Cheers to Volunteers! You Make It Happen
April is Volunteer Appreciation Month, and boy do we appreciate our volunteers!
Witherell volunteers donate countless hours to enriching the lives of our residents– and the results are just amazing. Last year alone, a cadre of more than 300 local volunteers supported our staff by providing residents with more than 11,000 hours of loving attention.
Mary Tate, the Witherell’s volunteer coordinator, shares this impressive run down of volunteer hours logged:
- The Hair Salon volunteers average over 150 hours a month
- The Gift Shop averages 160 volunteer hours a month
- Rehab averages 195 volunteer hours a month
- Chapel services averages 100 volunteer hours a month
- Recreation averages 100 volunteer hours a month
- Volunteers who visit our residents average 60 hours a month.
And, let’s not forget pets! Many volunteers bring a dog or cat for visits or to strut their stuff at our “Pooches on Parade” events.
What makes the Witherell such a great place to volunteer?
“Once people come to the Witherell and see how much our residents and staff appreciate their involvement, it just warms everyone’s heart,” says Mary Tate. Volunteering here is very rewarding – once you do it for the first time, you’ll want to come back, again and again!”
Volunteering at the Witherell has become a Greenwich tradition – and it starts early. The first visit usually occurs when students visit with a school group to sing or perform. Witherell volunteers run the gamut, from high school students all the way to retirees. Often generations of family members are in the mix, too.
As rewarding as the connections are, another great thing about volunteering is that it’s good for you, as research shows. According to the Mayo Clinic, volunteering reduces stress, boosts self-confidence, and can help people live longer.
So, do something good for yourself and good for others; reach out to Mary Tate at 203-618-4200 to explore upcoming volunteer options.
To all the wonderful people and pets that volunteer at the Witherell, THANK YOU!!! We are so grateful for your support. Happy Volunteer Month!
