Teresa D. Oct. 2021 Volunteer Spotlight

My name is Teresa D and I have been volunteering for Faith in Action for two years.  I volunteer as a driver and as liaison for my church, St. Patrick Church of Merna.

With two of three children away at college and one busy in High School, my schedule has allowed me more time to volunteer in the community.  After driving my kids around for 20 plus years, I thought Faith in Action was a perfect fit to extend a helping hand to the older generation in our community in need of transportation to appointments.

Driving these wonderful people to their appointments or even to make a trip to shop has been fun and rewarding.  Learning more about each one of those I’ve driven through conversation and just listening has been very rewarding.  For some of those we transport, we may be the only person they have spoken to in quite some time.     

I love driving care receivers to their appointments or shopping!  On the weeks that I’m not able to drive anyone due to my own schedule, I notice that something is missing from my life.  Even though some of the rides don’t take very long, I try to focus all of my attention on what the care receiver is saying

One time, it was the height of Covid and I had a care receiver invite me to come in for a cup of tea.  I sadly told him that I would love to, but that was not possible at this time.  So, he went out to his garden and picked a few tomatoes and a couple of apples and offered them to me!  Of course, I told him he didn’t owe me anything for driving him, but he seemed so proud to be sharing, so I took them, and they were delicious!

Faith in Action provides a very unique opportunity for people like me to give back to our local community and make a small difference in the life of an older person.  Though the care receivers or those we drive benefit from what we do, we as volunteers benefit from the appreciation, the smile, and hopefully a sense of community we receive/give by extending our helping hand.

Thank you for this opportunity to volunteer!