Debbie Lasley (Volunteer Engagement Coordinator),Angie Archer (Student Engagement Coordinator),Paris W. (Student),Kathy Lea (Adult volunteer) and Tikva K (Student).
by Amanda Knight, Volunteer, vccaregivers.org
High school student volunteers are needed to work in supervised teams to provide companionship, household cleaning, yard maintenance and home organization to homebound seniors in Ventura County.
This opportunity is made possible through the Building Bridges Intergenerational Program at CAREGIVERS: Volunteers Assisting the Elderly which is now marking a 40-year milestone to support older neighbors aging in place with the helping hands of volunteers.
One of those volunteer opportunities is designed for high school students. “We identify an adult volunteer Team Leader who will provide transportation, supervision and serve as a mentor during home visits to the seniors we serve,” said Angie Archer, student engagement coordinator at CAREGIVERS Volunteers. “We need new high school student volunteers as much as we need adult Team Leaders to assist in providing this program to the community.”
Scheduling is generally flexible and coordinated around the needs of the senior and the availability of the Building Bridge team. Ideally, Building Bridge teams are scheduled weekly in two hour blocks of time which includes travel time and one hour to do chores at the senior’s home. “We rotate visits to the same seniors over the course of the month to ensure that everyone gets a little help,” Archer said, adding that one of the greatest gifts of volunteering are the friendships people build. “We now have student volunteers who are growing up and taking on the role of adult volunteers. Most of all, we have people from all walks of life, spanning the generations–and building intergenerational bridges–that last a lifetime.”
Regular monthly visits to the same homebound senior give everyone an opportunity to get to know each other over time. During the visit, student volunteers are able to tackle light household chores such as changing the bedsheets, putting heavy wet laundry in the dryer, changing a lightbulb and running the vacuum–tasks that someone who uses a walker may struggle to do.
“This program allows college bound high school juniors and seniors to gain life skills that will be helpful in their academic and professional careers as well as their personal development,” Archer said, noting that high school volunteers receive impressive invitations to colleges throughout the country.
Ventura County was one of the original pilot locations for the launch of volunteer caregiving in the United States. Over the last 40 years, CAREGIVERS: Volunteers Assisting the Elderly has supported thousands of people aging in place with the helping hands of volunteers. Services are provided at no cost to the people who need it most thanks to the generosity of corporate, foundation and individual donors who contribute.
For more information, email [email protected] or call (805) 658-8530.
Bringing people from different generations together for neighborly service allows the development of empathy and compassion – building a stronger sense of community for all involved.Ventura County is one of the largest aging populations in the Nation and Caregivers happily serves hundreds of seniors in need of community support. To sign up, refer a student, refer a senior, donate or learn more call (805) 658-8530, email [email protected] or visit the website vccaregivers.org
