The Seniors’ Office at the Ladysmith Resources Centre Association (LRCA) is seeking Friendly Visitors and Phoning Tree volunteers.
New volunteers are being recruited because current requests for services far exceed the number of available trained staff.
Both the Friendly Visitors and the Phoning Tree programs are designed to help lonely, isolated or shut-in seniors by providing scheduled weekly contacts.
For example, isolation can occur when a senior is recently widowed and the relatives live far away. In such a situation, the nephew of a local resident was very worried because he lived in Ontario and was only able to visit his aunt occasionally. He discovered the Friendly Visitor program and states simply: “What a blessing to have such a service in Ladysmith.”
When a Friendly Visitor or Phoning Tree volunteer is requested, the program works to find compatibility by matching interests and backgrounds. Current Friendly Visitors have found the experience very rewarding. They feel they have fulfilled a real need in the community and enjoyed getting to know someone new.
Volunteers will attend an upcoming training session to learn protocols, useful communication skills and how to identify problem areas. Friendly Visitors is also looking for people who may wish to be program co-ordinators or trainers. Call Barb at 250-245-3079 or stop by the reception desk at LRCA at 630 Second Ave. to pick up an application.
— Submitted by the Ladysmith Resources Centre Association