Retire-To Volunteering

070 Sara Everett-Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry, Inc. (WARM)

Warm Hearts, WARM Shelters—Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry

When the hurricane blew out, the men from a local church rushed in to begin rebuilding, focusing on the storm-damaged homes of the community's low-income neighbors. But what they discovered changed their mission. The need for repairs had existed well before the storm, but the occupants did not have the resources to be able to make their homes safer for their day-to-day lives.

And so began the Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry. For more than 20 years now WARM has been uniting compassionate people to rebuild homes and restore hope by making people safer in their own homes. Very often those who benefit are elderly or disabled who need wheelchair ramps, grab-bar installation, plumbing improvements, roof or floor repairs, installation of essential appliances and heating and cooling, and whatever else that can lower the risk of falls, fires, and other home accidents. All WARM repairs are related to safety or health issues.

With the assistance of a dedicated core of local volunteers, several of whom bring their professional construction and repair backgrounds to the job, WARM is able to prepare the sites and supervise additional volunteers, many of whom have no previous experience. Last year alone 2300 volunteers repaired nearly 150 homes. Volunteers come from across the country. Some are "voluntourists," making volunteering a significant part of their vacation. Others come from church mission teams. Some church groups come back every summer or every other year. Also, local business and churches designate Service Days and send volunteers regularly. Some people find WARM through VolunteerMatch.com or WARM's Facebook site.

Why do volunteers come back? Sara Everett, who has been the volunteer coordinator, hears them say that they get more out of the experience than they feel they give, that they are happy to be connected to others who are passionate about volunteering and giving back, and that they discover that no matter the level of their own skills they can make a significant impact for good. And yes, people love being a part of a team, and they also like developing their own home-repair skills.

Sara speaks with a mix of humility and pride of the fact that the recipients of the repairs do not need to pay. The organization also seeks grants and does fundraising for supplies. And then every WARM dollar is stretched by the warm hearts of the volunteers as they pick up their tools and make it possible for those who were so vulnerable to live safely and independently in their own homes.

To find out more about WARM in Wilmington, North Carolina, visit warmnc.org or their Facebook page. If you are interested in the potential of sending a mission team, contact [email protected].

To locate similar programs in your area, check the national directory of member organizations in the ReFrame Association (reframeassociation.org).

069 Jeff Hoffman Project Transformation

Catching the Enthusiasm—Project Transformation

After three summers of listening to his wife's and his children's enthusiasm for their experiences in Project Transformation (PT), Jeff Hoffman took the plunge. He'd been reluctant because he knew his work schedule at the time would not allow him to make a regular or extensive time commitment, but with PT he found no pressure—just a welcoming of whatever he was able to share with the program.

Project Transformations mission is summed up in three C's: To engage college-age young adults in purposeful ministry and leadership, to support underserved children and families, and to connect churches to communities in need.

Initially, PT was a summer-only program with a focus on helping children, K–4, gain and retain the reading skills that are so essential to doing well in school and life. Building upon the early success of that goal, the program has expanded to be year-round and to include middle school youth, as well as elementary school children. The growth also incorporates all areas of schoolwork and social-emotional learning, as well as increased connections with the families through special events such as the Family Fun Nights and home visits.

The college-age young adults are hired for summer or for the school year to provide authentic, hands-on, high-quality programs for the children and youth. PT, however, offers these interns much more than "a summer job." Living together in intentional Christian community, they have opportunities to explore their faith and discern their path forward into leadership, service, and other areas of ministry.

The churches chosen to host the PT programs had been struggling as the communities around them changed. But PT has opened new channels for reconnecting with their neighbors, and the churches begin to thrive once again.

How do volunteers fit in this endeavor? In the summer, volunteers—including youth and school-age children with their parents or grandparents—come on their church's designated week especially to read with the children in the program, providing role models as well as improved literacy. During the school year, many individual volunteers make regular commitment to be homework helpers, encouragers, or mentors. These volunteers also build those special relationships with the children that create opportunities for social-emotional learning, specifically through being listened to and cared about. Other volunteers bring food to the college-age interns and sit down with them to share the meal—and conversation that is often deeply meaningful for both interns and volunteers. Like Jeff Hoffman and his family, volunteers can easily find a welcoming and rewarding niche for however they choose to commit.

So who experiences transformation? Children, families, young adult leaders, congregations, neighborhoods, and volunteers! Begun through The United Methodist Church in the Dallas area, the program is open to people of all faiths and is active not only in Texas but also in Indiana, Oklahoma, and Washington, D.C., as well as in Tennessee (Nashville, Memphis, and Clarksville). As volunteers and former interns move to different areas of the country, PT pops up and transformation begins anew.

For more about Project Transformation, visit projecttransformation.org or view their Facebook page.

068 Ted Dreier Childrens Kindness Network

A Little Kindness Makes a Big Difference

Want to make the world a better place? Start little. But with a big idea. Start with little children. Help them learn the big value of kindness. Start with a little cowor a big one! Moozie, to be exact.

When Moozie speaks, children listen—and learn. The big talking cow (robotic or a costumed human) may visit a daycare, preschool, kindergarten, or first or second grade class to give a special Moozie introduction to kindness (with the help of a volunteer storyteller). But what happens afterwards, on a daily basis, confirms the impact. With the assistance of the little Moozie puppet that comes to live in the classroom, teachers help class members through difficulties by simply posing the question, "What would Moozie say (or do)?" Teachers report–and research confirms–reduced disruptions and bullying with Moozie on the job.

Soon the children pick up the kindness value as their own. Playground tiffs change when a child intervenes, asking if Moozie would like that. When classmates are distressed, children have been known to bring them the little Moozie to hug. Empathy and kindness grow.

The Children's Kindness Network began 20 years ago and has reached nearly 400,000 children with the message, emphasis, and skills of kindness to one another, to animals, to the earth, and to self. Moozie-creator, Ted Dreier, working with volunteers, has extended Moozie's reach across the U.S. through not only the classroom visits, but also through the Moozie books, songs, and kits.

Teachers have benefitted, as have parents, grandparents, and even the 118 wing of the Tennessee Air National guard.

Tasks for volunteers are both big and little, ranging from assembling kits to making storytelling presentations in classrooms, to creating Moozie songs, to serving on the board of directors. All are welcome. Whatever "size" of the volunteers' contributions, they make a big impactone that goes from early brain-wiring of the very little children and from their experiences of kindness to how those influence their subsequent relationships, actions, and leadership as they grow bigger and move into adulthood.

And the world becomes a better place.

To see Moozie (and Ted) in action, visit either childrenskindnessnetwork.org or moozie.org and view the NPT video. For more information about volunteering, email [email protected].

067 Gail Atkinson—Special Olympics Lead Volunteer

Taking the Lead So Others Succeed—Special Olympics

With more than 27,000 volunteers in Florida's Special Olympics program, someone has to take the lead! Gail Atkinson began like so many other volunteers—helping out a day here and a day there through the service opportunities sponsored by her place of employment. That was 15 years ago. She got hooked!

Now retired, Gail has stepped up her involvement to include making sure other volunteers experience not only the joy of seeing the athletes beam with pride but also feeling that they too have done their "job" well. Gail's team of volunteers regularly includes high school students working one time to get their service credit, police officers chosen for the day to present the ribbons and medals, and retirees dipping a toe in as they try out various volunteer opportunities, looking for something that fits their interests and sparks their passion. As lead volunteer, Gail communicates, facilitates, encourages, and supports her team of volunteers so that they too have a gold-medal experience!

Special Olympics Florida states that their goal is to "help people with intellectual disabilities participate as productive and respected members of society at large, by offering them a fair opportunity to develop and demonstrate their skills and talents through sports training and competition, and by increasing the public's awareness of their capabilities and needs." All that is done through the effective use of volunteers. Those who have a good experience return again and again, making the games possible for the special athletes—thanks to lead volunteers like Gail.

To find out more about Special Olympics in your state, visit specialolympics.org. There is a place for you and people, like Gail, to make your gift of time award-winning!

Website: https://specialolympicsflorida.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/specialolympicsflorida/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/2168730/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/soflinfo

066 Linda Stalters – American Red Cross

The Red Cross—On the Job Every Eight Minutes!

I was bringing my stepmother home from the baptism of her great grandson. We rounded the corner to see 12 fire trucks and three ambulances blocking traffic. Her high-rise senior apartment building was billowing smoke from the fourth floor–her floor, her apartment! First responders gently led her to another truckthe Red Cross truck. There wonderful volunteers comforted her in her confusion and provided her aid for her immediate needs from having her life so completely disrupted. As her family member, I too was comforted because I did not have any idea of what to do. The Red Cross was there to help us both get through the disaster and to know how to move forward.

For most people the American Red Cross is associated with presence at the news-making disasters of floods, fires, hurricanes, mass shootings, and such. But every single day—in fact, every eight minutes—crises that never make the breaking-news happen, and Red Cross volunteers are there too. Volunteers step in and step up to handle the wide range of needs such catastrophes precipitate. When a calamity such as a hurricane can be anticipated, volunteers are busy preparing shelters, food, and teams to take action. When tragedy strikes without warning, the volunteers themselves are already prepared and can react immediately.

Some volunteers work on site; others facilitate and support. Some have a regular pattern to their volunteering, perhaps doing recurring work in the office or being on call for a week, a month, or a couple of months at a time. Others commit to going anytime to a site and staying as long as needed. Those volunteer teams can be there for 72 hours without sleep in the same grueling conditions as the victims and first responders. Some volunteers are "just in case," handing out water at major events, such as big Fourth of July celebrations, and being available if any emergency happens. Some retired couples serve as a team, driving a Red Cross truck and giving out food, water, and cleaning supplies to victims. The requirements for these volunteers are to be healthy, strong, willing, flexible, and resilient.

Linda Stalters represents another type of volunteer. As a retired Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Psychotherapist, she and others licensed in the mental health field, focus on the psychological trauma that victims experience. She assesses their emotional needs, gives support, and connects them to resources for long-term healing. Sometimes, that role is to recognize exhaustion in first responders or volunteers and get the ones who are so committed to others some rest and food for their own renewal.

Whatever task Red Cross volunteers choose, they are trained and supported, prepared and ready, and very willing to help! For more about volunteering, visit the website redcross.org.

065 Bob Tigert—Ukulele Kids Club

Kids in Hospitals, Music, the Real Deal—What's Not to Like?

Bob Tigert just "sorta fell into" his volunteer position on the board of the Ukulele Kids Club. "When they asked me, I had never heard of it. 'What is that?' I had to ask." A ukulele (and guitar and bass) player, Bob quickly decided the organization was the "real deal"—grassroots, amazingly noble, and very effective in the execution of its mission, which is two-fold:

• To bring music into the lives of hurting children
• To support the work of music therapists who work with children in hospitals

Less than five years old, UKC has already changed the lives of nearly 5,000 children in close to 200 hospitals in multiple states and now Canada simply by providing music therapists this simple instrument. The ukulele allows them to teach the children how to make music while confined to their hospital bed. Small enough to be easily held, ukuleles are super easy to learn to play. With the help of the therapist, patients quickly begin playing tunes and singing. They have something creative, uplifting, and fun to focus on instead of what is wrong and hurting. Music becomes part of their healing.

Volunteers do not go to the hospitals to help the children directly. That is the role of the professional music therapists. Volunteers put their efforts into raising the funds to buy the ukuleles that the therapists will use with the child and then leave for the child to continue to play at home. Purchased through a special arrangement with an instrument-making company, each ukulele costs only $40.

Volunteers get to use their creativity too in raising funds. Often the event is a concert by musicians—a natural fit. But in New Orleans, the tattoo parlors each take a ukulele and paint it with their special artistry and then sell the "tattooed" ukes online, last year raising $15,000. Volunteers use whatever skills they bring in support of the fundraising efforts. Bob's career had been as a videographer. He has put his skill back to work to tell the story of the Ukulele Kids Club. You can see his video on the website.

Unlike Bob, you as a volunteer don't have to play a ukulele. But like Bob, you simply need to care about kids in hospitals, recognize the power of music to bring healing, and value being part of a real-deal organization that is definitely changing lives.

To learn more about Ukulele Kids Club, to see Bob's video, or to donate, visit theukc.org.

065B Sheri Kimble—Violins of Hope

Music From a Dark Past—Hope for Today and Tomorrow

The lilt of beautiful music stirs hope in the hearts of listeners. But like any great gift it can be perverted for evil. The Violins of Hope experience tells the story and brings it full circle through the darkest of times and circumstances to hope again. Sheri Kimble, a volunteer docent, explains:

During the Nazi years, many Jewish and other musicians were forced to play their music at first for the entertainment of the Nazi officials, but then for the prisoners being marched off to the labor sites from the camps, and ultimately for the new arrivals at the death camps who were herded into the "showers." Even though they knew the outcome, the musicians had no choice but to play or they too would die. Sometimes they would receive an extra scrap of food for their playing. Having that could give them—and others with whom they shared—strength and hope to stay alive another day.

When the light began to return, the now freed musicians no longer had the heart to play. Their violins languished in dark attics and closets. Eventually, one—and then one by one—others were given to or collected by an Israeli luthier, Amnon Weinstein. His father, Moshe, had also been a maker and repairer of stringed instruments, which had brought him to Palestine before the outbreak of war. Unfortunately, 400 of his and his wife's families were destroyed in the Holocaust. In 2000 Amnon turned his skills toward restoring the violins and finding ways to tell their stories—so that the remembering will help humanity say, "Never again!"

The Violins of Hope experience travels internationally, but includes extended time in communities that are willing to turn the "visit" into a community-wide discussion and learning opportunity. Previous stops have been in Cleveland and Cincinnati, Ohio, and in Birmingham, Alabama. Through Memorial Day, May 28, 2018, Violins of Hope is in Nashville, Tennessee. Forty different exhibits and events—all but two are free—invite people into the story, into the music, into awareness, into hope. Major ones include concerts by the Nashville Symphony playing the violins and the Nashville Public Library's multifaceted exhibits.

Sheri answered a call to be a volunteer docent for the Library's exhibit. At first, in training, she felt overwhelmed by the intensity and responsibility of the story. Now, she is gratified to be able to help people of all ages understand, appreciate, and claim the message. To provide a 40-venue experience for a community for free requires volunteers, including those who raise the possibility within their home area, others like Sheri who raise awareness through their channels or on site, and others who raise needed funds. Volunteers make a difference. Volunteers for hope.

For more information, visit the website violinsofhopensh.org. May 28, 2018, is the final day for Nashville.

064 John and Elaine Berkheiser—Leader Dogs for the Blind

Raising Puppies and Opening Doors!

If you love dogs, you'll find kindred spirits in John and Elaine Berkheiser, who raise puppies (28 so far)—and give them away! The puppies ultimately go to work, serving persons who are blind, visually impaired, or blind-deaf.

How can the Berkheisers give them away? Each puppy accompanies them wherever they go—to stores, through parking lots, in cars, on busses, in hotels. Raising these puppies is a 24/7 job! Elaine admits that giving the dog up after their year together breaks their hearts. But...then comes the dog's graduation from the official training and the placement with the client. John and Elaine usually attend the ceremony and also take the occasion to meet the person who is receiving this furry opportunity for a more independent and fulfilling life. Many clients stay in touch, sending photos and notes of gratitude throughout the dog's service. With the bigger picture in mind, the couple begin again with a new puppy.

Founded by three Detroit-area Lions Clubs members in 1939, Leader Dogs for the Blind empowers people who are blind, visually impaired or deaf-blind with skills for a lifetime of independent travel, opening doors that may seem to have closed with the loss of sight. The organization began with four dogs and now trains and places nearly 500 every year.

To carry out their mission, Leader Dogs relies on multiple volunteers. Leader Dog "moms" handle the breeding program—mostly Labrador and Golden Retrievers with a smattering of German Shepherds. Volunteers, like the Berkheisers, who started because their daughter raised a puppy as her 4H project, provide love, basic training, and the adventures that result in a confident, alert, and loving companion ready for the next level of training and ultimately for service. The Berkheisers also volunteer as "puppy counselors," regularly visiting their network of other Leader Dog "puppy raisers," supporting and mentoring them. In addition, the organization provides manuals and training videos to assure that all involved—raisers and puppies—have a good experience, which will pay off in a greater quality of life for the client.

For persons receiving a dog, the placement training lasts 28 days. Leader Dogs also runs a summer camp for 16–17 year olds and a week-long "white cane" training. All of these services are free of charge to the recipients. If you know someone who is blind, visually impaired, or blind-deaf, either from birth or newly so, please encourage them to explore Leader Dog. A whole new life could be at the other end of the harness.

For more information or to explore volunteering with Leader Dogs for the Blind, visit leaderdog.org.

063 Kim Carrier—Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

Sampling the Fruits of Volunteering

With more than 900 volunteers each year, Volunteer Coordinator Kim Carrier knows something about what keeps volunteers coming and coming back to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum: "Enjoying the beauty of nature is its own lure. Even if they are not working in the garden, driving through the gate evokes an emotional and spiritual response. It's in our DNA to connect with nature and to support places like this."

The Arboretum has many opportunities for volunteers to connect and support. With 1,200 acres, multiple specialized trial and display gardens within the garden, wetlands and prairie restoration projects, and apple and grape variety development, volunteers who like to work hands on and "dig in the dirt" can readily find a place and like-minded company.

But as a nonprofit, the Arboretum also needs the skills of people who can contribute by raising funds, memberships, and attendance. Volunteers bring their expertise with spreadsheets, databases, and informative reports to assist the organization. Volunteers help with major events, including planning, marketing, dealing with logistics, and even cleaning up. Volunteers also educate inside the gardens as tour guides, knowledgeable tram drivers, and teachers for children's and adult classes. Outside the garden, volunteer ambassadors speak to groups about this treasure in their area while others use their skill with social media to generate enthusiasm and attendance at the Arboretum.

Kim readily admits that the most popular volunteer job, however, is apple tasting! As a research facility, the Arboretum is actively developing new strains of the fruit. The popular Honey Crisp and the new Tango apples are results of their work. A newer grape-breeding program is also underway.

No matter the skills, interests, or experiences volunteers bring, they can find a way to "connect with nature and to support places" like the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Kim points out that across the U.S. are hundreds of other unique and wonderful gardens beckoning. Maybe they don't have apple tasting, but they will feed the emotional and spiritual needs of the human DNA.

For more about the educational program of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, listen to the Retire-To podcast 057 with Fern Albertson.

For more about the Arboretum, visit their website (arboretum.umn.edu) or Facebook (facebook.com/MnArboretum) or YouTube (youtube.com/user/MnArboretum). Check your local area for volunteer opportunities in gardens near you.

062 Anne Huffman—Music & Memory

Bringing Back What Was "Lost"

A hospice volunteer, Anne Huffman, was keeping vigil at the bedside of a dying woman. Seeing the Bible at the patient's bedside, Anne began reading it aloud and then singing "Amazing Grace" softly. The woman, who previously had been non-communicative, responded. The patient died later that night, but a spark was born that day in Anne.

The spark was fanned when, in a subsequent training offered by the TLC program of hospice, Anne viewed the DVD, Alive Inside, and saw that her experience was not an anomaly. The organization Music & Memory has been making the lives of persons living with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, brain trauma, ALS, MS, and Parkinson's Disease better through individualized music playlists since 2006 in the U.S. and Canada.

Anne's fire grew through her church, where the congregation provided the funding and several members stepped up to help her, including the "tech guy" and two other women who each serve the patients in two local facilities, as does Anne, who also speaks to groups about the program, again fanning the flames.

For Anne, watching eyes light up and years melt away is her reward as she consistently sees patients suffering from both the disease and the ensuing isolation "awaken" in response to the music they remember.

But she also knows that the benefits of supplying individualized playlists to patients go beyond the specific person. With the resulting lessening of anxiety and agitation that often accompany this stage of life and the increasing social interaction and ability to converse that patients can experience, the atmosphere for all in the facility changes for the better. Families are also less stressed.

The Music & Memory organization provides, in conjunction with iTunes Plus and Apple, all that is needed to set up a program, including the guidelines for the legal use of the music.

For more information, visit musicandmemory.org.