May Volunteers of the Month - Denver Metro South Rotary Club with ARDC client, Mary
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Aging Resources wouldn't operate without our incredible volunteers and community partners. We want to thank the many individuals and businesses who donate their time, talent, and treasure in supporting older Douglas County adults by partnering with ARDC. This May we're highlighting the Denver Metro South Rotary Club, longtime volunteers with Aging Resources.
This club is very active throughout the community, regularly supporting local non-profits with various "days of service". For the past three years, they've partnered with Aging Resources to do a day of yard clean-up for an ARDC client, Mary. Oftentimes things like raking, weeding, and planting can become overwhelmingly challenging to an older adult. With a little extra help from ARDC volunteers, like the DMS Rotary Club, older adults can receive that extra help around their house and take pride in their homes! Thank you Denver Metro South Rotary for all that you do on behalf of Aging Resources to help older adults. like Mary, age independently and in their homes. Get to know Brianna (chapter president) and the rest of the Rotary Club below... What brought you to Aging Resources of Douglas County? I have been a volunteer for ARDC since about 2021. When our club was looking for an opportunity to serve the senior community I suggested we reach out to ARDC. That is when I learned about the opportunity to do a yard clean-up for Mary. Our club loves serving Mary and helping with her huge yard. What’s a memorable story from your time volunteering with us? The special moments shared with Mary. She comes out and tells stories and offers water and cuties. She likes to visit and watch us work. Our members love to take the time to visit with her and to hear her stories. What do you love about helping the older community? The senior community is so amazing and so under-served. While it is just one person we know that we are making it so that Mary can remain in her home and the land is cleared and safe for her to be in alone. Our club is discussing more ways to get involved in the senior community. We talk a lot about elder abuse and abandonment and how that affects the seniors in our communities. What advice would you share with someone who is thinking about volunteering with Aging Resources? The relationships you make are as heartwarming for the volunteer as they are for the senior. One of the most special things is the relationships and the fact that volunteering helps alleviate loneliness and isolation for these seniors. There are so many special moments when you show up for these seniors. Willingness to listen to their stories and give them a reason to smile and help them be out in the world is irreplaceable. What do you love about your Rotary Club? Our Rotary Club is a little unique. We call ourselves "Rotary Re-imagined" as we are comprised of working professionals who are serious about serving our local community and seeing the impact firsthand with the hard work we do. We are the newest club in District 5450 which is comprised of 56 clubs and 2600 Rotarians. We were awarded with the District Club of the Year award for the 2022-2023 Rotary year as well as one of our Rotarians received the award of Rotarian of the Year. We are known for our localized community impact and the hands-on service our club does and is so proud of. Thank you Denver Metro South Rotary for being such a wonderful volunteers with ARDC and making such a difference in the lives of older adults, like Mary. We appreciate you! |