Kathy

Kathy, aged 69, is a lifelong Bloomington resident and has been using Faith in Action grocery shopping services on and off for seven years. Today it is difficult for her to get out of her apartment, and she relies on a friendly shopper twice a month to supplement the groceries she orders through a paid service.

“Faith in Action saves me money, but it also does so much more,” says Kathy. “It helps me knowing someone is out there. I am single and I appreciate the help and kindness.”

“I’ve had the same grocery shopper for several weeks now. I was paired with Leslie, and she is such a joy. She not only gets everything on my list, but she drops off my groceries at my apartment and chats with me for a few minutes. Her four-year-old son is usually in tow, and he is a delight. I am a former elementary school teacher and I really miss my young students. I usually have a sticker waiting for him,” Kathy adds.

In addition to grocery shopping services, Kathy receives calls through the Friendly Phone Call program at FIA. “Judy calls me, and we chat like old friends,” Kathy notes. “She travels to Florida during the year with her husband and sends me postcards too. We’re both teachers so we have that shared experience and throughout the years we’ve talked about everything from our pasts to our families to our views on life.”

For the past couple of years Kathy has also been on the other side of the Friendly Phone Call program. She makes calls every month to FIA care receivers. She shares, “Right now, I was just matched with a new woman. I’ve only talked to her once, but we both enjoyed talking about gardening, reading and family. Esther, the coordinator in the Faith in Action office who coordinates these phone matches, does a wonderful job pairing me with someone that I enjoy talking to. She also follows up after the first initial phone calls to be sure it’s a comfortable experience.”

“Helping someone in the same situation as me is the right thing to do,” says Kathy. “If you are considering using Faith in Action’s services, try it. If you can volunteer, do it. It’s more than just a place to help you with your physical needs. They fill you with kindness and encouragement and everyone is friendly. You can tell FIA volunteers enjoy helping others.”