100 Jan Lockard—Tennessee Respite Coalition

That’s What Friends Are For—Tennessee Respite Coalition

What’s a friend? Someone with whom you can laugh, someone who helps you with little things and big things, someone who makes you feel special—that’s a friend! Jan Lockard is good at being that friend to two ladies, who happen to be in a nursing home. That’s her volunteer service as a Senior Companion with the Tennessee Respite Coalition.

Jan has two “special ladies” she stays with for eight hours twice a week. They look forward to their day because time with Jan is fun—something that is too often lacking for ladies in their 90’s in nursing homes.

Jan is intentional about the “little things,” like playing Bingo or other games, taking her ladies to the onsite dining area to be with others instead of having meals delivered and eaten alone in the room, and setting up a personalized playlists of favorite music. She also listens to their stories of the good old days—something that busy staff aren’t usually able to do, but something a friend does willingly.

Because she listens, Jan learns what might be “big things” for her ladies—and she follows up. Reminiscing one day, one of the ladies told Jan she had never had a visit with Santa Claus. When the jolly old gentleman was due for a stop at the nursing home, Jan made sure that the lady was there and actually got to talk with Santa. The 93-year-old left with a big smile, a teddy bear she treasured, and new memories to reminisce about.

Another “big thing” Jan does is make each one’s birthday special—a birthday lunch that Jan prepares and invites the lady’s friends to come too. The party generates lots of laughter as everyone has a good time, and everyone at the table looks forward to celebrating their birthday with Jan’s special lunch.

Although she is giving service, Jan says she is “rewarded every day.” She sees her special ladies light up and enjoy themselves. The families also express their gratitude. Eyes that sparkle and words of appreciation are seemingly little things, but they are truly big things between friends.

For more about the Senior Companion program of the Tennessee Respite Coalition, listen to Retire to Volunteering Podcast, #96 with Jennifer Abernathy, the volunteer coordinator. Or visit tnrespite.org.

099 Tom Starling—Mental Health America

Before Stage 4—Mental Health America

“Before Stage 4!” Tom Starling, the chief executive of Mental Health America (MHA) of Middle Tennessee, explains his organization’s mantra: “People with something wrong with their body wouldn’t knowingly wait until the disease reached Stage 4 before seeking treatment. But when something is wrong mentally or emotionally, they suffer in silence.” Why? Because of the stigma that society attaches to mental illness.

MHA is not a direct-client service provider for persons with mental illness. Rather, their role is to crack open the hard shell of the stigma so that more people can move from suffering to recovery. A big crack starts with the awareness of just how many people are affected by the diseases labeled “mental illness”: 1 in 5 annually!

Some of those people might come to mind quickly, perhaps ones with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, but many more are “under the radar.” Mental illness spans the spectrum from “womb to tomb,” including moms with post-partum depression, children with anxiety or attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), teens who are bullied and become suicidal or who are in the grip of an eating disorder, soldiers with post-traumatic-stress disorder (PTSD) or addiction or depression, employees stressed to the max with family and worklife pressures, adults self-mediating their pain with alcohol or opiods, caregivers of their aging loved ones with dementia. All these illnesses take a huge toll on the individual, family, and society. Suicide, for example, is the 10th leading cause of death in Tennessee, greater than the number caused by car accidents.

After the illness “blows up” and can no longer be denied (Stage 4), people often say they “knew something was wrong.” But they didn’t know what was going on or where to turn for the prevention and intervention (at Stages 1–3) that could have helped. The Stigma had blamed the signs on bad parenting or sin, or on the individual being lazy or not taking responsibility or just being “trouble.” MHA’s goal is to educate individuals, families, caregivers, pastors, law enforcement, and society, moving them past the stigma to recognizing the signs and to helping those who suffer receive services that lead to recovery and greater well-being.

How do volunteers help? MHA of Middle Tennessee has numerous, important one-time opportunities, such as preparing for a health fair or other educational event, staffing the registration table at events or screenings, writing thank you notes to donors, scanning papers into the computer, or answering the phone. But volunteers who have a story to share have an opportunity to make an even bigger impact. They’ve lived through a mental illness of their own or of a family member. The reality—and the hope—they bring to a conversation, a workshop, or a speaking engagement is more powerful than all the statistics.

Volunteers do not need to have a counseling background. MHA provides training for the tasks, concentrating on the words not to use (the ones that inadvertently reinforce the stigma) but especially on the words to use in talking with people and sharing their story so that 1 in 5 people get help before Stage 4!

In Middle Tennessee to find out more or to volunteer, call 615-269-5355 or visit the website, mhamt.org.

Mental Health America is a nationwide organization with more than 100 years of service. To find a chapter near you, visit mha.net.

098 Mariah Ragland—The Nashville Food Project

Grow, Cook, Share—The Nashville Food Project

Think about times you have been hungry. Have you ever missed multiple meals? Have you not known where your next meal was coming from? One in every seven people in Nashville experiences food insecurity every day. Nearly 1,000 volunteers every month have looked back on their own experiences of hunger—however brief or long—and decided that they don’t want their neighbors to go without. They put their love of food and their love of people to work at The Nashville Food Project (NFP).

The Food Project serves 200,000 fresh-cooked, nutritious meals each year! With only 22 staff members, they can do what they do only because of the volunteers who grow, cook, and share the food.

Grow. Scattered around Nashville are five small—but very productive—organic gardens. Volunteers help with preparing the beds, planting, weeding, harvesting the food, and even composting. Although the largest garden is only 1.5 acres, these gardens produce all year long. In addition to the summer growing season, they work in the winter too—because volunteers tend them.

Cook. Preparing 200,000 meals annually means lots and lots of cooking! Yet NFP faithfully turns them out daily except Sunday and Monday, using only two kitchens—and lots of volunteers who wash, chop, dice, and cook lots of fresh vegetables and fruits and other ingredients for lots of entrees, salads, side dishes, and sometimes desserts. Volunteers also contribute through the Project’s food recovery program, gleaning from a grocery store items that are about to expire, which they then turn into meals.

Share. With only two trucks, NFP nevertheless manages with the help of volunteers to deliver all the meals to partner organizations serving persons in need. Those include among others low-income senior citizens at a center, a church with a community meal, an apartment building that houses refugee families from the Congo, and school children in need of a snack.

Mariah Ragland, a former volunteer and now the volunteer coordinator, invites individuals, families, and groups to participate. Neither experience nor expertise is required. Everyone who comes will be supported by others helping them know what to do and how. Service can be one-time or regular. Sign up is online and easy.

Volunteers, who are themselves nourished by food, also are fed by being part of the mission of The Nashville Food Project: Bringing people together to grow, cook, and share nourishing food, with the goals of cultivating community and alleviating hunger in our city.

To learn more or to volunteer, visit thenashvillefoodproject.org and look for the Give Back tab. If you are not in the area, you may find similar opportunities by searching for “hunger” or “food justice” in your browser. You may also check to see if your locality is in a Hands On...network.

097 Dr. Rhonda Switzer-Nadasdi—Interfaith Dental Clinic

Restoring Smiles—Interfaith Dental Clinic

Two dentists, members of West End United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee, had a calling to use their professional skills to help the poor. They traveled to impoverished countries on mission trips to serve, but when they came home, they also saw the effects of poverty right around them. They came up with a proposal, took it to their church where they found a supportive community, and shortly, the Interfaith Dental Clinic opened.

What began twenty-five years ago with two dental chairs and some volunteers working part-time in the church’s basement has grown to two fully equipped, 18-chair offices—one in Nashville, another 45 minutes away in Murfreesboro—and many more volunteers plus a few full-time staff, serving annually 2,800 people who have no other options. Dr. Rhonda Switzer-Nadasdi, a dentist herself and also the chief executive of the Interfaith Dental Clinic, points out that neither Medicaid nor Medicare provides dental care. For people struggling with meeting needs for food, housing, and other basics, going to the dentist feels like a luxury they simply can’t afford.

Too often people don’t realize the essential nature of good oral care, which affects overall health, social contact, and economic opportunity. Research has confirmed a strong link between poor oral health and stroke, diabetes, heart issues, and cancer. Research has also shown how vital having good friends and other social contacts are to well-being, but persons with bad teeth don’t feel comfortable speaking or eating in front of others. They withdraw and become isolated and locked in depression. In a job interview, most potential employers within seconds screen out persons whose teeth are rotted, missing, or stained. Without a healthy smile, people suffer in surprising ways.

Dr. Switzer-Nadasdi matches volunteers with patients. Nearly 200 dentists with many different specialties and other dental professionals such as hygienists and dental assistants give their time and expertise regularly, some once a week, some once a month, others as they can. Dental students and younger students exploring dentistry also volunteer. Retired dentists often serve as mentors as well as providers. Additional volunteers help welcome and comfort patients and give them the dental hygiene bags they’ve assembled. Still other volunteers bring their skills for accounting, data crunching, advocating for better policy, grant writing, and fundraising. Patients are charged on a sliding scale, based on income and family numbers, but the rest of the cost is covered by donations and grants.

Committed to providing long-term, comprehensive oral health care, done with dignity for the recipients, Interfaith Dental Clinic does not simply deal with emergencies such as extractions and alleviating acute pain, rather they seek to change lives. Restoring smiles is a great start!

To find out more or to volunteer, visit interfaithdentalclinic.com. Many major cities, in addition to Nashville, have similar programs. Check in your local area, perhaps with your own dentist, to find one near you.

096 Jennifer AbernathyTennessee Respite Coalition

A Win-Win-Win OpportunityTennessee Respite Coalition

If you've ever flown, you've likely heard the airlines instruction that, in the case of an emergency and the oxygen mask drops, you are to put yours on before assisting someone else. For people whose natural inclination is to help others, the directive seems harsh, but its a lifesaver because unless you take care of yourself, you will soon run out of oxygen, which is crucial for you to function. Without it, you will not be able to help someone else in need.

That truth motivated the formation of the Tennessee Respite Coalition in the 1990s. The organization gives the gift of time for caregivers to take care of themselves, providing a bit of relief from the extraordinary and intensive demands of providing ongoing care. The services are for caregivers of patients anywhere on the whole life span and include a statewide helpline, vouchers to reimburse some of the costs of caregiving, and the Senior Companionship Program.

As "companions" these volunteers do not administer medications, provide any physical rehabilitation activities, or assist with transfer. Rather, they are what the doctor ordered for loneliness. They may simply come to talk, to play cards or other games, or to accompany a patient on a special outing. They are friends who care. Their cheery presence gives the fulltime caregiver—family member or professional—a break and the patient some welcome social interaction.

To be a Senior Companion requires meeting three criteria: Being friendly, being 55 years old or older, and being under the federal guidelines for income. The companions receive a small stipend from the Corporation for National and Community Service. The income cap assures that older adults with limited financial resources themselves can benefit also through giving of their service to others. The program is a win-win-win! The patient, the caregiver, and the Companion all gain.

But Jennifer Abernathy, the volunteer coordinator, hears from the Companions in their monthly meeting. They talk about the relationships with the people they serve—not the stipend—as what keeps them coming back. Those monthly meetings also provide continuous training for the volunteers and regular counseling for them, as well, because they too experience grief when their new friends die. One consolation for the volunteers is often the outpouring of thanks from the family as they recognize the gift of friendship the Senior Companion has given to their loved one.

Caring and being cared for are both the essential oxygen that enables the Senior Companions to help others.

In Tennessee, for more information visit tnrespite.org. Nationwide, as well as in Tennessee, for more information about Senior Companions and other opportunities, visit nationalservice.gov. Look under Senior Corps and then go to Senior Programs.

095 Johnny Rose—Hummingbirds at the Park

Caring for Something Bigger—Hummingbirds at the Park

Johnny Rose has always loved nature. After moving to Nashville, he discovered the 3,100+ acres of the Warner Parks and spent many wonderful hours there walking with his dog or with friends. When he retired, he decided he would like to be part of something bigger than himself. Nature was the logical answer for him: “The parks have always given to me; I wanted to give back to them.” From the first day of volunteering there, he knew he had found the right place.

As a volunteer, Johnny has done a variety of tasks, but his passion is with the hummingbirds. Knowing that the little ones need to consume half of their body weight each day in order to survive, Johnny is diligent in his care of the 25 feeders around the Warner Parks Nature Center. They have to be cleaned and refilled twice a week. Johnny also enjoys talking with the many visitors to the park about the hummingbirds.

But his real delight is the August–September hummingbird banding season. The Nature Center has been a Premier Banding Site in the Southeast since the 1980’s. As a volunteer, Johnny assists the accredited banders in the tasks of capturing the birds, assessing their weight, age, gender, and condition, banding them (if needed), and logging in the information.

Releasing the tiny birds is a ritual of its own. Johnny can transfer the quiet bird to the hands of a child or an adult so that they too feel the magic of gently holding this tiny gem. They can hear the heartbeat, open their hands, and allow this marvelous creature to fly free again. Through the banding program, naturalists have learned that hummingbirds come back year after year to the same locations, so lots of the birds captured each year at the Nature Center know the routine. Sometimes, when the hands open, the birds will remain quiet for a few extra seconds before flying off, giving the holder an unforgettable moment of appreciation of the wonders of nature.

Caring for the birds’ immediate needs for food; helping gather and share the information that enables humanity to understand, appreciate, and care for their long-term needs, such as reducing the use of pesticides; and facilitating those momentary, yet life-changing connections of holding a trusting, precious jewel in one’s hands—these are the rewards that bring Johnny back week after week to give back to something bigger than him.

The Warner Parks and the Nature Center have need for volunteers in many areas. To find the one (or more) that speaks to you, visit the Friends of Warner Parks at warnerparks.org.

094 Faye Maynard—Project Connect Nashville

Not to Fix, But to Love —Project Connect Nashville

Founded in 2013, Project Connect Nashville (PCN) exists “to help disconnected and vulnerable men, women, and their families build relationships with others who will encourage and guide them, providing assistance when needed, educating and equipping them for the challenges each day brings, and celebrating every victory along the way.” In other words, to be with vulnerable people as friends, helping them GOSO (Get Out Stay Out) of poverty—not through fixing them, but by loving them.

It was a friend who first connected Faye Maynard to the people in the program. She saw how the organization was assisting people in poverty—people who wanted to change their lives. She saw also that, in addition to a well-thought out curriculum for transformation, Project Connect has a heart for the poor, coming from their ultimate mentor—Jesus Christ. She volunteered first to bring a few meals, but her own commitment grew as she also saw the undeniable results in the people.

People sign up for a six-weeks, four-nights-a-week curriculum dealing with work and life skills, faith and finances, and understanding the story of God’s love for them. They come from a variety of places in the area, but many live in a nearby apartment complex where PCN volunteers also do programming, including Vacation Bible School, for the children and alongside the residents work in the garden there, growing relationships, as well as food.

An artist, Faye has put her interests and skills to work on behalf of her new friends, enabling them to engage their own creativity, to learn to think differently about themselves, and to experience community through various art projects that are woven into the Work Life curriculum, which recognizes that creativity, self-worth, and team work are also important in the job market. “God has opened my eyes to the needs of people in my own community and led me to greater compassion. I’ve been blessed,” Faye states as she reflects on how the relationships she has made through her volunteering have had an impact on her, as well.

Volunteers bring whatever skills and interests and available time they have. Their training is focused on helping them understand the challenges people in poverty face and to see them—not a project to be fixed—but as persons to be loved, as friends.

To find out more or to volunteer as an individual or as a congregation, visit projectconnectnashville.org.

093 Cathy Shull—Salvation Army

Fighting for Those in Need—The Salvation Army

Ask anyone about the Salvation Army and they'll very likely respond, "Oh yes, they're the ones who have the bell-ringing Santas with the big Red Kettles and the Angel Trees. They've been around forever!" The respondents are right, of course. The Salvation Army began in 1865 and has collected money Christmas after Christmas for people in need, including children and seniors who benefit from being chosen from the Angel Trees.

But that's not all the Salvation Army does, Cathy Shull points out. A 30+ year volunteer, she has seen the ins and outs of the organization. Both as a member of the Women's Auxiliary and also as an Advisory Board member, she has rung the bell, recruited other bell ringers, worked the onsite Thrift Shop, filled backpacks and Christmas stockings, helped with meals, raised money for the renovation of a facility, and been part of the oversight and decision making that keeps the Salvation Army on record as a charity with one of the highest percentages of contributions going directly to serving the needy (rather than to administrative or marketing costs). "Every penny is helping someone," Cathy declares.

Recognizing that there are no quick fixes, the Salvation Army has wrap-around services to get individuals and families back on track. Starting with the basic needs for food, shelter, and clothing, the assistance often extends to training for employment, including learning and practicing interview skills, as well as physical, mental, and dental health care. But the heart of all the caring is focused on turning hearts to God, who is the ultimate Healer and Provider. Those in need participate in Bible study, worship, and prayer; and they are surrounded by a loving community—including volunteers—who know the love of God and share it.

Cathy is impressed by how much the Army does and how effective they are as they "fight for those in need." But even more, she is humbled by the selflessness of the staff and volunteers as they carry out their mission. "They are the most giving, loving people I've been around—I benefit too," she declares.

Volunteers can do as "little" as ring a bell for a two-hour shift or shop for one of the Angels. Whatever time a volunteer has available to give helps someone in need. Those pennies and dollars in the Red Kettle are also helping!

To volunteer, visit slavationarmyusa.org. The website will direct you to a facility near you. If you want a vacation where you can also volunteer, the organization is in 131 countries! 

092 Paul Fowler—Friends of Warner Parks

One-and-Done or Falling in Love—Friends of Warner Parks

As urbanization grows, so does the longing for the counterbalance that being in nature supplies. Annually, nearly 1.5 million people in the Nashville area take advantage of their convenient access to 3,200 uncrowded acres in the Warner Parks to feed their soul.

Percy Warner, Edwin Warner, and the neighboring new Birch Reserve invite people to immerse themselves in restorative "play"—alone or with friends and family—through 17 miles of hiking trails, easy access (closed to vehicle traffic) roadways for walking or biking, six miles of the Little Harpeth River, many horse trails, two golf courses, picnic pavilions, playgrounds, and much more. Additionally, staff and volunteers present educational programming year round, including wildflower walks, geology talks, natural gardening, hummingbird close-ups and banding, plus docent service at the parks' Nature Center. Combining all that with various festivals, runs, fundraisers, and other events, the parks are a treasure with something for everyone.

Behind the scenes, volunteers are working with nature and the staff to care for the parks. Paul Fowler, the volunteer coordinator on staff, offers monthly stewardship opportunities for people with various skills and interests to participate. For example, in the spring especially, the Muddy Buddies care for the trails; summer finds volunteers cleaning up the picnic areas, cooling off while clearing the Little Harpeth River, or restoring the historic rock walls. These activities continue through the fall. In winter volunteers tackle the invasive plants that would otherwise crowd out the native flora and limit the biodiversity of the parks.

These occasions are one-and-done options for people to give their time and energy for just a half-day or so, but often volunteers find that experience a gateway into giving more. They fall in love. Fortunately, Paul knows how to match volunteers who wish to commit to a regular schedule or longer period with other soul-feeding ways to give back to nature and specifically to the parks they love.

Paul points out that other natural areas—both in metro Nashville and in Tennessee's state park system, and also across the country—need volunteers to preserve and protect as well as to enjoy them. Giving back to nature, whether through a one-and-done or regular commitment not only feeds the volunteers' soul but everyone else's for years to come.

For more information visit warnerparks.org or email [email protected].

091 Kathy Jackson—Greyhound Pets of America Rescuing

Greyhounds From Misconceptions—Greyhound Pets of America

As a U.S. mail carrier, Kathy Jackson also carried treats for the dogs on her routes. One of her very special "friends" was a former racing greyhound. When Kathy retired, she knew exactly what type of dog she wanted. She adopted Manny, a newly retired racer who won her heart.

Kathy doesn't use the word "rescue" very often in her conversations about greyhound racing. Too many people have the misconception that the dogs are mistreated during their competitive phase, which is far from the reality. Nor are they euthanized when those racing days are over. Greyhound Pets of America (GPA) steps in to find responsible, loving homes for the retirees. People like Kathy and her husband.

GPA sponsors weekly Meet 'n' Greets at local pet stores, inviting greyhound owners to come with their dogs to talk with interested people about the desirability of retired greyhounds as pets. Many people have another misconception that such a big dog might not fit well into a family situation or even be OK in an apartment. But standing there, petting such a gentle giant and listening to enthusiastic owners, people gain a new perspective. Across the U.S. through the efforts of the organization's volunteers, more than 200,000 greyhounds have found their forever homes. In 2017 alone the Nashville Chapter placed 92.

In addition to the Meet 'n' Greets, volunteers help adoptive parents know and understand what "responsible" greyhound ownership is. For example, zoomies! The hounds are bred for speed, and unlike some other hound breeds their strength is sight—not scent. If the dog were off leash in an open area and something caught its attention, it would instinctively set off. Greyhounds are the second fastest land animal (behind cheetahs); they can reach 40 miles per hour in three strides! So intent, they don't respond to an owner's voice and they are unaware of such things as cars. When they do slow down, they may have no idea of how to find their way back since sight, not scent, is their guide. Instead, allowing the hound to zoom around a fenced yard for a few minutes or taking two 20-minute walks a day are responsible—and adequate. Those always lead to a good long nap or two or three. Greyhounds are easy keepers.

In addition to adoptive parents, GPA chapters need volunteers as foster parents, exposing the animals to experiences different from the ones they had as racers, for example, seeing a cat or a child for the first time, going up and down stairs, or walking on slippery wood floors rather than on a dirt track and concrete. Also, the chapters seek board members. As one, Kathy keeps the website current.

If you want to learn more about volunteering or about the greyhounds, visit the site, greyhoundpets.org. Or check in your area for a Meet 'n' Greet at a local pet store. In Nashville you can find Kathy many Saturdays at PetSmart in 100 Oaks Mall. Manny will be there too.

Check out www.greyhoundpets.org.