Community Living is lucky to have many stellar volunteers - learn more about them below!
Mary Jane
To say that Mary Jane is a committed volunteer is an understatement – she has volunteered for Community Living’s Adult Recreation Services program for over 25 years! Mary Jane started volunteering after her son, Glenn, enrolled in the Adult Recreation program. Over the years she’s assisted with trips, arts and crafts, and a variety of other activities. Today you can find the avid bowler helping participants master the sport every week.
“I help them with whatever they need,” said Mary Jane. “If they are having a problem, I try to show them how to improve.”
Working with so many Adult Recreation Services participants over the years and helping them learn new skills has been extremely rewarding to Mary Jane. “It always makes you feel good knowing that you can help,” said Mary Jane. “And they get a kick out of it, too, when they do good at what you are trying to show them.”
Mary Jane was honored with Community Living’s Adult Recreation Services Volunteer of the Year Award in 2009 and received the Sports Volunteer of the Year Award in 2011. It’s no wonder since Adult Recreation Services staff really depend on Mary Jane. “Mary Jane is very reliable. Having her as a volunteer for Saturday bowling is comforting because I know if she is there she will help make the event run smoothly,” said Jodi Darrohn, Director of Adult Recreation Services.
Lori and Fred
Lori started volunteering for Community Living in 2001 after reading an article about volunteering opportunities in the community that referenced Community Living’s Adult Recreation Services program. The variety of activities offered by the program matched Lori’s interests, so she decided to give it a try. After volunteering for a few activities, Lori was hooked.
Over 11 years later, Lori still loves to volunteer and many of Community Living’s participants have become lifelong friends. “The participants are always so happy, which makes me happy,” said Lori. “I really enjoy their company.”
Lori has assisted with the program’s aerobics classes; snow skiing; day outings to Grants Farm, St. Louis Zoo, and Six Flags; craft classes; dances, and more. A few years ago, Lori got her husband, Fred, to join in on the fun. He volunteers with snow skiing as well as softball, basketball, and the fishing derby. “He just loves to see the joy on their faces when they hit or catch. He gets a big thrill out of seeing them doing well and having so much fun,” said Lori.
If you think it’s hard to find time to volunteer, don’t say this to Lori and Fred. The couple runs a local auto repair business, so they definitely have their hands full! The number of activities offered by Adult Recreation Services and the variety of times allows them to fit volunteering into their busy schedules.
“Lori and Fred are a great asset to the Adult Recreation program,” said Jodi Darrohn, Director of Recreation Services. “They are always willing to help out when they can. They don’t just sit back and watch when they volunteer. They are amazing with the participants. They interact and take time to get to know all the participants, and they are great role models for other volunteers in this program.”