Volunteer Services

MARCH 31 5:30-7pm, Village Park

Let Volunteer Services help you begin your evening well. Stop by Village Park after dinner and enjoy Acoustic Musician, Matt Hostetter, and Mocktails and fresh brownies.

Event Underwritten by: • Weaver Personal Training Services • Earl’s Court Self Storage

The Households at Garden Spot Village provide incredible person-centered care. Volunteers help to make that care even more incredible, with several resident volunteers assisting in Skilled Nursing in a variety of ways, especially during meals. Blanche Pilotti, a Garden Spot Village resident since June 2021, helps to feed residents five nights a week. In order to volunteer, Blanche needed to complete an 8-hour course led by Garden Spot team members Tara Philips and Ashely Baker. The course included videos and direct instruction and resulted in Blanche receiving certification to complete her volunteer position. “Evenings and weekends are the times they need help the most,” she explains. “I just live across the street, so I’ll stop in at dinner time and ask Mariah if she needs help.” “I learn so much from the residents. Their stories are incredible,” Blanche says. For her, volunteering is also about building relationships. She shares the following story as an example: “Helen is from Colorado, and I told her, ‘The first time it snows, I’m going to bring you some snow.’ So, the other week when it snowed, I made a snowball and took it to her. She laughed and thought that was the neatest thing. Sometimes, it’s just the most simple things.” She continues, “If my parents needed that level of help and I couldn’t do it, I would be thankful to know that someone was taking time to help them with their meals, visit with them and listen to their stories.” Before moving to Garden Spot, Blanche helped with A Quiet Presence, a program that invites volunteers to sit with people who are nearing the end of their lives. Since moving to Garden Spot, she has continued volunteering with A Quiet Presence. She also delivers packages on Monday evenings and assists Lorrie Westenhoefer with activities in therapeutic recreation. She recognizes that not everyone is comfortable volunteering in Skilled Nursing. “I find that everybody has different gifts. If you have the gift of helping, volunteering is an opportunity to stay busy and keep your mind sharp.” Blanche encourages others to volunteer: “It’s your community- if you have time, give back what’s been given to you.” Ashley echoes that sentiment saying, “We are always looking for more volunteers. When we learn that several people are interested we set up another class. It’s more enjoyable for people to take the class together. If you are interested in learning more about this volunteer opportunity, contact Volunteer Services (6204).