St. John’s Celebrates Its Resident Volunteers
St. John’s independent living residents who dedicate their free time to volunteering for the organization and the community at large gathered for the annual volunteer luncheon. This year’s luncheon welcomed around 100 residents from St. John’s Meadows and Brickstone by St. John’s.
St. John’s Volunteer Services Coordinator Marie Kamin says that “the volunteers are the foundation of St. John’s.”
“I have been in this role for about six months,” Kamin continues, “I meet so many residents who want to help and create their own programs — I learn a lot,” says Kamin.
Many of the St. John’s resident volunteers are retired librarians, teachers, and artists, according to Kamin, which allows each resident to bring their unique skills to the social recreation calendar throughout the communities.
“It is wonderful because their lives don’t just stop when they retire,” says Kamin. “It is also empowering and great for socialization.”
This year’s guest speaker was Dennis Carr of the Friends of Mount Hope Cemetery, for which many residents volunteer.
Every year one resident is awarded the Jean Loomis Award for his/her outstanding efforts in volunteering. This year’s honoree is Mary Husson-Kallen. She has lived in the St. John’s Meadows Cottages for a little over two years. She has been instrumental in organizing lunches and other gatherings for the cottage community.
“It is an honor and I am happy to do it,” says Husson-Kallen. “I am retired so that is the key; this doesn’t feel like work because I like doing it.”