Success Stories

Volunteering to help is often perceived as “someone who has more” performing an act of kindness for someone who has less. Sandy, who is blind, had a basic need for her seeing-eye dog to be bathed regularly. Later she requested a volunteer to read to her from her professional journals, something she had not been able to do for years. Lois, a single woman who became disabled by a brain injury, needed work done on her home, as well as ongoing assistance with organizing her paperwork.

Both Sandy and Lois certainly needed help, but one of the keys to the success of the services they received was that their volunteers created a special partner relationship that built on their strengths and abilities, not their needs. Later, Sandy was invited to Costa Rica for a vacation, but was concerned that she knew no Spanish. Her volunteer arranged for a Spanish-speaking friend to teach Sandy a few important phrases for the trip. The result: A feeling of increased independence for Sandy. Lois recognizes the limits of her brain in troubleshooting and organizing, but is so appreciative of her current volunteer who encourages her to still do what she can. These are their comments:

“You are an absolutely fantastic agency – I can do things now that I couldn’t do before.”

“To me, I think of Volunteers in Action as ‘Angels in Action.’”

“You have been a God-send to me in terms of keeping me independent.”