May 17, 2017 www.coshoctonbeacontoday.com
THE BEACON
7B
Community organizations benefit from volunteers
COSHOCTON – There are many ways senior
citizens can give back to their community
and one way is through volunteering their
time and sharing their experience and
knowledge with others, or just being there
for someone who is in need.
Many organizations in Coshocton Coun-
ty have volunteer opportunities for not
only seniors, but for people of all ages. One
of those organizations is Health Services
and Hospice of Coshocton County.
Locally, Hospice has about 30 regular
volunteers who offer a comforting hand to
those who are nearing the end of their life.
“It’s one more person, one more touch,”
said Kait Gallagher-Wilsterman, volunteer
coordinator for community hospice. “A lot
of the time, people in hospice see family
members and staff. This person is coming
not to do nursing care, but to be a compan-
ion to the patient.”
The caregiver of the hospice patient does
not have to be present when the hospice
volunteer is there, so it also gives them
time to go out and run errands or just to get
away for a while.
Hospice volunteers also do mailings for
hospice and bereavement calls where they
call family members of the hospice patient
who have passed away.
“We couldn’t exist without our volun-
teers,” said Gallagher-Wilsterman.
If you would like to become a hospice
volunteer, contact Gallagher-Wilsterman
at 740-622-7311.
Another organization who is in need
of volunteers in the county is the Retired
Seniors Volunteer Program (R.S.V.P.). They
have volunteers in both Coshocton and
Holmes County with 12 volunteers in
Holmes and four in Coshocton.
Volunteers at R.S.V.P. work the blood
drive registration for the Coshocton Coun-
ty Chapter of The American Red Cross.
Another, who is a retired nurse, is on the
safety committee at Hopewell Industries,
and one travels to Holmes County to vol-
unteer at a non-profit thrift store.
“They do a lot for organizations and help
out with different things going on with-
in the community,” said Elaine Wilson,
coordinator of R.S.V.P. “It gets them out and
they’re able to interact with different age
groups.”
Recently, First Step Family Violence
Intervention Services, Inc. became a
volunteer organization. They are having
an event this summer at Kids America for
at-risk kids.
“It’s an opportunity for them to have
somebody to talk to about their day,” said
Wilson.
“Preplanning can be the best
gift you can give your family”
Whether you are getting your wishes
on paper, prepaying, assigning your
insurance, or transferring a
pre-existing pre-arrangement.
Call Matt or Darcie at
740-622-8000
When your family is faced with decisions after the loss of a loved
one, make the decision to let our family at Miller Funeral
Home serve your family.
L ocaLLy o wned & o perated
Miller Funeral Home
LLC
639 Main Street • Coshocton
740.622.8000
www.themillerfuneralhome.com
If you would like to volunteer with
R.S.V.P., contact Wilson at the Red Cross
Office at 740-622-0228 Monday through
Thursday from 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Another organization who has volun-
teers making a difference in the commu-
nity is the Coshocton Senior Volunteer
Program. The program currently has about
150 volunteers with approximately 50
turning in hours each month. Seniors can
choose where they want to volunteer from
a list of participating sites that is available
at the senior center.
Seniors who would like to volunteer in
the program can go to the senior center
and fill out an information sheet which
includes your name, address, and your
interests. The volunteers are encouraged
to visit different sites on the list where they
feel would be a good fit for them before
volunteering.
“There are a lot of organizations that lit-
erally could not exist without volunteers,”
said Christy Neighbor, coordinator of the
Coshocton Senior Volunteer Program.
“They really are keeping a lot of our busi-
nesses going.”
Many organizations rely on volunteers
due to the cost-saving impact on their busi-
ness. Volunteers do many hours of work
with no pay simply to give back to the com-
munity, and the knowledge and wisdom
they bring to the community is priceless.
“You develop skills and interests over
your lifetime that can help someone and
adds value to the community,” said Neigh-
bors.
Volunteers in the program turn in a
monthly hour report that tracks the hours
each volunteer worked that month. In
April, the program had 47 volunteers turn
in hours at eight sites. Those volunteers
worked a total of 449 and 1/2 hours in one
month which averages about 9 and 1/2
hours per person that month.
“This is an awesome program and we
would like to get more organizations in
the community involved in the program,”
said Neighbor. “All you have to do is drop
off or mail in hours that each person does
each month. It’s kind of nice to know what
volunteer opportunities are available in
the community.”
If your organization would like to be-
come involved, contact Neighbor at the Co-
shocton County Senior Center at 740-622-
4852. Some of the organizations already
involved in the program are the Coshocton
Public Library, Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland, First
Step Family Violence Intervention Inc., and
Windsorwood.
Anyone who is interested in volunteering
in the program can stop by the senior cen-
ter at 201 Browns Lane, Coshocton.
Your Greatest Asset
is your Health!
Nutritional and Cook Books
Gluten-Free Foods
Essential Oils
Penta Water & Herbal Teas
BPA-Free Sports Gallon Jugs
Weight Loss Products
Ear Candles
Workout Supplements
Beauty Care Products
Chlorine Removing Showerheads
Vitamin/Mineral Supplements
Bulk Seeds, Grains, Nuts
GIFT CERTIFICATES
Marilyn’s
Natural Foods
430 Main Street, Coshocton • 740-622-6792
Serving Coshocton’s health needs for
over 30 years Clinical Nutritionist on staff
By Beth Scott
beth@coshoctoncountybeacon.com