I have been privileged to be a part of the AmeriCorps Senior Seniors Companion Program for three years. I currently visit four clients every week. I know that if I am unable to keep my scheduled visitation, my clients are often very disappointed or even upset because they have no one else to come to them and spend time talking, laughing, playing cards or games or even taking them places they need to go.
These folds suffer from loneliness. One of the services we provide is relief from loneliness. One woman told my last week, “You are all I have.” This is heartbreaking. Whatever we can do as volunteers is what we will do for our clients to help them feel less isolated; to feel that they still matter.
There is no higher calling than to be there to care. We, as volunteers, know how important our service is. We care daily for a part of our population that would feel lost without us.
-Marcia L., volunteer
