Meet Our Volunteers
If someone you know is a frail senior living at home, you know there can be a struggle to get everyday tasks completed, and a sense of loneliness can set in as it is difficult to get out of the home. Sometimes they just need a friend and a little extra help. Luckily, there are some very special volunteers across the country who devote themselves to addressing these issues.
Sam Bieller is one of those very special people - a Senior Companion - offering assistance and a connection to the outside world to frail seniors in Allegheny County. He has been volunteering in this role for seven years with Lutheran Service Society, and he donates hundreds of hours each year. Read more...
Many college students use any free time they have to catch up on studies or much-needed sleep, especially if they find themselves with a Friday morning free of classes. But at 8:30 each Friday morning, you can find Gina Scicchitano in the kitchen of Tri-Hill Valley Meals On Wheels, helping prepare meals for those who need them. Read more...
Donnie Walsh
As the "entertainer" of the PrimeTime Senior Center, Donnie Walsh often dresses up for special occasions. The day this photo was taken - a day the center held a themed party - is no exception. However, fun isn't the only quality Donnie is known at PrimeTime. His fellow volunteers and participants would add hard-working, dedicated, and thoughtful to a long list of qualities that make Donnie an outstanding person and volunteer.
In his seven years volunteering at the PrimeTime Senior Center, Donnie has logged many, many hours. His various duties include starting the coffee in the morning, preparing the salads and desserts, putting out the plates and utensils, washing the trays after lunch, making ice cubes, and shopping for center supplies. He has been known to help some of the other participants by shopping for them as well. Read more...
Marleen Wheatley
Anyone who spends time at the PrimeTime Senior Center, located on the lower level of Lutheran Service Society's Bellevue program office, knows that the participants there know how to have fun! The day Marleen Wheatley was interviewed for her volunteer profile provided no exception. That day, participants at the center were celebrating Fat Tuesday with an array of festive foods and colorful beads. (Marleen is wearing some of the beads in her photo to the right.)
Marleen, who is also a participant at the senior center, says that she started volunteering at PrimeTime because she noticed a need for the extra help. Read more...