The next Respite Volunteers of Shiawassee volunteer training session is set for Tuesday, June 13 in the Heritage Hall at Perry Church of the Nazarene, 31000 Ellsworth Rd., Perry.
Respite offers many volunteer opportunities, including volunteering for a person with health/medical challenges in the volunteer’s own community, providing respite for the family caregiver, helping at the Respite office in Owosso, and helping with Respite events and special projects. In-office opportunities include greeting guests, answering phones, answering questions, filing, helping prepare newsletters, data entry, correspondence, cleaning, yard work, building maintenance, preparing for volunteer trainings and events, and helping with fundraising.
Respite serves adults with ongoing health and medical challenges, especially if their family caregivers need respite volunteer services, and services are based on the availability of volunteers for each community. A home visit is completed by a Respite Volunteer case manager to assess the person, the family caregiver, and basic home safety in order to establish eligibility, offer suggestions, and be able to choose a compatible volunteer. Staff members also provide the person and their family caregivers with patient and caregiver education about the many other health, home care, and senior services that are available. Volunteers primarily provide friendly visiting and respite (a gift of time) to 24/7 family caregivers.
The training is designed to prepare volunteers for many different volunteer opportunities, and to give potential volunteers a chance to try out volunteering with Respite Volunteers. Respite volunteers typically commit between one and three hours of their time per week.
Additional information can be found by visiting www.respitevolunteers.org, calling (989) 725-1127, or stopping by the office at 710 W. King St. in Owosso. Persons interested in taking the training are asked to register in advance. A meal will be provided to potential volunteers at the training. Adults with health and medical challenges, and their family caregivers, may also contact Respite Volunteers to request an evaluation to receive services.
