LU HUNTER

Lu Hunter has been involved in community activities for more than 34 years. The majority of her volunteer service has been directed toward two groups, the aging and disabled. Her community activities began when her mentally challenged daughter was diagnosed at three years of age. Hunter immediately started to research what was available in the community and discovered that there were not many services of this kind available. She became active in the Work Oriented Rehabilitation Center (WORC) through the Parent’s Support Group and two years later became a member of the Board of Directors. This group represents both physically and mentally challenged persons.

Hunter is presently serving on the Southeast Volusia Advisory Council that is an outreach program for seniors and helps to make seniors aware of what is available to them in the local community and in the County. The Volusia Council on Aging is developing a Guardianship Advisory Panel for seniors who have no one to help them. Hunter serves as both the respite and the handicapped representative.

Hunter has also been a volunteer with The Volusia County Facilities Authority Board. It is a Board that oversees the auditing of the private Universities in Volusia County. Since 1985 Hunter has been a respite volunteer in a program that provides in-home supervision and companionship to the homebound, thereby relieving the Caregiver.

In addition, Hunter is an Area Coordinator for the Interfaith Care Team Initiative – Faith in Action (ICTI-FIA) program, which is a project funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-Faith in Action programs. The Mission of the Interfaith Care Team Initiative is to assist the frail elderly and disabled to access services, which they have difficulty in accessing in their Community. The services provided are relief for the caregiver (respite), telephone reassurance, light tasks and maintenance, and transportation. Hunter is also a member of the ICTI-FIA advisory board.

Hunter has been a respite volunteer since 1985 starting with the respite program initiated by the Council of Catholic Women. Presently, she is the Orlando Diocesan Council of Catholic Women Respite Coordinator. The Diocese encompasses nine counties. As part of her responsibilities Hunter serves as a speaker to market both the Interfaith Care Team Initiative and the respite program. She also conducts training programs in nine counties. As the Area Coordinator, Hunter markets the program to Community and Church groups in Volusia County.

Hunter serves as an advocate for both of these groups, researching and speaking out to help to improve the quality of life for those she serves. Each of her volunteer activities provides both outreach and education to make the public more aware of what is needed and how they can be apart of providing these needs – legislative advocacy, volunteering and education.