By Lisa Majernik, Development Manager, Faith in Action
As people seek ways to enhance their well-being, volunteering stands out as a fulfilling and impactful choice. Volunteering not only provides essential support to communities, but it also fosters significant mental and physical health benefits for those who give their time. Studies show that volunteering can reduce stress, combat depression, improve overall mood, build meaningful relationships and increase self-esteem.
But finding the right volunteer opportunity can come with its own set of challenges such as choosing an organization where you feel comfortable and appreciated; controlling your time commitment; and looking for opportunities that align with your interests and values. Faith in Action is a local organization where many have discovered engaging volunteer work that makes an enormous impact on others, while enriching their own lives.
Faith in Action has grass roots in our community. Almost twenty years ago, a group of parish nurses saw a problem. Older adults from faith communities needed transportation to medical appointments. The need was too great for one faith community to meet on its own, but the nurses knew if they worked together, they could make a difference by helping older adults in the larger Bloomington/Normal community.
They began after receiving a grant from the Robert Wood Foundation and eventually formed their own non-profit. Current board member and original member of the first Faith in Action Steering Committee, Sandy Holcomb said, “Over the first several years our care receiver rolls grew about 50 a year and fortunately, the volunteer corps was able to keep up with the growing demand for our services.” Today, Faith in Action utilizes over 475 volunteers to provide services to 525+ care receivers.
Volunteers of all ages have found Faith in Action (FIA) to be the ideal opportunity. They can choose when and how they serve throughout three programs: medical transportation, grocery shopping, and friendly visitors. Sandy says, “I saw Faith in Action as the perfect fit for retirees who lead very active lives and who would like to do something to help in our community. A volunteer chooses the ride or shift that fits their schedule and there are no minimum hours or shifts that they need to volunteer.”
Driving for Medical Transportation
Roxanne Castleman has been a volunteer with Faith in Action for over two years. Roxanne explained, “I worked in the social service field for over 30 years and recently retired. I knew I wanted to do something to give back to my community and when I heard about the work FIA does, I knew this was the fit for me. My mom had dementia, and I knew how important it was for her to be able to be independent as long as possible.” Volunteering in two roles, Roxanne spends most Wednesday mornings at the transportation desk where she is on the frontline to answer phone calls from volunteers and care receivers scheduling appointments and meeting their needs. Her other role is as a medical driver. Roxanne said, “When I looked at the medical or grocery drivers, I knew medical was where I wanted to volunteer as grocery shopping is my least favorite chore. And going back to my mom, I knew how difficult it was for my sisters and I to rearrange our schedules to take her to her doctor’s appointments, especially since we all lived far from her and were working full time.”
While volunteering in the office is done on a consistent basis, driving for medical transportation is something Roxanne can fit in around her schedule. She said, “I try to drive once a week, but there are some weeks that I take more than one ride and there have been weeks when I am not able to drive at all.”
Roxanne has found that as a driver, she has been able to make meaningful connections in the community. She said, “Gail is a volunteer and when she was not able to drive and needed a ride to physical therapy for several months, she also became a FIA care receiver. I signed up to drive Gail one time, and then it worked in my schedule to drive her a few more times. Well, that turned into me driving her weekly for 4 months, and over that time we became friends. We have gone out to eat, shared our daughter’s wedding photos and kept in touch by phone to see how our families are doing. She has become a friend and someone I enjoy talking to.”
While Roxanne acknowledges she is doing a small act of service for someone, she finds that she receives great benefit. She says, “Knowing that I have had a role in helping someone stay independent simply by driving them the short distance to a doctor’s appointment, is a rewarding feeling. Many times, I will drive the same care receivers as I feel it helps them when they are familiar with a driver, but I also find joy in driving new care receivers as I then get to learn more about them.”
Grocery Shopping
Almost immediately after Faith in Action began providing rides to medical appointments, they recognized a need to help older adults have transportation to the grocery store. As Barb, a care receiver in her nineties explains, “You can’t go to the grocery store on the bus…well you can, but you can’t get your groceries home, on the bus!” There is a grocery shopping coordinator who works to pair care receivers with a volunteer to meet their shopping needs. There is a wide range of options. Care receivers can choose the grocery store or food pantry of their choice, and having a consistent volunteer helps the volunteer to understand shopping preferences. Volunteers may drop off the care receiver for shopping, go inside and shop with them, take their list and return for groceries, or do a grocery pick-up.
Galen Engle has served as a shopping volunteer for over two years. While some find grocery shopping a chore, as an avid chef and baker, it is something he loves. Galen takes great pride in helping the care receiver get their groceries while preserving their independence. He is happy to either shop alongside someone or bring them their groceries. While shopping for care receivers, Galen loves to visit different stores and explore new products on the shelves. One of his favorite moments is making sure they have the exact item they need! When asked to describe the benefits of volunteering Galen said, “It is a two-fold blessing, one of which is having the ability to serve those in need and to also understand and hear the impact I’m having on others.”
Friendly Visiting
Friendly visiting is Faith in Action’s newest program, and one where many volunteers find fulfillment. Volunteers are matched with a care receiver to provide companionship through socializing together in-person or by phone. These relationships often develop into true friendships with both the volunteer and care receiver learning and growing from one another. Volunteer Emily Buhrow is a working mom who has flexibility in her busy schedule. Emily said, “I have a soft spot in my heart and passion for helping older adults. The thought of someone sitting at home with nowhere to go and having no one or few people to call or visit them, just puts a pit in my stomach. When I heard of the friendly visitor program, I felt called to be a part of it. This program directly combats the problem of loneliness that older adults are experiencing every day. Plus, it’s an opportunity to gain a new friend which is exciting to me!”
Emily quickly formed a bond with her care receiver. They talk on the phone or see each other every other week. Emily has also encouraged her to reach out if she is having a rough day. Emily said, “My family and I took my care receiver, Shirley, out for her birthday dinner. We also had our toddler bring her flowers and a little gift. She was just elated that we took the time to do that. I am a big birthday celebrator, so it was important to me to make sure she felt special and loved on her birthday. I know it made her day and I hope she knows how much we truly care about her. I always look forward to our phone calls and visits.”
There is no doubt that volunteering is a powerful way to enrich your life and the lives of those around you. Whether you dedicate an hour a week or an hour a month, the rewards are immeasurable. There are many volunteer opportunities available – find a cause that resonates with you and start making a difference today.
If you are seeking a new volunteer opportunity, consider volunteering with Faith in Action. You can learn more online at bnfia.org or by emailing office@bnfia.org, or by calling 903-827-7780 . Faith in Action provides spiritual, physical, and emotional support to older adults over 60 years in age and their caregivers to maintain
independence, dignity, and improved quality of life. We accomplish this through an interfaith network of volunteers, congregations, and community organizations.
