Sam Bieller
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 7 years with Lutheran Service Society, and he donates hundreds of hours each year.
According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, "the Senior Companion Program brings together volunteers age 55 and over with adults in their community who have difficulty with the simple tasks of day-to-day living. Companions help out on a personal level by assisting with shopping and light chores, interacting with doctors, or just making a friendly visit."
Sam volunteers four days each week, and is currently visiting 5 participants in their homes. He reads their mail, helps them pay bills, and takes them into town on the bus.
"I like getting out to see the people," Sam says about his volunteer experience. "We learn things from each other and we help each other."
In 2007, Sam was Allegheny County's Senior Companion of the Year - an award he won out of more than 100 people serving in the program at that time.
Sam has always had an interest in helping others, and has volunteered for nearly all his life. In addition to volunteering in the Senior Companions program, Sam is also very involved with Lutheran Service Society in the Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community each year (see picture). Sam is a member of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, and his volunteer work for the Highmark Walk allows Lutheran Service Society the opportunity to receive a matching grant from Thrivent each year. So Sam's volunteer time is valuable in more ways than one!
It should be noted that Sam donated 940 hours of volunteer service to Lutheran Service Society in 2010. Therefore, he should have been listed in our most recent annual report as one of the top 10 volunteer contributing hours during that year (in terms of hours recorded). We missed this calculation, and Sam should have been on that list.
Thank you, Sam, for all your hard work and the many hours that you donate to our agency! You make a huge difference in the lives of the people you serve!
"How rare and wonderful is that flash of a moment when we realize we have discovered a friend." ~William Rotsler