COMMUNITY CAREGIVERS OF GREATER DERRY
Community' Caregivers of Greater Derry is a nonprofit agency serving elderly, disabled and chronically ill residents of six communities through a network of caring volunteers. These volunteers enable the clients to remain independent in their own homes by providing free assistance with transportation, light chores, visiting, respite, grocery shopping, and telephone reassurance. Volunteers receive no pay for their time. Caregivers was founded in 1988 by a group of people from the community and local churches who saw a need for volunteer services to supplement existing programs and to provide services not available at all or not affordable to many. Last year 145 volunteers helped 197 people. Over the past 14 years, Caregiver volunteers have helped nearly 1000 people. A primary need in this area is transportation, particularly for medical appointments. There is no public transportation. Many people are too frail or ill to utilize public transportation even if it did exist. Other services provide local van transport, but all may require payment, advance reservations or only transport to their location or specific locations on designated days. Some residents are patients with doctors outside the Derry area. These destinations are reachable only by cab or private vehicle. Volunteers also provide rides to kidney dialysis and to radiation therapy. Other people rely on volunteers to shop for them, pick up prescriptions, put in screens or storm windows, do laundry or light cleaning, or just stop in to visit once a week. Some clients also volunteer. For five years one elderly woman who received rides, grocery shopping and light chores herself, called another client at 8 a.m. every weekday. One Monday she did not call. The call receiver became concerned and called our office. The police and fire departments were dispatched and found the caller on the floor where she had been for two days. She had no family, and without doubt she would have been on the floor until her shopper arrived on Thursday. She recovered and thereafter called seven days a week instead of five. They coordinate volunteer efforts with high school students, youth groups, Scout troops, and local company employees who choose one day every fall to rake leaves, clean gutters and fix storm windows. Members of RSVP, AARP, Easter Seals and the SHARE program are Caregiver volunteers. Another volunteer is a Region 10 client. For two years, accompanied by her caseworker, she has done laundry and light chores for an elderly woman. She herself receives rides once a week. Each volunteer helps alleviate community issues of loneliness, isolation and an insufficient number of services. With a little help people live with dignity and independence and remain connected community members. In 2001, volunteers gave 6,059 hours of their time. Of those hours, 32% was spent on grocery shopping, 27% on transport and 22% on light chores. Volunteers drove 23,905 miles or almost four round trips to Los Angeles. One round trip for dialysis costs approximately $32 by cab or $5,000 per year for three treatments per
HAGGEO GAUTIER
Haggeo Gautier runs three programs for the Christian Service Center for Central Florida: Family & Emergency Services (pantry items, clothing, financial assistance and referral), Daily Bread (serving 500 each day a nourishing noontime meal), and Fresh Start (a men’s residential program). Mr. Gautier is a wonderful person filled with patience, compassion and dedication to helping anyone that he meets. His patience is evidenced in myriad situations. Once when a mentally challenged homeless client threw a bowl of soup on Mr. Gautier in the soup kitchen, he just walked out laughing at the noodles hanging on his head. Race and background are not an issue to him. Mr. Gautier greets people with a smile and a hug, and does whatever is necessary to get someone the help they need. In addition to his duties at the Center, Mr. Gautier is an ordained minister. After “taking a break” from the church for several years, he felt drawn to help the homeless find Christ and purpose in their lives. Two years ago he opened the “Inner City Community Church” in the downtown area of Orlando. He wanted a place for the homeless to worship each Sunday where they would feel comfortable and welcomed. Many homeless people feel embarrassed to walk into a church where others are dressed up and look nice. Recently Mr. Gautier began a new project—he has opened a Friday night coffee house. It is simply a place to go for a free cup of coffee and some friendly fellowship. He said he wanted to keep the homeless off the streets and away from drugs, alcohol and panhandling. In addition, Mr. Gautier has found time to volunteer at other organizations in the area and to raise three teenage children. Mr. Gautier received the 1999 Florida Coalition for the Homeless outstanding service award for his outstanding work to the community. He gives his heart, his time and his soul to helping the homeless and needy.
TRACI HAFEN
Each year in the community of St. George, Utah, heads of community agencies sponsor a community meeting at which social problems and needs are addressed. At this time, residents have an opportunity to voice their opinions. From the community meeting in 2000, it was determined that there was a need for a transportation system in St. George that everyone could utilize. The Dixie Area Rapid Transit (DART) system began this project with a start-up grant, but there was no money for bus shelters. This system was created to help all, but particularly handicapped individuals, youth, senior citizens and lower income workers that needed transportation to their places of employment. Traci Hafen was serving as the co-president of the Youth Volunteer Corps (YVC). As a part of the Youth Engaged In Service Olympic Legacy Project, Hafen committed the youth to build the 18 to 20 bus shelters needed for the DART system. Hafen attended transportation meetings, engaged the high school vocational tech class to design bus shelters and presented the final designs to the City Council. Youth then became involved in several construction sites over the summer. She then rode the bus routes with several other YVC board members to determine appropriate bus shelter sites. Hafen has demonstrated leadership and commitment to the goals of this project. In addition she has shown her ability to recruit others and mobilize them to catch a glimpse of her vision.
ALAN DONN & DOROTHY HOLLE AND FAMILY
Alan Donn, his wife Dorothy, and his parents Ruth and Ray, are the organizers of a combined team of AT&T and IBM’ers in Tampa, Florida, for the annual Florida Coastal Cleanup. The Florida Coastal Cleanup is part of the International Coastal Cleanup held worldwide on the same day. The goal is to rid shorelines and oceans of trash and debris. Starting with 25 volunteers in 1993, the Donn Family has increased the participation to 97 volunteers in 2001. Through their efforts land that was previously a dumping ground has been transformed into a pristine area which the Southwest Florida Water Management District is developing into a new Tampa Park to be enjoyed by everyone this year. Dorothy Holle-Donn, Ray and Ruth Donn work with Al to get both groups the necessary materials, such as posters, gloves, trash bags, forms for items collected, t-shirts, etc. to the two sites. The annual event planning includes many AT&T and IBM families. An itemized list of what was collected is kept by each volunteer group. These lists have been used to get valuable legislation enacted. Unwanted beach debris is a constant concern especially since with Florida’s long coastline. This is a problem for the wildlife and the public. Tourism is one of Florida’s main industries. The Donn family and their volunteers are assisting with the local economy to keep Florida beautiful. Local storms that leave behind debris to wash up on Florida’s shores as well as people not disposing of their trash properly, cause health and safety hazards to both humans and wildlife, such as fish, birds, turtles, etc. In 2001, AT&T employees chose this project as one of five “AT&T Champions of the Environment” program winners. With this award came $1000, which was donated to Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful, a not-for-profit organization. Application for an AT&T CARES grant has been made. The Donn family has seen many children over the years become ecologically involved. These children were introduced, at an early age, to beach cleanup through this annual event. Through their school years, they continued to volunteer to help in preserving our environment. It has also been a wonderful opportunity for families to work together and teach public responsibility. Al and his wife volunteer their time with children, even though they do not have children of their won, at the National Teach-In, and work also with disabled children. Al and Dorothy also work with the local Sierra Club. The local AT&T Poineers Club of Tampa continues to support the Annual Florida Coastal Cleanup because of Al Donn and his family. We know it is a very worthwhile project.
ARMELLA BARNES
Settled in 1857, South Jordan was primarily a rural farming community when it became incorporated as a town in 1935. In 1960, the population was 1,354, and by 1970 the population had more than doubled to 2,942. Housing gradually started to replace farmland as the population once again more than doubled by 1980. South Jordan's exponential growth since the early 1970s has brought all the challenges and opportunities of growth. The current population is estimated to be 33,010. Armella Barnes has been involved as a volunteer in South Jordan since 1996. She initially began serving on the Public Safety Committee as an alternate Board Member. She has been an integral member of the Public Safety Committee since then. Their collective responsibilities include how to coordinate and distribute resources subsequent to a disaster, how to best address fire and police budgetary requirements, graffiti removal, city clean-up tasks, street sidewalk, and other structure safety, as well as civilian education through various city, state and federal sponsored programs. Barnes is now a Board Member serving as a Liaison to the fire department. In her capacity as a Board Member, Barnes advises the fire department on safety issues facing the community. Barnes has also been instrumental in providing equipment for the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Incident Command Trailer. In 1998, Barnes accepted the position of CERT Coordinator and oversees all training and CERT volunteer membership. Because of her involvement, emergency training has increased and more citizens and private business employees are now trained in emergency response. Barnes also serves as chairperson for the CERT Committee, which is the fire department’s right hand in the coordination of volunteers in the event of an emergency. In addition, Barnes assists the fire department as an EMT Instructor and CPR Instructor. She has assisted the Fire Prevention Division in the middle schools and helped to instruct more than 1500 students in CPR. Though Armella Barnes has a family and other responsibilities, she takes the time to make her community a better place. She spends many hours of service away from her home to provide South Jordan City with necessary equipment and training needs.
BRIAN & JO ANN BARRETT
Brian and Jo Ann Barrett volunteer their time, talents, and money to Girl Scouts of Othaki Council, Mississipi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship, and to area school systems such as Notre Dame High School and St. Vincent de Paul School. The Barrett’s are enormous assets for the Girl Scouts, working at both the troop and council levels. They have served as committee members of troops 25 and 45 for 18 years, accumulating nearly 900 hours of work; and as Brownie leaders of troop 45 for one year, they have accumulated 60 hours. Being troop leader and committee member involves planning and implementing programs at troop meetings, ensuring the safety of the girls, transporting girls to events, and communicating with parents. At the council level, the Barretts served as coordinators of “Third Grade Brownie Holiday” for the past three years and “Goblin Getaway” last year. These programs include organizing and planning activities for the Girl Scout Council, which includes eleven counties in Missouri and Illinois. They have served as wranglers and head wranglers for the council’s horseback riding program for six years, which involves teaching girls of all ages to ride horses as well as providing them with information regarding saddles and equipment, horse care, and horse temperament. When girls are taught horseback riding, they build confidence and self-esteem. Additionally, the Barretts have served on the Camping Service Operating Unit for three years and helped with the Cherokee Ridge Work Day for five years. Furthermore, the Barretts donate their time to raise money for two local school systems. For the past ten years, they have helped with the St. Vincent de Paul Grade School Dinner Auction and have also been volunteering with the Notre Dame High School Bingo weekly for four years. The Barretts have given 75 hours of service to the Mississippi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship program that benefits children with physical and developmental disabilities involving muscles. They lead horses, aid as side walkers, and assist the therapists and children in therapy on the horses. It would be impossible to count the number of people the Barretts have served or helped to serve. They go above and beyond the call of duty working tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of children of all ages, disabilities, and backgrounds. Without people like them, many of these activities would not be available because the organizations rely heavily on volunteers in order to exist. Brian and Jo Ann are for the betterment of society no matter what the temperature is, how much time it takes, or what challenges are brought before them.
CAROL MOORE
Perspectives Family Center and RESTART program share a unique partnership to assist homeless women. The Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) realized that there is a great need to help women who have been on drugs, involved with domestic violence or institutions by training them to become self-sufficient. They became concerned that spiraling housing costs, combined with welfare reform would put many more families on the street.
They work together and provide job training, job placements with competitive wages, future advancement and residency that accompanies the job placement. This partnership gives homeless women the change to obtain a respectful and affordable living situation for their families and a way to support their families on their own. The real estate industry gains well-trained and motivated employees and the women gain self- respect, a good paying job with a future and affordable housing.
Kathleen McKenna-Harmon has been the driving force behind this partnership. She has taken this mission on almost single handedly to promote this program within her industry and community. But most importantly, she has been an invaluable role model, support and cheerleader for the women participating. She has successfully convinced they women that they are worth this opportunity if they want to work for it, and she will be there in any capacity to support them as long as they are doing they part.
McKenna-Harmon has worked passionately on behalf of the women in the RESTART program. These women have very few job skills, but she has developed, recruited, trained and even found employers who will hire the women as resident managers. Because of this, the residents of Perspectives Family Center can move out of transitional housing and into permanent housing with benefits. The women are happy with the time and the “gift” of being able to obtain employment opportunities; however, they are most happy that they can become contributing members to society and have their dignity. For the first time, many of these women are excited about their own potential.
McKenna-Harmon takes a group of women who have failed by society’s standards and works with them to realize their potential and become professional women with a sense of self-esteem and self-worth. The women learn every aspect of the property management business and have the opportunity to go further once they graduate. IREM and McKenna-Harmon will then work with them so they can attain their real estate licenses. McKenna-Harmon is not about a lot of words; she is a woman of action. Her actions have affected many women and their children and resulted in a better Eden Prairie community.
Manuel L. Valente
Plymouth County’s 27 communities in southeastern Massachusetts have no volunteer center nor any other regional organization or mechanism for encouraging voluntary citizen participation. Manny Valente worked with local citizens to create a new, non-profit corporation, Mayflower RSVP, Inc., to fill the gap. Incorporated on December 14, 1999, Mayflower RSVP initiates projects and programs that mobilize volunteer service activities to bring about the changes people need in their lives. He was an organizing member of the board for Mayflower RSVP, Inc., and now holds the office of Treasurer.
During RSVP’s first year, he volunteered for special events of the fledgling organization to engage others to serve. His personal efforts brought new visitors to Evanswood Center for Older Adults on Make a Difference Day last October, hosted volunteers from all walks of service at an open house during National Volunteer Week in April, and provide ongoing administrative support to the staff of RSVP—besides signing all the checks twice each month.
Mr. Valente’s personal commitment to citizen volunteering is not new to his role with Mayflower RSVP. He has served more than 50 years as a citizen volunteer. He designed budgets for the Town of Plymouth on their Finance Committee in the early 1950s. As a member of the local Kiwanis Club, he’s worked on countless fundraisers for them since 1960, delivered Meals-on-Wheels with them to local shut-ins, and has been the Kiwanis Secretary for the past decade. Even when he was working full-time in his florist ship, he displayed the kind of caring that earned him the nickname “Mr. Goodbar.” He worked long hours after the shop closed up for the night—often during the holidays, because, as he told his children, “someone always needs flowers.” He’s built his life around seeing what someone needs—and then delivering it himself.
The creation of Mayflower RSVP, Inc. has resulted in the Senior Corps’ RSVP program serving Plymouth County this past year and providing for people 55 and older, and has provided the means to organize volunteer services that allow change to ameliorate people’s lives. Last April, Mayflower RSVP, Inc. made a targeted outreach to the Town of Plymouth for National Volunteer Week’s “Red V Campaign.” All 400 residents of Plymouth who serve on Councils, Committees, Commissions or Task Forces for the town, or who provided direct services to residents at the public library, recycling center or the Senior Center, received a “Red V” in their thank-you letter from America’s Home Town.
Jackie Santos
Jackie Santos is a mentor with the PATs Program through the Volunteer Center of Bergen County, Inc. Time is the most precious gift a person can give, and though it is free; it is sometimes the most hardest gift to part with. Santos is the mother of three young children and holds a management position with a large bank. However, she makes the time to be a part of 18 year-old Lucy’s life and Lucy’s 15 month old son.
Santos completed the PAT’s fifteen-hour training in the Fall of 2001. She was then matched with “Lucy,” a seventeen year old teen mom. Lucy’s parents are deceased, and she has been an open DYFS case for most of her life. She has lived a live replete with abuse, betrayal and loss. However, the saddest dimension of her and her baby’s life was that they had virtually no adult support or encourangement.
At the time of their meeting, she was living in a group home, not working and not attending GED prep classes on a regular basis. Santos and Lucy formed an almost immediate bonds which continues to grow. With Santos’ caring support and encouragement, Lucy’s situation has changed for the better. Lucy is now in school, working and living in a stable home for the first time in many years.
Her relationship with Santos has caused her to think about choices before she makes them and realize the affects of what she does. She is more confident in herself as a young woman and is realizing her potential more and more each day. Santos makes herself available to help Lucy with every aspect of her life and she rejoices with Lucy after each new obstacle has been overcome.
In addition to being a caring support person in Lucy’;s life, Santos has been a determined advocate for her mentee within the system. She has also provided practical partening and life skills. Clearly her most important contribution has been that she is always there for Lucy. At present, Lucy and the baby are doing well and hopeful about their future.
Philadelphia Young Playwrights
Since 1987, Philadelphia Young Playwrights has provided quality literacy and arts education for the diverse communities in and around the city of Philadelphia. Their mission is to tap into the potential of youth and inspire learning through playwriting.
Young Playwrights? core program is one year long and takes place in the classroom during the school day. Young Playwrights employs professional teaching artists from the Philadelphia community and pairs them with classroom teachers to form Artistic Teams. Together these teams design and implement an intensive curriculum of playwriting in the classroom. Annually, Young Playwrights serves over fifty classrooms in a broad spectrum of city and suburban and public and private schools.
The yearlong program promotes academic skills, literacy, creativity, problem solving, self-esteem, theatre skills and motivation for students of varying backgrounds and academic abilities. Spending twenty-five hours in the classroom and devoting personal attention to each student, artists and teachers partner up to teach students how to tell their stories through playwriting.
Young Playwrights treats all students with respect as writers, and expects and receives high standards and professionalism from the students because they listen to what the students have to say. They transform the lives of young people by engaging them in their own education and retooling the system in which they learn.
At the end of the school year, students who choose to may submit their finished scripts to Young Playwrights Annual Play Festival. This year, nearly 800 students submitted scripts, and each of those students will receive a personal response to their play from Young Playwright’s Literacy Committee. The committee selects winners from the elementary, middle and high school levels. Winning plays are given staged readings and professional productions with Philadelphia community partners, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Temple University’s Department of Theater, InterAct Theatre Company and Philadelphia Theatre Company.
Young Playwrights program is effective because it begins with one simple truth ?every student has something to say. For many of the students, that is a new way of thinking. They began to value their opinion and think more highly of themselves. They believe their ideas matter, and they become intent on getting them heard.
