Retire-to Volunteering

061 Ed VanVorhees—The Bootstraps Foundation The Bootstraps Foundation—Providing a Hand Up "Pull yourself up by your bootstraps" is a part of the American ethos. The culture celebrates people who have become great successes, overcoming major obstacles through their own heroic efforts. Such a man was Bootstraps founder, Ray Danner, a successful restaurant-chain developer and owner, who came out of hardship, began working at age 10, and as a young man purchased his first business for $600. Many businesses and many dollars (both earned and given away philanthropically) later, he was inducted into the Horatio Alger Society. Today, long after Danner's death, his money, along with other contributions, supports the Bootstraps Foundation of Middle Tennessee. The 19th century author, Horatio Alger, wrote more than 100 novels based on the real-life experiences of the children and youth living on the streets in abject poverty in the mid to late 1800's. The inspirational and influential stories focused on developing chara

060 Barbara Bruce—Humane Society Providing Second Chances for Animals and Other Cast-offs The dog was horribly unlucky—a hit-and-run driver sped away leaving him with a crushed leg! The dog was also wonderfully lucky—the life-threatening collision occurred in sight of an employee at the Second Chance Store. He scooped up the injured animal, took him to the vet (his leg had to be amputated), and then brought him back to the store, his new home. Named Tap-Tap, the lucky dog is now the store's mascot and loved by volunteers and customers alike. Barbara Bruce, a snowbird from New York State, volunteers several months a year at the Second Chance Store in Amelia Island, Florida. Proceeds from the donated items sold at the retail store go directly to support the Nassau County Humane Society in its mission—"dedicated to the humane treatment of all animals, to alleviate their suffering and neglect, to support the human-animal bond, and to foster an environment in which people respect all living creatures!" Supporting

059 Linda Stalters—Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America (SARDAA) Changing Perceptions—Key to Hope, Treatment, and Opportunity "We can't be everywhere, yet people with the diagnosis are everywhere!" Nearly nine million Americans suffer from schizophrenia and other illnesses involving psychoses. Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America (SARDAA) is the "we" working to make a difference in the lives of those diagnosed and their families. Linda Stalters, a retired Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Psychotherapist, began the organization in 2008. SARDAA promotes hope, treatment, and recovery through support programs, education, collaboration, and advocacy. Their vision is that every person living with a schizophrenia or related brain disorder receives respect, appropriate treatment, and an opportunity to live a meaningful and satisfying life in a compassionate community free of discrimination. A key to bringing about that vision is changing perceptions on several levels: Helping

058 Liz Martin—General Federation of Women’s Clubs Changing the Power of One to Power to the Nth Degree Liz Martin believes in the power of people—especially women—joining together to make a difference in their community. But she’s also discovered how one person, using her specific skills, can make that power even greater. When Liz joined the Brentwood/Franklin Woman's Service Club she found much more than she expected. As a part of the international General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC), her local club is one of the nearly 3,000 (combined membership of 80,000) working independently and together on significant issues, including supporting the arts, preserving natural resources, advancing education, promoting healthy lifestyles, encouraging civic involvement, and working toward world peace and understanding. The mission and history of GFWC attracted her to the club. She has stayed for more than a decade because of the benefits: She has met great people she might not have otherwise, expanded her knowledge

057 Fern Albertson—The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum—Feeding Body and Soul Do you have an interest in plants, gardening, bees, butterflies, children, sharing your knowledge, working with like-minded people, having a meaningful and rewarding volunteer opportunity? Check any of the above, and this interview is for you! Fern Albertson volunteers with The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, where she has found all of those interests fulfilled and her soul fed. Have you eaten a Honey Crisp apple lately? Or perhaps you’ve tried the new First Kiss apple. Both of these, along with 28 others, were developed through the research at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. The history of today’s 1200-acre premier facility had its beginnings in the 1800’s with government assistance and insistence to develop apples hearty enough to grow despite the Minnesota winters. The push was to attract settlers to the area by providing a viable economic opportunity. Today’s Arboretum now attracts 500,000 visito

056 Marci McAdams—Special Olympics Special Olympics—Smiles for Everyone “I get to see their smiling faces—that’s my reward!” Marci McAdams enthusiastically declares with a big smile on her own face. One of her volunteer jobs for Special Olympics in Florida is to hand out the rewards to the participants. Those smiles keep her coming back and taking on more as a volunteer. She handles much of the administrative work that keeps the program running smoothly; and she also trains new coaches, who are also volunteers. When she runs a training session, she invites at least one of the special athletes to help her by showing the potential coaches the possibilities. Special Olympics is so much more than “a competition here and there.” In the early 1960s Eunice Kennedy Shriver, moved by the lack of inclusion of children with intellectual disabilities (ID) in even basic opportunities for play, set up a summer camp in her own backyard to give them a chance to participate in physical activities, including sports. She set ou

055 Barbara Winkler—Quilts of Valor Touched by War, Receiving Comfort and Healing Barbara Winkler is not alone in her desire to honor, thank, and comfort men and women who have experienced the horrors of war on behalf of our nation. Nationwide, in 47 states and the District of Columbia, are multiple small chapters of quilters creating beautiful and practical Quilts of Valor and presenting them to veterans and active service members. In Barbara’s chapter alone, the group has made 4,375 since Barbara created her first quilt! Last year they made 651! Many chapters gather and benefit from the social aspect of creating a quilt, as well as from the joy of finding a purpose they find meaningful and appreciated by the recipients and their families. However, most chapters also have members who work at home. In Barbara’s Southern California chapter, the oldest member is 92, working at home and providing a one quilt-top each week for the other stitchers in the group to complete. Barbara’s group also partners with teens

054 Daisy Jabas—Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance—Providing Hope and How-To Daisy Jabas, Registered Nurse, Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, and State Director for Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance of Tennessee, surprises people—not with her credentials but with a statistic: Mental illness is more prevalent than cancer, lung disease, and heart disease combined! Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance provides through their support groups a safe environment for individuals and for their families to share their stories and learn skills from the lived experience of others, as well as from medical professionals. Those who suffer discover they are not alone, there is hope, and life can and will get better. Daisy also surprises people when she tells audiences that all of the people working in this Tennessee division of the Alliance are volunteers, including Daisy. The range of opportunities is wide, from helping get literature out about the program, speaking to

68 Hours of Hunger—What Too Many School Children Face Each Weekend Ending childhood hunger in America one school at a time What kind of person would you be if week after week you were without adequate food for 68 hours? Executive director and founder of the non-profit End 68 Hours of Hunger, Claire Bloom tells us how you can join the fight to end the hunger too many school children face for the 68 hours between the free lunch on Friday and breakfast on Monday at school. Students are provided with 3 dinners, 2 breakfasts, and 2 lunches each weekend. Listen to how her 1700 volunteers in 42 local chapters all over the United States help 3000 students every week. With nearly 16 million food-insecure children in America today, the unmet need is still huge. Imagine how well you would perform on Monday if youve not had anything to eat since Friday lunch! With this program in place, teachers report students come to school ready to learn and the disruptive behaviors of Friday due to food insecurity vanish. This progra

052 Crys Zinkiewicz–Hershey, Here! at Saddle Up! From Rider to Writer—With a Little “Help” Passionate about horses, Crys Zinkiewicz found a great place to volunteer and then she discovered Hershey! Hershey is a go-to horse at Saddle Up!, a therapeutic riding center for children with disabilities. Known for his versatility and willingness, Hershey is also famous for his funny “smile” after a peppermint treat. Now he’s even more famous as an ambassador for Saddle Up!, thanks to Crys. The two of them are Pony Pals, but they’ve also “collaborated” to write a book about Saddle Up! Hershey tells his perspective on his life at Saddle Up! and its various programs. Crys comes along to “fill in the details.” The proceeds from the resulting 148-page book go to support the organization, but even more importantly the book and Crys’s speaking opportunities raise awareness of the “magic” of horses in programs across the country like Saddle Up! With a background as an editor in a publishing company, Crys volunteered her prof

051 Julie Kramer–Adult Literacy Council Volunteers Teach More Than 1,700 Adults to Read and Succeed Yearly Julie Kramer is high on the Nashville Adult Literacy Council (NALC) for its two main goals: Teaching American adults to read and teaching English skills to adult immigrants. Working with classes and through mentoring, nearly 600 volunteers teach more than 1,700 adults each year to read and succeed.   Isolated by the need for a new language, immigrants can turn to NALC for assistance. Becoming more proficient enables newcomers to gain access to the larger community by being able to talk to and understand grocers, doctors, potential employers, and so forth. Learning English allows parents to help their children with school. And the NALC’s citizenship classes facilitate the family’s move toward citizenship.   Not being able to read also isolates thousands of adult Americans. Nearly one in eight Nashville adults can’t read at a functional level. Inability to read labels, complete an application form, compreh

050 Betti Lose–VITA Tax Prep Joyfully Serving the Community—St. Luke’s Community House Community volunteer, Betti Lose, enjoys a variety of opportunities at St. Luke’s Community House to help the many people served by that organization. In the course of a few weeks, she might do administrative tasks, schedule free Volunteer Income Tax Preparation (VITA) sessions, assist a senior citizen playing bingo, or shelve books in the large and inviting preschool library. St. Luke’s mission is both to help low-income families, seniors, and individuals in West Nashville achieve their potential and to prevent problems that threaten the stability of families and community. The organization works on that mission every day, but January through April they specifically accomplish it by providing free income tax preparation for Nashville area residents with incomes of $64,000 or less. Trained volunteers prepare taxes at no cost to the taxpayer. Refunds are electronically deposited into the client’s bank account. These volunteer

049 Bill Farris–Habitat for Humanity From Banker to Builder—Thanks to Habitat for Humanity Bill Farris is always learning. Each time he volunteers with Habitat for Humanity he learns something—how to swing a hammer, use a saw safely, measure accurately…and it’s fun. He describes a day with Habitat as seeing “ants on crackers”…in other words, a swarm of folks helping to create a home! A retired banker, Bill now thinks of himself as a builder. “Don’t think you can build a house? Join a Habitat group and see what you can accomplish,” Bill challenges everyone. Not only do volunteers have the opportunity to learn new skills, but also they can use their existing skills, including painting, landscaping, and even clean up, to finish out the construction. Men, women, and older teens can be part of the team, and the time commitment is flexible. An ecumenical Christian ministry, Habitat for Humanity provides the life-changing opportunity for people to own affordable quality homes. Habitat family members participate in l

048 Sherri Settles–Tennessee Donor Services Improving Lives by Connecting People—Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Everyone has an opportunity to leave a legacy as a registered organ and tissue donor. As a donor, you can save and improve lives of individuals in need of a lifesaving transplant and those whose lives are impacted by tissue donation. Or you can volunteer as an ambassador, telling your story to community groups of how giving or receiving an organ or tissue donation has had an impact on you and your family. Or you can help get the word out through mailings, special projects, and participating in the big fundraising concert. Volunteering at any level helps connect people who have great need with those who can give of themselves. Sherri Settles, staff with Tennessee Donor Services, talks about how volunteers, donors, and families make donation and transplantation possible. By mobilizing the power of people and the potential of technology, Tennessee Donor Services extend the reach of each

047 Ron Schlagheck—Meals on Wheels Meals on Wheels—More Than Just a Meal For Ron Schlagheck and his wife, the invitation to drive for Meals on Wheels came from their church. Volunteers at various churches often take turns preparing the meals. Other volunteers deliver them. The recipients are usually homebound and are unable to purchase or prepare their own meals due to health and/or physical limitations. These individuals not only enjoy the hot nutritional meals, but also the visits from volunteers who care about them and make sure that they are doing well. The recipients are not only receivers, but also givers. Kindness and appreciation abound. Ron and his wife continue to be amazed at the reception they receive each time they make their delivery! In addition to Meals on Wheels, Ron’s days are busy volunteering in local community councils, University of Florida Alumni Association, STEM mentoring, AARP advocacy, and church projects. For more information, visit a Meals on Wheels website. Find other episodes in

046 Tiffany Cloud—Alzheimer’s Association Alzheimer’s Outreach—More Awareness Needed Tiffany Cloud-Mann, Vice President of Programs & Outreach for the Mid-South Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, helps work on the global, national, and local levels to enhance care and support for all those affected by Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. The Mid South Chapter offers several educational programs for community members and families facing Alzheimer's. Locally, volunteers assist with health fairs and in the office preparing mailings and answering inquiries. Other volunteers use their expertise as speakers on behalf of the Association or as organizers for the big fundraising walks. Yet others get sponsors and make the walk. At the state and federal level, the Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voice for Alzheimer's disease advocacy, fighting for critical Alzheimer's research, prevention, and care initiatives. The organization diligently works to make Alzheimer’s a national priority. In this interv

045 Susan Brown—The Little Pantry That Could Serving Those in Need—The Little Pantry With a Big Heart After teaching elementary school for 37 years, Susan Brown found another way to make a connection with others: serving neighbors who are in need through The Little Pantry That Could. After a “100-Year” flood in Nashville in 2010, Stacy Cowney realized that access to healthy food wasn’t a widely available resource. She committed to changing that, and The Little Pantry That Could, which she directs, was born. Giving food provisions like fresh fruits and vegetables, and a variety of shelf-stable goods to anyone in need is the volunteers’ primary mission, but shoppers have other needs, as well. And in whatever way Little Pantry volunteers can help, they will. Susan and other volunteers make personal connections with each shopper, letting them know that they are cared for and that they are important. Also, staff and volunteers believe that having a choice gives persons a sense of dignity, and so visitors are able

044 Monk Baird—Habitat for Humanity Bringing People Together—To Build Homes, Communities, and Hope From wife, mother, and homemaker to Habitat insulation specialist, Monk Baird leaves no stone unturned or any grass growing under her feet! A true Nashville community volunteer, she has an impact far and wide, making a difference by delivering Meals on Wheels, preparing and serving meals for Loaves and Fishes, and insulating and building homes for Habitat for Humanity in greater Nashville as well as on the Gulf Coast after a hurricane and in Ireland and Hawaii. Asked how many houses she has helped build…a long pause…“too many to count,” she replied. “It’s fun, and it makes you feel good,” Monk says about why she volunteers, adding, “If I didn’t stay physically active, I would be atrophied.” Directly helping others is what her life all about. Needless to say in her 85+ years, she not only has made a difference to many, but also has served as an example and mentor to even more. At Habitat of Humanity, they build.

043 Beth Howard–The Café at Thistle Farms The Café at Thistle Farms—Home to Anyone Who Walks Through Their Doors Growing up in a conservative household in the Bible belt, Beth Howard learned very early in life that any honest job is one of which to be proud. After meeting friends for coffee numerous times at The Café at Thistle Farms, Beth felt called to volunteer in The Café helping in countless ways. It wasn’t long before she knew she was in the right place—giving back to others by waiting on tables, taking out the garbage, and any job which allowed the ladies of Magdalene to spend more time interacting with customers. The Café feels like home to anyone who walks through the doors. It was built and staffed by the Magdalene graduates and dedicated volunteers. It is a warm and inviting spot for catching up with friends, enjoying a homemade meal, sipping a cup of tea or coffee, or sharing a story—and for discovering or reaffirming that Love Heals! Beth cut her professional life cut short to make time to take c

042 Bill Miller—Bible Study in Prison Offering Prisoners a New Way of Life In a maximum security prison, Bill Miller, a retired pastor, invites inmates to discover new life through their weekly study of the Bible and other related materials*. As inmates and volunteer alike read, reflect, discuss commentary, and then share how God is speaking to them through the study that particular week, they develop respect for one another, even when they disagree, and find a community of caring. Bill notes those who attend these studies at Riverbend, the prison, are just like every other group he has led. Bill has also been able to mentor inmates and parolees, lead worship and serve Communion, be a part of the serving team at the Christmas dinner, attend parole hearings, be a pen pal, and visit with inmates. Bill says, “I marvel at the ways in which the involvement of persons with inmates and parolees has transformed the lives of those reaching out to establish relationships as well as those being served.” He reminds us—“i