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Volunteer Profile

Dorothy Banks

I spent two hours visiting at Life Care today. I spend 2 hours a week visiting at Life Care, I have 4 residents and try to spend 30 minutes with each resident.

This has meant so much to me. While I was working I never thought I would ever be a volunteer. I am so thankful I heard of this ministry. I look forward to my visits. I remember you telling me that in the beginning I may not see anything accomplished, but one day someone would wake up and say this is the day Dorothy will come. I think this is true now. It makes my day to see a look of recognition and a smile greet me.

I think my residents look forward to my visits. I know that they are lonely and do not have many visits. With one of my residents I play cards or work on a jigsaw puzzle. Sometimes, we just talk and visit. The other three residents just like to talk; they do not want to play cards or anything like that. I am looking forward to nice weather when we can go for a wheelchair ride outside. One of my lady's feels very protective of me and does not want me out in bad weather. If I wear a locket or something she likes she tells me to be careful and not let anyone there take it away from me. My visits probably do not mean as much to my residents as my visits with them mean to me.

I would recommend this volunteer program to anyone, my rewards are endless, to see the changes in my residents now and when I first started visiting. They are more open, they communicate with me, and you never cease to learn from them. For instance one of my residents like 7up and milk, so I took 7up and milk and cups and I tried her favorite drink. It wasn't bad but I have to confess I haven't tried any since I shared this with her.

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