Student encourages others to volunteer
Tuesday, April 3, 2007 -- Deron Hamel
For Jennifer Ball, volunteering at Frost Manor in Lindsay is more than just an academic requirement.

Ball, a second-year social service work student at Sir Sandford Fleming College, began volunteering at the home in January as part of her coursework. She spends 40 hours per week volunteering. Ball says she has found the work to be rewarding. She encourages others to follow suit.

“Volunteering is important and people need to know that,” Ball says.

The two most important elements of volunteering, according to Ball, are the benefits it provides to those in need and the impact it has on society as a whole.

“If there are people who volunteer to spend their time, it gives the people that they are helping the little bit extra (attention) that they need,” she says. “You’re putting back into society.”

Aside from the positive social aspect of volunteering, Ball notes that helping others gives volunteers a sense of satisfaction.

“You feel that you’ve helped somebody else,” she says. “There’s a sense of accomplishment if you brighten somebody else’s day.”

And the efforts made by volunteers at the long-term care home are not taken for granted by residents, Ball adds.

“The people that you help are very thankful.”

Ball will join other volunteers at the home April 18 for a dinner to honour the home’s volunteers. The dinner coincides with National Volunteer Week held across Canada from April 15 to 21.

Ball says Frost Manor provides a pleasant environment for volunteers. She notes that many organizations and companies have problems keeping volunteers. Lack of organization and direction can discourage people from returning to volunteer work. These problems don’t exist at Frost Manor, Ball points out.

“It’s good to volunteer here,” she says.” “Here, they (treat) their volunteers well.”

Volunteers help residents with activities such as bingos, baking, crafts, word games and sit-and-dances – an activity where residents dance while sitting in chairs.

Ball says residents respond well to the activities, especially those which involve music.

“They love coming to programs,” she says. “Music has a big impact on them.”

Vi O’Leary, Frost Manor’s life enrichment co-ordinator, says Ball is an asset to the home. The tasks undertaken by Ball and other volunteers alleviate a lot of stress for the home’s staff, O’Leary says.

“She has been a plus for us, big time,” she says. “She has been working like a staff member. The residents just love her.”