Recognizing senior volunteers
A typical day for a senior Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development (COAD) volunteer might include working with children in the classroom who need a little extra help or caring for adults over 55 who may need help with their daily living needs.On Nov. 6, COAD senior volunteers were recognized at the annual volunteer recognition event that was held at the Tuscarawas County Senior Center, located at 425 Prospect Street in Dover.
Ninety-three senior volunteers, who participate in the Foster Grandparent program and the Senior Companion program, were congratulated for their service, given awards, heard special speakers, and enjoyed a catered luncheon.
Kirk Guisti, Area I senior programs coordinator, welcomed those who attended.
“This program has been going on for 37 years now,” said Guisti. “I have been coordinating the event for the past three years. This is a great program in which the senior volunteers receive a tax-free stipend and mileage reimbursement. Also, the clients receive the senior companion service free of charge, which can be a rare thing these days.”
COAD is a federally funded, nonprofit, community-based organization. The COAD Area I office covers Belmont, Carroll, Harrison, Jefferson, and Tuscarawas counties.
Volunteers can work from 20 to 40 hours per week, assisting clients or mentoring children in one of the educational facilities in their area.
Following Guisti’s welcome, Ruth Bachman and Richard Gay, from Vision Rehabilitation Services, expounded on the vision program, designed to serve people 55 and older with vision impairment diagnosed by an eye doctor.
“The program is completely free to the individual,” said Bachman. “The service provides advice, training, and rehabilitation, which may include meal safety and kitchen management, ordering books on tape for the individuals, safety prevention due to vision loss, and the use of stronger magnifiers, as well as many other daily living skills when you have visual impairment.”
State Rep. Alan Sayre then congratulated the senior volunteers and the 16 new seniors who have recently joined.
“This confirms that your generation has been volunteering for a long time, and you should be congratulated for that.”
Awards were handed out by Gary Goosman, COAD senior programs director.
Mabel Decker was given the 20 Years of Service award for her work in the Foster Grandparent program.
“I think this is a great program,” said 87-year-old Decker. “I feel like I am doing something worthwhile. I worked at the United Way day care for 17 years, and for the past three years I have been volunteering at the Twin City Learning Center. We have 32 children that we help prepare for kindergarten.”
Decker recently received her degree in child development from Belmont Tech.
Joan Brewer and Deloris Kinsey were rewarded for 15 years of service, Merna Nelson for 10, Christina Busby, Elsie Duncan, Bertha Gotschall, Louis Hewitt, Laura Russell, Shirley Smitley, and Joy Stocker for five years of service, and Mary Rousch, Dortha Mills, Dianna Cook, Cynthia Bailey, and M. Evelyn Statler for one year of service as a foster grandparent.
Victoria Knox, Ute Neitzelt, and Susan Romey received awards for one year of service in the Senior Companion program.
Regional liaison Trish McCullough, from the office of Congressman Zack Space, brought recognition letters signed by Congressman Space.
“Many people do not know about this program,” said McCullough. “It gives the volunteers a social outlet as well as them providing a community service.”
Debbie Schumacher, child care coordinator of COAD’s Early Care and Education Division, also congratulated the senior volunteers on their service.
COAD’s Early Care and Education Division is part of the statewide Child Care Resource and Referral Services system that was started in 1993 by the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services.
“We never want child care to become a barrier for families going to school or working,” said Schumacher.
Following the awards presentation, a luncheon, catered by the Tuscarawas County Senior Center, was served by Harcatus RSVP volunteers through the coordinated help of Gail Baldwin, Harcatus RSVP program director.
In addition to the meal, special table favors were placed at senior volunteer placemats, several door prizes were handed out, and cookbooks were available for sale with proceeds going to the David V. Stivison Scholarship Fund.
“Without the efforts and the support of our communities,” said Guisti, “we could not have the success we do by helping children and seniors in need.”
For information on becoming a foster grandparent or senior companion volunteer, contact Kirk Guisti, Area I COAD coordinator, at kguisti@coadinc.org or telephone him at 330-987-7232.