Thursday, March 28, 2024
 
Click HERE to sign up to receive Eye On Sun Valley's Daily News Email
 
Volunteers-‘We Make ‘Em Laugh’
Loading
   
Sunday, April 29, 2018
 

STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

Dennis Coleman and his wife only recently moved to the Wood River Valley.

But his new neighbors are already wondering how they ever did without him.

Coleman and his wife were volunteers at the Memory Café in their home state of Wisconsin. And, when they arrived here, they immediately offered their time to volunteer with The Senior Connection.

The couple drive The Connection’s longest Meals on Wheels route to Carey on Fridays. And Dennis also volunteers with The Connection and its partner Interlink Volunteer Caregivers to drive valley residents to Boise and Twin Falls for doctor’s appointments.

“I have a list of the drives Dennis did in November and December alone—it’s a little long,” said Katie Phillips, shaking loose a two-foot long list as proof.

Ella Edman, an artist and gardener, was honored as the 2018 Carey Volunteer of the Year for her work at The Senior Connection’s satellite site in that town.

The Senior Connection threw the luncheon in honor of National Volunteer Week, first organized in 1943 in Canada to celebrate the contribution women made on the home front to the war effort.

After World War II ended, it declined in popularity but was revived in the 1960s, even gaining traction in the United States when President Richard Nixon issued a presidential proclamation establishing National Volunteer Week.

What volunteers contribute is no small potatoes. The Hunger Coalition, for instance, estimated its volunteers invested more than $230,000 worth of time this past year.

While Coleman and Edman were honored as the Volunteers of the Year, there were at least 62 more volunteers sitting in the crowd, enjoying a lunch of prime rib, chicken fried steak, crab-stuffed chicken breast and shrimp bisque.

They included Fit and Fall-Proof instructors, bartenders for special events such as the Fashion and Wine fundraiser, some of those who made 50 homemade shawls that were given to Meals on Wheels recipients at Christmas, handy people who clean up yards and those who volunteer with the holiday bazaar.

“You’re not customers here. You’re members, and membership comes with privileges and responsibilities,” Lipman told them.

Jim Perkins and Brian Williams have their pictures mounted on the wall of The Senior Connection with the tagline, “Volunteering is fun. We make ‘em smile.”

The two have delivered Meals on Wheels for the past seven years.

“The money’s great,” quipped Williams, who served as a pilot in the Air Force during Vietnam.

Perkins said he became acquainted with the Senior Connection when he rented chairs and tables from the organization while president of the Blaine County Pilots Association.

“My dad delivered Meals on Wheels in Portland so I decided to give it a try,” he said. “We enjoy it. A lot of our clients are very ill or incapacitated so they can’t get out of their condos or apartments. We like to make them laugh, and I think they appreciate our knocking on their doors.”

One of the youngest volunteers in attendance was Ari Roberts, stepson of Senior Connection Chef Erik Olson.

Roberts helps bus seniors’ plates. He assists with making Meals on Wheels. And he helps prepare the luncheon salad bar.

“I’ve learned a lot about seniors from working here,” said Roberts, a sixth-grader at Syringa Mountain School. “I’ve learned that they like a lot of mashed potatoes. And meat, too—especially turkey.”

Riley Packer, a sophomore at Silver Creek High School, was also on hand doing an internship with The Senior Connection.

“We have him helping clean up after lunches and even washing Meals on Wheels trucks,” said Katie Phillips.

Teresa Beahen Lipman noted that The Senior Connection was founded 47 years ago by “some extraordinary people who had the passion and vision to make this happen.”

Among them: Tommy Farr, who at 97 years of age remains a mainstay at the center armed with all the latest iPhones, laptops and other technological gadgets. And Pat Campbell, who was driving Meals on Wheels in the 1970s.

Lipman said the Senior Connection posted its strongest fiscal showing in eight years this past year, even as it experienced a record growth of 25 percent.

The organization, which was named Nonprofit of the Year by The Chamber, recently purchased a new transit van with the help of a grant from the Wood River Women’s Foundation and Idaho Transportation Department.

And it started an endowment fund that will allow it to be sustainable in the long run.

“I volunteer with its Cocktails for a Cause. Gail Severn donates her gallery for the affair and Sun Valley Company provides most of the hors d’oeuvres,” said Kathy Jones. “We made twice as much money last year in our second year as our first. And it raises the awareness of The Senior Connection. Through it I’ve learned that they have fabulous lunches every day during the week. And their newsletter is unbelievable—it has all kinds of activities listed in it, plus exercise and nutrition tips.”

The Senior Connection is focusing on continued financial stability and retaining a skilled staff and funding to support its activities and programs. And it’s looking forward to an ADA-senior friendly bathroom this summer, said Lipman.

Ooops! And don’t forget the inaugural Senior Connection Games.

Modeled after the Olympics, they’ll offer swim races, golf tournament, hill climb, pool tournament, corn hole bag toss and pickleball tourney for ages 50 and older Sep. 15 and 16. Stay tuned!

~  Today's Topics ~


Lou Whittaker Leaves Behind a Legacy of Mountaineering and Storytelling

Free Range Poetry Society to Hold Second Gathering Tonight

Easter Bunny to Begin Hopping Friday
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Website problems? Contact:
Michael Hobbs
General Manager /Webmaster
Mike@EyeOnSunValley.com
 
Got a story? Contact:
Karen Bossick
Editor in Chief
(208) 578-2111
Karen@EyeOnSunValley.com
 
 
Advertising /Marketing /Public Relations
Leisa Hollister
Chief Marketing Officer
(208) 450-9993
leisahollister@gmail.com
 
Brandi Huizar
Account Executive
(208) 329-2050
brandi@eyeonsunvalley.com
 
 
ABOUT US
EyeOnSunValley.com is the largest online daily news media service in The Wood River Valley, publishing 7 days a week. Our website publication features current news articles, feature stories, local sports articles and video content articles. The Eye On Sun Valley Show is a weekly primetime television show focusing on highlighted news stories of the week airing Monday-Sunday, COX Channel 13. See our interactive Kiosks around town throughout the Wood River Valley!
 
info@eyeonsunvalley.com      Press Releases only
 
P: 208.720.8212
P.O. Box 1453 Ketchum, ID  83340
LOGIN

© Copyright 2023 Eye on Sun Valley