianmanors.org using “volunteer” brings up more than 70 articles that cover how volunteers have contributed to life at Presbyterian Manors. These only provide examples of how volunteers enrich life at the Manors, as there are dozens more examples for each of our locations.

As Betty Gish, a resident volunteer at Aberdeen Village in Olathe, Kan., says, “Volunteers are what make Aberdeen successful, allowing staff to focus on the job at hand.” Mrs. Gish knows this only too well. She and husband Norv, who were two of the first residents of Aberdeen Village in 2001, have volunteered around the Village from the beginning.

A few weeks before Christmas that first year, the packages were building up. “You might need a volunteer to make this work,” Norv Gish said to the receptionist. “Get a cart, and I’ll deliver them.” After a year of doing it alone, Gish recruited volunteers Dick Ferguson and Jim Jackson, and resident packages have been delivered daily ever since.

Mrs. Gish, a retired schoolteacher, is responsible for keeping residents informed. She is always on hand to deliver the “Friday Flyer,” monthly calendars and special event notices to the in-house mailboxes. She also can be counted on to stuff marketing packets and help with large mailings.

At Presbyterian Manor in Sterling, resident volunteer Bob Campbell believes his service to the Manor comes from a higher calling. “I enjoy helping and serving others,” Mr. Campbell said. “Through them I am serving the Lord.”

Mr. Campbell and his wife, Eloise, who live in one of the Manor’s cottages, are well known to many at Presbyterian Manor. Mr. Campbell conducts the popular sing-a-long activities, where he leads the residents in singing old songs that even the “oldies” radio stations no longer play.

There are also the little everyday things that Mr. Campbell does for residents. He often delivers mail to residents who live on his cul-de-sac, and he also looks out for them, shoveling some of the snow off of neighbors’ walkways, “when the maintenance crew doesn’t beat me to it.”

Not all of our volunteers come with so much life experience. Young people bring their own special vitality as Presbyterian Manor volunteers. Even very young children can give residents the chance to feel closer to their grandchildren, who may live far away. Often, school and church groups visit, bringing opportunities for musical entertainment, guest church services — and love.

At several locations, children are learning the value of volunteering. The Grand Friends program at Aberdeen brings residents and children from Morse Elementary School together to share talents, time and friendship. In Fort Scott, Kan. a similar program helps elementary school children bridge the generation gap as both generations learn from each other. These programs may involve creating a work of art together, sharing a book read aloud or even writing each other’s life stories. In Lawrence, Kan., children have been part of the programs in the health care center for nearly a decade. While in Newton, Kan., residents volunteer in the Apple-A-Day preschool that celebrated its 10th anniversary last year.

At Parsons, Kan., students in the local high school’s health careers class learned that a desire to look nice and be pampered doesn’t age when they volunteered to host at day of beauty for Manor residents.

“The reason for Glamour Day is so our residents can enjoy an entire afternoon of being pampered, as if they were guests at a spa,” Executive Director Lori Seifert said.

At the first stop, the student volunteers helped residents deep-cleanse their faces and apply flattering makeup. Next was the hairstyling station, where residents received new hair-dos from their student beauticians-for-a-day before proceeding to the nail station for manicures. The final stop was a glamour portrait.

“The residents loved having the students fuss over them,” Seifert said. “You could really see their faces light up.”

Ask the Wednesday coffee volunteers at Dodge City, Kan., Manor of the Plains, and they’ll tell you their weekly service to the residents is something they look forward to, maybe more than the residents. At 9 a.m. every Wednesday, a group of volunteers helps prepare and serve the weekly coffee and donuts for residents and staff. They also assist staff in bringing residents who need assistance to get to the gathering. As they walk with residents or push a wheel chair, they offer news from the community and plenty of smiles.

“The happiness they bring to this group is heart-warming, the spirit of the gathering is heart-lifting, and the laughter is contagious,” said Marketing Director Patty McGee.

Another weekly group at the Manor is the Monday sewing group. Made up of residents whose desire to share their talents for sewing, quilting and knitting with those less fortunate, this group has created beautiful blankets, quilts and shawls to warm others physically and in spirit. A shipment of 20 quilts was sent to a Native American reservation in Oklahoma, and as many to those displaced by hurricane Katrina, not to mention dozens of shawls provided in the Dodge City community and beyond through the Shawl Ministry. Their good works are made possible by donations of fabric from people in the community.

Still others are drawn to volunteer by friends and loved ones who are residents at Manors and Villages. Because Frances Pratte’s mother, Glenda Ward, is a resident at the Farmington, Mo., Manor, she is aware of just how important the visits by volunteers can be. When asked why she volunteers so much of her time at the Manor, she said simply, “Because I enjoy it! This is one thing I can do to bring a little music, fun and company into the residents’ lives.”

Mrs. Pratte volunteers her time at the Manor in many ways. In addition to her visits with the residents, she plays the piano for worship service every Wednesday afternoon and accompanies sing-alongs. She and husband Ed also help with each year’s Fall Festival.

Like all great volunteers, Frances Pratte is willing to jump in at a moment’s notice when her talents or helping hands are needed. And although, by definition, volunteering is performing helpful work without pay, Mrs. Pratte feels the gratitude she feels every time she walks into the Manor is more than adequate compensation. “The hugs and smiles are all the reward I could ever ask for.”

At the Manor in Fulton, Mo., many groups from the community volunteer their time to lift their voices and those of the residents’ in song. The Singing Seniors, Music and Memories, Kingdomaires, and Callaway Combo are just a few of the groups that bring music into the Manor.

“Our Manor (and our residents) greatly appreciate every individual and group who share in the lives of our residents through their volunteer efforts,” said Jackie Leutkemeyer, executive director. “Their warmth and friendship makes the Manor a great place to live and work.”

Even employees at Presbyterian Manors and Villages volunteer their time. Whether sharing their artistic talents, leading a group in song or prayer, or making personal visits to residents after they’ve “clocked out,” exemplifies their desire to make a difference.

This year’s National Volunteer Week theme is “Inspire by Example.” There’s no question that the volunteers throughout the Presbyterian Manors system inspire us every day. We are grateful for their generosity all year long.

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