BU-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 1, 2000 Idella Bender, activities director at the Goodwill Mennonite Home, Grantsville, Maryland, knows the value of a volunteer. With their help, the Goodwill activities department has a very successful crafts program which generates revenues for res idents to do and have fun things. Salute To Volunteers GRANTSVILLE (Md.) - As far as Idella Bender is con cerned, you need look only for the nearest volunteer to see beauty being magnified. In the activities department at the Goodwill Mennonite Home where she holds the posi tion of director, Bender cites a long list of good things done for residents by volunteers. ‘The biggest thing for volun teers is the social interaction,” She says. Elsie Schrock lives near enough to the facility that on the days she goes there to volunteer, Schrock can walk from her home. “I’ve been volunteering for 10 years,” she said, smiling broadly. I enjoy visiting with older peo ple. It’s a real blessing.” Mary Alice Skidmore who spruces up and makes a charm ing picture behind a small hill of foam rubber she has snipped for animal and doll stuffings, seems to be likeminded. Four years ago, when Skidmore moved into the Goodwill Retirement Village, she too, joined the volunteer ranks at the nursing facility. I’m a walker,” she reports. T enjoy it (volunteering) and feel it is useful. I enjoy being with patients and working with them.” Selfless individuals like Schrock, Skidmore and numer ous others are people who instill value to the word “Volunteer.” During April 9-15 - National Volunteer Week - the Points of Light Foundation puts volun teers across the country in the spotlight. Recently, Bender’s poem enti tled “Volunteers Magnify Beauty” was published in 'Creative Forecasting,” a nation al magazine for volunteers. Shirley Teets, Bender’s assistant director, submitted the piece which rhythmically recounts by name, the volunteers and what they do at Goodwill Home. What makes the volunteer so special is the choice to serve. The high schoolers coming to fulfill community service require ments may be an exception, however, they deserve credit for the significant contributions to boost the residents’ morale. Their natural vitality is stim ulating to the residents when young people and babies are around them. So once a year there is Baby Day. Mothers bring their preschool children to play at the home and the resi dents lap it up. “Sometimes,” Bender says, “We get ‘grumped’ at because there weren’t enough babies to go around.” The craft activities at Goodwill are tremendously suc cessful, thanks to volunteer helpers and home sewers. When finished, the sale out lets for Goodwill Home crafts are area festivals, local craft shops and shopping malls. Two outlets, however are in Pennsylvania at East Earl and Smicksburg. The crafts include ceramics, stuffed geese, chicken and cat doorstops; yo-yo clowns that attract college kids; teddy bears and dolls, sock monkeys, and Amish dolls. “The Amish dolls we cannot make fast enough,” Bender said. The sales generate revenues invested for extracurricular activities for the residents. Trips to the mall, for instance, parties, and other surprises. They do, however, remember to give something back. “At Christmas we buy gifts and wrap them for the Union Rescue Mission in Cumberland (Md.), “Bender reported. To an observer on a Friday afternoon, Elsie Schrock might be holding court at an oblong table where she leads the ladies in her charge to make the indi vidual yo-yos. The residents, chattering happily, are eager to sew. First, however, Schrock takes one from a stack of precut 6-inch rounds of fabric, joins it and a smaller liner, makes a few stitches with the threaded needle and turns under the edge as she goes. It is ready for the resident to continue the process. When fin ished Schrock securely knots the thread. Some 70 yo-yos are needed for a clown. Fourteen for each arm, leg, and body. Surrounded by chunks of foam rubber, Skidmore works at another table. On the floor a large cardboard box is overflow ing with plastic bags holding the cut up foam bits Hers is tedious work and the snipped pieces not easily con trolled. They are the stuffings for the sassy goose, the chubby chicken, the cat and cuddly ani mals. “We don’t go anywhere that we don’t look for a pattern," Bender said, amused. ~lbe goose we found in North Carolina.” It was a volunteer who inau gurated Current Event Day by resourcing the local newspapers. His foresight found the more alert residents paying closer attention to televised newcasts. They, moreover, brought what they remembered to the next discussion about the happenings of the day. The rising gasoline, in fact, was a topic they under stood. Another volunteer negotiated the bird watching project that collects data for studies at Cornell University, according to Elaine Yoder, another staff mem ber. Volunteers help residents accomplish the seed growing project in spring. Add balloon tennis, bingo, physical exercises, evening pro grams, and entertainment. Most importantly, there is Chapel for the residents’ spiritual food and edification. We can’t forget those who, once a year, make homemade ice cream for the home and those in summer who tackle the outer premises. These are skilled in maintenance, gardening, and landscaping. They prefer the fresh air and sunshine. So it seems when it comes to the volunteer’s contribution to society, only his or her imagina tion and the sky itself, are the limits of what they might do for others. Following is Bender’s poem: 'f I f£r You want to know what’s happening Within the Goodwill door lyiaiiy AlicG Skidmore Clara and print it The world knows more and more Here volunteer Elsie Schrock joyfully tackles the mak ing of yo-yos for the popular yo-yo clowns. Around Schrock are residents waiting for her to give them a threaded needle so they, too, can begin sewing. VOLUNTEERS MAGNIFY BEAUTY There is beautfin reflection Much beauty does abound The volunteers among us Do magnify it all around. The sewers work behind the scenes Cats, teddy bears and geese they do produce It’s Elsie Green, Mary Alice and Barbara That put the machines to use. Stitch by stitch, machine a buzz The dolls, dresses, cushions and hats to make Are Vera, Freda, Mary and Thelma They trustfhe stitch won’t break. From slip to bisque the project forms And Dimples brings ceramics Mary Alice Helps with caring hand We learn of its dynamics. Monday afternoon there is Bingo A game that’s played for fun Charles, Maxine, Ruth, Goldie, Edna, Merrill and Anna Keep it going on the run. Miriam Loos’ fine tuning leads That’s exercise you see With moving arms, legs and all They are busy as bees. What happens in the world about us May be lost and miss our ears But here come Frank and Waynard f With current events to calm those fears. Catherine does the final touch Her dedication is a delight She finishes cushions and dolls Keeping our world all right. Balloon tennis brings so much fun. There’s just no time to spare As Frank, Miriam, Waynard, Kristine and Ray Keep balloons flying in the air. Be it music or a puzzle Things so numerous he will do Just tell Jack what is needed Our projects he will pursue. Cliff says he’s the drafted one But much to our great pleasure He arrives with loads of foam Which we just can’t measure. With foam-snipping for cushions And yo-yos on a pile Kathy, Darla, Lena, Elsie, Ella and Mary Alice Encourage with many smiles. To market go our numerous items We go to malls and shows There is Esther selling with vigor Trusting the sales to grow. Homemade ice cream from a freezer Oh, what a delight to eat To the mall or Summerfest Elvin and vera making life sweet In rooms they go for visits And residents they do bring It’s Christy and Theresa That cause our hearts to sing. All wrapped in finest blessings In activities we do know That our volunteers magnify beauty And loads of love they show.
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