Ted has been a cherished member of the Serving Seniors community for over 10 years. From being a member of our Civic Engagement Group to proudly serving as a Senior Volunteer Ambassador, his dedication shines through in everything he does.
Ted shares, in his own words, what being a volunteer means to him.
I started coming to the Gary and Mary West Senior Wellness Center in the fall of 2015. At first I came for breakfast and lunch. Within a couple of weeks, I became acquainted with members of the walking and singing groups. I also picked up a copy of the monthly activities calendar and decided to check out the Civic Engagement Committee. By the end of the first month at the Gary and Mary West Senior Wellness Center, I was a participate in all three groups. In the spring of 2016, about six months after I joined the walking group, the leader of the group resigned and I was offered the position. This was my first volunteer role at Serving Seniors. Around the same time, I became a co-leader of the singing group.
Serving as a volunteer ambassador and being part of civic engagement is meaningful to me for two reasons:
(1) It keeps me connected both with other seniors and younger volunteers spanning several generations. It builds a firewall against isolation and draws me into a kind of second family.
(2) Most important, it's a way of expressing gratitude. Over the course of a very long life (81 plus years at this point) I've had my share of ups and downs, but I've received more than my share of grace and kindness along the way, enough for me to believe I ought to pass at least a little of that grace and kindness around as long as I am able. Being a Senior Volunteer Ambassador and a Civic Engagement member is one way of doing that.
To anyone of any age who is thinking about volunteering with Serving Seniors, I would say you have an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of the seniors you'll be serving; a chance to hear some incredibly interesting life stories, and a way to contribute to making your community a better and fairer place for its neediest residents.
To all the staff, volunteers and familiar faces at Serving Seniors, thanks for all you've been for me, each other, and the senior community. It's been a privilege and a pleasure to be part of it all. Let's carry on!
