![\"\"](\"http:\/\/volunteer.circleofcare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Annette-Till-166x300.jpg\")
There is no doubt Annette Till enjoys the time she spends while visiting her client or delivering meals on wheels every Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe is a gift to me,\u201d Annette says of the woman she visits for three or four hours a week. \u201cI take her out to beautiful places she may not usually go and we schmooze a lot. \u201c<\/p>\n
It was not an easy pairing. The client is from Romania and does not speak English and Annette does not speak her language. But, believe it or not, they communicate through Latin using root words, and eventually her lady translates the words into Yiddish.<\/p>\n
Annette explains that it is \u2018like watching a computer\u2019 as she describes how the woman understands her.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt goes from my words\u2026to Latin..to Romanian and eventually she understands what I am saying.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe does have a son and one very good friend in the city,\u201d she says of her charge. \u201cBut I feel she is a close friend and I love her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Annette has worked with seniors throughout her whole earning career as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had no relationship with my grandparents and it was a big void in my life,\u201d she admits. \u201cThey lived in Europe and I only saw them once. When I retired, I wanted to have a relationship that I felt I had missed and this is it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meals on Wheels is not too different for her as she knocks on the doors and delivers to her regular clients.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey wait for me,\u201d she says. \u201cMany are Russian. I get to see eight or nine regulars every week and if they speak Yiddish, I speak to them in Yiddish\u2026my broken Yiddish.\u201d<\/p>\n
Annette sees herself as a person who has a mission in life \u201cto bring joy to others\u201d.<\/p>\n
Obviously, she is fulfilling that inner passion with the people in our Jewish community.[\/vc_column_text][\/tab][tab title=”Carol Wiener” id=”1523643835697-0-4″ tab_id=”1523643835700-5″][vc_column_text]\n
Carol Wiener – Let’s Get Together Volunteer<\/h4>\n
Written by: Lois Kalchman<\/em><\/p>\n Carol Wiener (right), with Lisa Rae, Volunteer Resources Manager for Circle of Care.<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cLet\u2019s Get Together\u201d is the upbeat program at Circle of Care in which Carol Wiener is a volunteer.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s for seniors who come once a month,\u201d she says and you can hear the joy in her voice as she declares. \u2018\u2019It\u2019s a win-win situation and I love it.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Wednesday group has about a dozen people while the Thursday group has up to 20 ,\u201d she says of the two once-a-month sessions. Some participants come with a caregiver. Carol divulges that one lady is going to be 111 years young. \u201cThey have free transportation and a free lunch.\u201d<\/p>\n She suggests that the majority of the clients simply appreciate being out and socializing. Circle of Care may hire the entertainment or the group will play bingo or do other things.<\/p>\n Carol considers the best programs to be music when different artists are hired and play Yiddish songs or Broadway tunes.<\/p>\n She says she chose Circle of Care because she enjoys being with seniors and wanted to give back to the community. She cannot believe how terrific she feels following each session.<\/p>\n \u201cI love it,\u201d she said. \u201cThe clients appreciate it. They are friendly and make me feel warm and wanted\u2026.perhaps \u2018special\u2019. Actually, when I finish I feel that I get back more than I give.<\/p>\n \u201cThe clients talk to me and I get to know them on a personal level,\u201d she reveals. “They share their stories and I try to give them encouragement. With the regulars, it is like meeting a friend.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are things you wouldn\u2019t say to your family or don\u2019t want to burden your kids with and sometimes it is just easier to talk to a stranger,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n There is no doubt Carol Wiener considers her job a joy.[\/vc_column_text][\/tab][tab title=”Elaine Bisgould” id=”1523643295-2-18″ tab_id=”1523643763001-6″][vc_column_text]\n Written by: Lois Kalchman<\/em><\/p>\n When she retired from decades of teaching at the Associated Hebrew Schools , she found her afternoons boring and for the past 8 years she has worked as a captain for Meals on Wheels.<\/p>\n \u201cIt gives me the feeling that I am doing something worthwhile,\u201d she says. \u201cThey needed a captain on Thursdays and it was a way to fill my days.”<\/p>\n Being a captain is not easy. It requires the person to be at Baycrest by 7:00 a.m., prepare the bags to be filled and mark out the routes for the volunteer drivers who come from 8:30 on. Over three years ago, Elaine\u2019s husband passed on and she also took on Tuesdays.<\/p>\n \u201cNow I go in about four days a week,\u201d she says, adding how she often pops in on Mondays and Wednesdays to prepare for her bags and routes for the next morning. \u201cI love going in early,\u201d she says. \u201cThe drivers are so friendly and upbeat. There is a camaraderie in meeting and talking to the people. \u201c<\/p>\n She differentiates the atmospheres.<\/p>\n Thursday\u2019s people come in early and like to shoot the breeze and have coffee while Tuesday\u2019s drivers just pick up their meals and leave.<\/p>\n If there aren\u2019t enough drivers, she pitches in and delivers meals as well.<\/p>\n Some drivers will make a client\u2019s day by simply asking \u201chow are you doing? \u201c or listening to their stories.<\/p>\n It is not unusual for drivers to become attached to a person after months of bringing them food and cheer.<\/p>\n She truly enjoys her hours. She used to bring her teenage grandchildren with her but as they got older, she claims they are now not so eager for a 7:00 a.m. start to their day.<\/p>\n As if that is not enough, Elaine also volunteers once a week in her daughter\u2019s classroom. Volunteering with Meals on Wheels has brought a fulfillment into Elaine\u2019s life.<\/p>\n In spite of the early starts and days spent, the 75-year-old former teacher experiences a satisfaction as a volunteer in the Jewish Community.[\/vc_column_text][\/tab][tab title=”Erin Clamen” id=”1523643920300-0-5″ tab_id=”1523643920303-7″][vc_column_text]\n Written by: Yvonne Siegel<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cVolunteering has been a great way for me to enhance and strengthen my skills, and learn new skills as well,\u201d Erin says.<\/p>\n Erin runs a weekly hour-long social group at an Assisted Living facility.<\/p>\n \u201cThe group members are usually in the lobby to greet me when I get there,\u201d she says. \u201cThey\u2019ve taken an avid interest in me and my life. I feel the same way about them.\u201d<\/p>\n With the group, Erin runs activities include music, discussions, and monthly birthday celebrations.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of sharing. Memories make for great conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin finds her work to be the extremely interesting and rewarding. \u201cI leave feeling happy that I have spent time making their lives more interesting and bright.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][\/tab][tab title=”Lana Rottenberg” id=”1523643804106-0-9″ tab_id=”1523643804109-10″][vc_column_text]\n Written by: Lois Kalchman<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAs a Jewish person, this program allows me to put the words I pray in the synagogue and the values I believe in into action,\u201d she adds. \u201cIt is rewarding to engage the mind in study but this is heart to heart work.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I visit, they can say anything they need to say,\u201d she says of her clients, who sometimes cannot articulate their fears and hopes to family members or friends. \u201cI feel I am helping them sort out some of their thoughts and feelings as their life is coming to a close.\u201d<\/p>\n The majority of Lana\u2019s work is one on one, and occasionally she fills in for other Circle of Care Hospice volunteers.<\/p>\n \u201cI am visiting with one lady now, and we\u2019ve developed a close relationship over a number of months. I know she is benefitting from our visits. But sometimes clients pass away after we\u2019ve only just gotten to know each other. That\u2019s harder. But even then, I feel I\u2019ve made a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n Lana has been an active volunteer for many years including serving as chair of Temple Sinai\u2019s \u201cCaring Community\u2019 which offers rides and other types of support to its congregants.<\/p>\n Many Canadians consider sickness and death as private family business.<\/p>\n \u201cBut the importance of the role of outsiders should not be discounted,\u201d she said. \u201cIn fact, Circle of Care is developing a new program, to reach out to the bereaved families of their clients. This is a great opportunity for us to offer support, a continuation of support really, to those suffering in grief.\u201d<\/p>\n Lana admits that Hospice visiting is not for everyone but there is no doubt she loves it. Through the program, she is able to satisfy her need to reach out and truly make a difference \u2013 heart to heart, one person at a time.[\/vc_column_text][\/tab][tab title=”Lisa Sugar” id=”1523643847443-0-7″ tab_id=”1523643847444-3″][vc_column_text]\n Written by: Yvonne Siegel<\/em><\/p>\n While her uncle no longer attends the program, Lisa continues to volunteer her musical talents. \u201cMusic can really spark the memory of those suffering from Alzheimer\u2019s,\u201d she says. \u201cKnowing I can put a smile on someone\u2019s face is something I look forward to.\u201d<\/p>\n Once a month, Lisa is joined by two other volunteers, who perform a 45 minute musical set for the ADP clients.<\/p>\n \u201cThey really look forward to seeing us,\u201d Lisa says. \u201cThey\u2019re so happy when we come.\u201d<\/p>\n Lisa and her fellow volunteers engage the clients by getting them involved in the performance. They encourage them to sing along to the chorus of familiar songs.<\/p>\n \u201cWe perform the same collection of songs each time because repetition is important,\u201d Lisa explains. \u201cBut I try to throw in a few new songs each time as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Lisa is encouraged by the response she gets from the clients. \u201cThey ask us to sing certain songs, which shows me that they remember. That makes me smile. It\u2019s an honour and privilege to volunteer with ADP at Circle of Care.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][\/tab][tab title=”Sally Gustin” id=”1523643814872-0-9″ tab_id=”1523643814875-2″][vc_column_text]\n Written by: Lois Kalchman<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s very rewarding,\u201d says Sally, who has volunteered in many different places throughout the years. \u201cThe work is very much appreciated by the clients and their families. People should have choices at the end of their lives. Maybe I will be in that situation at some point.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI took the eight-week course last spring,\u201d she says. “I have two clients now and visit each once a week and do whatever they need.\u201d<\/p>\n She spends three hours with a client, or whatever time they need. She explains that it is quite difficult when a person devotes him or herself to caregiving for a family member and may not be able to do anything for themselves. For one client, she provides relief so the caregiver can run errands or go to appointments.<\/p>\n \u201cEach case is different,\u201d she says. \u201cIn one case, the client has an extended family and in another there is no one.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can take out a client – we can go for walks and then the caregiver has a chance to do whatever is needed for him or herself and not worry. In another home, we have a nice routine. I may sweep the floor, make breakfast and do light housekeeping, whatever helps them.”<\/p>\n \u201cYou do get attached,\u201d she says of the hours she volunteers. \u201cBut they are so thankful.\u201d<\/p>\n She admits when a client dies it can be emotional. \u201cIt can be sad,\u201d she says. \u201cBut it is so valued by the clients and death is part of life, afterall.\u201d<\/p>\n For Sally, it is time well spent. Just the visiting, the involvement with people who need and want her is the reward that makes her contented.[\/vc_column_text][\/tab][\/tabbed_section][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Read stories about the love of giving, written by volunteers about volunteers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":837,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-820","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-updates"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/volunteer.circleofcare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/820","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/volunteer.circleofcare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/volunteer.circleofcare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/volunteer.circleofcare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/volunteer.circleofcare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=820"}],"version-history":[{"count":35,"href":"https:\/\/volunteer.circleofcare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/820\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":957,"href":"https:\/\/volunteer.circleofcare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/820\/revisions\/957"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/volunteer.circleofcare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/837"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/volunteer.circleofcare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=820"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/volunteer.circleofcare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=820"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/volunteer.circleofcare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=820"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Carol](\"http:\/\/volunteer.circleofcare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Carol-with-Lisa-264x300.jpg\")
Elaine Bisgould – Kosher Meals on Wheels Captain<\/h4>\n
![\"Elaine](\"http:\/\/volunteer.circleofcare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/IMG_0377-225x300.jpg\")
Elaine Bisgould started volunteering with Meals on Wheels to pull herself out of her \u2018funk\u2019.<\/p>\n
\nInterestingly, she claims that every week day has its own personality.<\/p>\nErin Clamen \u2013 Social Group Volunteer<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/volunteer.circleofcare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/IMG_1091-copy-300x275.jpg\")
Erin Clamen started volunteering as a social group volunteer because it was a way for her to combine her skills in group facilitation with her experience as a recreational therapist. She also loves working with older adults.<\/p>\nLana Rottenberg – Community Hospice Volunteer<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/volunteer.circleofcare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Lana-image.jpg\")
Lana Rottenberg believes she is putting her faith into action as a volunteer in the Visiting Hospice Program where she spends four hours weekly with someone nearing their end of life.<\/p>\nLisa Sugar \u2013 Musical Entertainment<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/volunteer.circleofcare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-Lisa-Sugar-2-copy-300x243.jpg\")
Lisa Sugar started volunteering with Circle of Care\u2019s Adult Day program (ADP) a few years ago, when her uncle was a client.<\/p>\nSally Gustin – Community Hospice Volunteer<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/volunteer.circleofcare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/IMG_20180329_151733936-copy-225x300.jpg\")
Sally Gustin refers to her Circle of Care volunteer hospice client visits as deposits in her own emotional bank account.<\/p>\n