Help yourself by helping others

NSU social work students laud the benefits of volunteering, and tell local retirees how to get involved.

By BETTY RIDGE

The people gathering for lunch at the Tahlequah Senior Citizens Center no longer have to punch a time clock, but they have plenty of experience to offer.

Social work students from Northeastern State University encouraged them Tuesday to share their skills and their wisdom with the community, and receive satisfaction in return. Four seniors from Virginia Whitekiller’s senior seminar spoke to the group about opportunities with several local organizations that could use the help.

“Your generation is a volunteer generation. You guys did a lot in our community, and we hope you keep that up,” Stephanie Heaton told the seniors.

She said the generation she was speaking to had established the Humane Society of Cherokee County, where she volunteers, and now the organization attracts younger and older volunteers alike.

The volunteers walk the dogs, play with the cats, help at spay and neuter clinics and adopt-a-thons, perform bookwork, and fill a variety of needs. Even putting an extra bottle of bleach in the cart during a shopping trip, and donating it for help in cleaning the shelter, is appreciated.

“They’re always having special events where they’re needing help,” Heaton said. “It doesn’t matter how big or small; anything helps.”

Carrie Curtis encouraged her listeners to become foster grandparents through the Cookson Hills Community Action Program.

“We have grannies and grandpas who go into the classroom and help with different activities,” she said.

The foster grandchildren can be especially valuable in working with special needs children, who may have emotional or behavioral problems and could use an older person to relate to. The grandparents may help them improve their reading or writing skills, read stories to them, or just listen to a youngster for a while.

Curtis has seen the benefits of foster grandparenting firsthand.

“My grandma volunteers at the Zion School. She goes to the school four days a week and works about half a day. My grandma’s 84 years old, and she absolutely loves it,” Curtis said.

Her grandmother begins the day by eating breakfast with her “kids,” works with them through the morning, and eats lunch with them before returning home. When sidelined by illness, she kept telling her family she had to get back to school because she missed the kids.

“She has impacted so many young children. We can go to Walmart and a child will run up and hug her, and say ‘Oh, there’s Granny Mary.’” Curtis said. “One of the reasons why I think volunteering is important is that you’re not thinking about yourselves all the time. You can say, ‘I can make a difference in someone’s life.’”

Cheryl Womble echoed those thoughts.

“Volunteerism is donating your time and your talents for charitable, educational and other worthwhile projects, usually in your community. When you volunteer, you’re not just helping others; you’re helping yourself,” she said.

Volunteers make things better for other people and their community in general, she said.

“Volunteering helps you live longer and promotes a positive outlook on life,” she said.

Vannessa Stinnett said volunteers don’t even have to leave their homes to assist at Help-In-Crisis. They can answer the 24-hour hotline from their home phones.

The agency offers many other volunteer opportunities, ranging from helping shelter residents cook their meals to sorting out donated items.

“They do weekly shopping for the office and the shelter. And they [Help-in-Crisis] always need extra help during the holiday season,” she said.

Whitekiller, an associate professor of sociology, said the presentations were part of the seniors’ capstone classes.

“This is something new I’ve initiated in this class,” she said. “They did it [presentations] with others in the class, and I said why not go out in the community to give the presentation.”

At least some of the seniors were glad they did. Six won door prizes, including Jack Harrison, who selected a basket full of picture frames when his name was called.

“I’ve got a lot of grandkids – great-grandkids, too. How lucky can I get?” he said as he walked back to his table.

Get involved

The Northeastern State University students speaking about volunteerism at the Tahlequah Senior Citizens Center Tuesday distributed this list of volunteer opportunities and contact numbers:

American Cancer Society, (888) 376-1825; American Red Cross, (918) 682-1366; Bill Willis Community Mental Health Center, 207-3000; Boys & Girls Club, 456-6888; CARE Food Pantry, 456-4303; Carter Hospice, 456-0663; CASA, 456-8788; Tahlequah Area Chamber of Commerce, 456-3742; Cherokee County 4-H, 456-6163; Cherokee County Family and Community Education, 456-6163; Cherokee County Child Welfare, 207-2500; Cherokee County Nursing Center, 456-3456; Cherokee County Smart Start, 456-3032; Cherokee Hills RC&D;, 456-4408; Cherokee Hospice, 458-5080; Cherokee Nation, 207-4929; Christian Children’s Fund, 456-5344; Cookson Hills Head Start, 458-0271 or 456-0574; Cherokee County Election Board, 456-2261; Go Ye Village, 456-1650; Grace Living Center University Northwest, 456-6181; Grace Living Center Cherrie Street, 456-2573; Habitat for Humanity, 458-5346; Help-In-Crisis, 456-0673; Hope House, 456-4673; Hospice of the Cherokee, 458-5080; Cherokee County Humane Society, 453-9555; Job Corps, 877-256-9950; Kid Connections, 456-3032; Nature Conservancy, 456-7601; Oklahoma Blood Institute, 877-624-4483; Oklahoma Production Center, 456-1929; Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission, 456-3251; People Inc., 458-9218; Salvation Army, 456-9882; Tahlequah Senior Citizens Center, 456-0792; Tahlequah Board of Education, 458-4160; Tahlequah City Hospital, 453-2105; Tahlequah Public Library literacy, 456-2581; Tenkiller Adventure Program, 457-5125; Trinity Hospice, 456-6851; United Keetoowah Band, 456-8698; and United Methodist Children’s Home, 456-6166.