Published: October 14, 2009 09:54 pm      

Service vital to seniors

WESTVILLE — Bunny Flanders of Georgetown sums up the help she receives from Faith in Action South in two words.

“God send,” exclaims Flanders. “Without their assistance I could not remain in my home and get along as well as I do.”

Flanders, who has been using Faith in Action South services since 2005, said she uses Faith in Action for transportation to and from doctor’s appointments every week as well as trips to the pharmacy and to run errands and pay bills.

“I don’t drive anymore,” said Flanders. “So Faith takes me wherever I need to go.”

Flanders also said Faith volunteers built her a ramp to use when she was in a wheelchair.

“I try to use my walker as much as possible now, but the ramp also makes it easier to get in and out of my house with the walker,” Flanders explained.

Flanders also said she likes the fact that the volunteers from Faith in Action will pull up to the end of her ramp and that makes it much easier to get in and out.

“This is one way we are different than other transportation services,” said Chris Good, program coordinator for Faith in Action South. “We provide door-to-door service, whereas other transportation services provide curb-to-curb service.”

“Our volunteers will get out and assist our clients into and out of the vehicle,” added Good.

Faith in Action South is an outreach program of the Provena United Samaritans Medical Center Foundation.

“A very large part of our funding comes from the foundation,” Good said. “We do get some donations from area churches, businesses and individuals, but the bulk of our funding comes from the foundation.”

Faith in Action South, which covers the southern part of Vermilion County and its sister organization, Faith in Action, which covers basically the Danville city limits area, were formed nearly 11 years ago to assist senior citizens in remaining in their home and maintaining a safe, independent lifestyle.

“We are an interdenominational organization,” Good added. “We work with families and churches to help seniors stay in their homes and in their communities.”

Faith in Action South spent the first nine years working out of a small office in the basement of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Westville. They moved two years ago into the former doctor’s office building, which is owned by Provena, across the street from the church.

Good said Faith in Action South not only provides transportation services for seniors, but also builds ramps, does light household chores and safety related repairs.

“Our volunteers will come in and wash bedding or curtains, wash windows and install handholds to help prevent falls,” Good explained. “We can also assist with having storm windows installed, repairing or replacing furnaces and air conditioners and doing some garden and yard work.”

Faith in Action South depends on volunteers to provide its services.

“Most of our volunteers are retirees,” said Good. “Any amount of time they can spend to help us out is very much appreciated.”

While volunteers who transport persons for appointments or to do errands are not paid and use their own vehicles, Good said they do offer mileage reimbursement for volunteers.

“Most won’t accept the mileage reimbursement but we offer,” Good added. “All we require is a dependable vehicle, current driver’s license and proof of insurance.”

Flanders said she has developed a warm relationship with the people that transport her.

“It is such a pleasure to talk with someone my own age,” said Flanders. “I really appreciate them and I realize it is not easy to get people to volunteer nowadays.”

Good said the fall and holiday season is one of the busier times for Faith in Action South.

“We are currently signing up volunteers for our fall leaf raking,” Good said. “We take one Saturday morning and go out to seniors who have requested help raking the leaves in their yards”

Another event coming in October is the painted pumpkin project.

“This project was started 10 years ago by the Olivet Nazarene Church and we eventually took it over,” Good said.

“The project involves preschool children painting pumpkins with religious symbols,” Good explained. “While the children are decorating the pumpkins, they have their picture taken and the picture is put on a card.”

The card is attached to the pumpkin and they are delivered to seniors.

“The seniors love these,” Good said. “And after the pumpkins have withered away, they still have the card with picture of the child decorating their pumpkin.”

At Thanksgiving Faith in Action South partners with St. Mary’s Church to provide food baskets for seniors.

“The students at St. Mary’s School will help fill and deliver the food baskets,” said Good.

In December Faith in Action South fills holiday boxes to deliver to seniors.

“Students from Judith Giacoma School will fill boxes with paper towels, toilet paper, tissues, hand lotion, shampoo and postage stamps,” Good added. “They are just common everyday items but the seniors really enjoy them.”

“These students have decided to forego a gift exchange at school and put the money towards items to fill the boxes,” Good explained.

Faith in Action South volunteers will also man the senior hospitality suite at the Festival of Trees in November.

Good said Faith in Action South is always looking for volunteers. Generally volunteers have certain areas of interest, such as transporting clients, building ramps or working in flower beds.

“We won’t turn anyone away, whatever area they want to volunteer in,” Good said. “There is a need year round for volunteers.”

FYI

Contact Faith in Action South at 267-2752.