How do you describe the kind of volunteerism that brings a grown man to tears?
Bob is a volunteer in his mid-80s who refuses to quit. He works in People Who Care’s office, answering calls and arranging services. He also volunteers with a local organization that collects and distributes food. He is responsible for gathering all the food donations from his network of donors, and he helps other volunteers sort the food that has been collected. This man has lived a long and productive life; he’s raised a family, contributed to the community, been a good citizen. He, as much as anyone, deserves to rest in his retirement years, but he chooses to continue giving. And by the way, his wife has dementia and requires a great deal of support. We would understand if he chose to stay home with her.
How do you describe the kind of volunteerism that brings a grown man to tears? A colleague told me about an experience during Christmas 2020, the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. A local business executive was helping People Who Care (PWC) deliver food boxes to homebound adults. When he arrived at one elderly woman’s home, she refused it, telling him, “Give it to someone who needs it.” He responded by telling her that there was enough for everybody and he volunteered to put the items away for her. When he opened up the cupboard, it was completely bare. She literally had nothing.
Finally, how do you describe the volunteer spirit that turns darkness into light? Sometimes we volunteer to fill the emptiness of a loss. One of our volunteers turned to it when his wife of 49 years died. When asked why, he replied that it made him feel like he was a member of the families he served. When he became too old to drive, he refused to take help from PWC, explaining that he wanted it to go to those who needed it more than he did. Even in his mid-90s, he visited residents in his community who were ill or those who just needed company.
So, why do people volunteer? I’m not sure there’s a definitive answer. We certainly can’t ascribe it to a single thing; it’s complicated and very personal. Whatever drives us, however, seems to reward us in ways that are nearly indescribable. Maybe that’s the answer. Become a volunteer, and maybe you’ll find your own answer.
People Who Care needs volunteers to take its neighbors to the doctor and the grocery store and to provide several other nonmedical support services to help them live independently, safely and happily. And the hours are flexible – you can volunteer a couple hours a week or even just a couple of hours a month. Call 928-445-2480 today! QCBN
By Barry DeKemper
Barry DeKemper, a retired high school English teacher, is the Development Director for People Who Care, a local nonprofit that provides free transportation services and nonmedical support to homebound adults in the Quad Cities.
To find out more or to Volunteer for People Who Care, visit www.peoplewhocareaz.com.
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