Retire-to Volunteering

041 Brandi Ghergia—Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)—Amazing Results As the senior manager of the Nashville Alliance for Financial Independence at United Way of Metropolitan Nashville, Brandi Ghergia manages four financial stability programs—Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), the Nashville Financial Empowerment Center, Bank On Music City, and the Nashville Alliance for Financial Independence. The VITA program, with the help of over 260 dedicated volunteers, produced over 15,000 income tax returns in a 30-county area in 2016, resulting in nearly $24 million in tax refunds in Middle Tennessee. The impact VITA is making is amazing. Volunteers don’t have to have a tax preparation background, but they do need to know about computers and be friendly…no grumpy volunteers! Not only do the people helped return each year, but also the volunteers. The service, performed by the volunteers in both a professional and caring manner, creates a sense of community that invites r

040 Jo-Ann Heidenreich—Parthenon Docent Parthenon Docent Program—Sharing a Love of History and Art “You don’t need to know anything ahead of time to volunteer “—these are the words of Jo-Ann Heidenreich, a current volunteer for Nashville’s Parthenon Docent Program. Her love of art and Greek mythology is a perfect match for the opportunity to serve as an ambassador, promoting awareness and providing education about the Parthenon. Jo-Ann’s work as a teacher and administrator for Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools for thirty years and as an educational consultant in more than twelve states, including Tennessee, set the stage for her vital role as docent. As docents for the Parthenon, volunteers become teachers, guides, givers of directions, and public relations experts—all in one. The program, which started in 1998, is now in its third decade. Docents are work four to eight hours a month at the iconic Nashville attraction and commit to one year in various volunteer duties. To obtain further information or to

039 Scott Steedley—International Center for Sustainability Working With Nature for Good! More people are becoming aware of the need for re-engaging with the earth in ways that are sustainable. But what to do about the issue? Scott Steedly, the founder of the International Center for Sustainability, has concrete—no, make that, “cob and bottle”— ideas! The Center willingly customizes volunteer opportunities in numerous projects, including ecotourism, agro-tourism, educational programs, litter control, re/up-cycling, watershed re-nourishment, food-source and rainwater harvesting, wastewater management, beautification, team-building, animal husbandry, wildlife protection, resource preservation, appropriate technology models, events, and natural “cob and bottle” building. Customizing also means accommodating the time a volunteer is able to give and locations desired (currently within South Carolina, Tennessee, Costa Rica, Belize, and other areas in Central America). In addition to gaining knowledge and experience,

038 Judy Davis—School Volunteer Helping Children Succeed in School—and Life! With a passion for helping children learn and excel, Judy Davis volunteered with one of Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools. Assigned to a first grade class, she spent a full year one day a week, working one on one with every student. She assisted both those who were advanced and those who struggled with learning. Judy enjoys children and recognizes that this special attention makes a difference in their lives. She encourages others to visit or call individual schools and ask about volunteer opportunities, which include not only tutoring but also many other ways to contribute to student success. Below are various ways to explore the opportunities: • Contact a school directly to learn about volunteer opportunities. • For district volunteer opportunities, contact the Family Information Center at 615-259-4636 or email familyinfo@mnps.org. • Contact the Pencil Foundation, one of our community partners that coordinate volunteers on beha

037 Betti Lose–Christmas Adoption Joyfully Serving the Community–St. Lukes Community House During Christmas Community volunteer Betti Lose goes above and beyond in everything she does, including assisting at St. Lukes Community House where she received the Joe Sowell Legacy Volunteer Award, their highest recognition given to people who give their time, talent, and heart to help those in need. Betti enjoys the variety of opportunities at St. Lukes to help the many people served by that organization, and especially the annual Christmas Adopt-a-Family program. During the Christmas season, volunteer donors can adopt a family and purchase modest gifts for the children and parents. Families pay $5 to register for the program. St. Lukes hosts a Christmas House where families can pick up the gifts. For additional information, visit St. Lukes website www.stlch.org or call the front desk at 615-350-7893. Or contact Christie Bearden, Volunteer and Community Engagement Manager, directly at 615-324-8375 or christie.bearde

036 Cecelia Schlagheck–Leading the Way, Finding the Means If a group needs it done, Cecilia can do it! Starting with the T-shirt sales at the elementary school and on through running the Halloween bazaars of the older students, Cecilia, then a stay-at-home mom, saw firsthand the need not just for fundraising but specifically for someone to take a leadership role assisting others on ways and means committees. Since then, Cecelia has had a steady stream of helping create successful events, both working with students and with other adults: As a teacher she became the Junior Class sponsor. She helped the students organize the junior-senior prom. Students had to choose a theme, create table arrangements, decide on the background for pictures, make decisions and carry out much more. Cecelia's leadership gave students not only a successful event, but also a model for learning leadership themselves. As a member of the Arnold Engineering Development Center Woman's Club on the Air Force Base in Tullahoma, TN, Cecelia t

035 Kathy Hannen–State Health Insurance-Assistance Program (SHIP) A SHIP to Help You Navigate Medicare—for Free! Kathy Hannen is a volunteer for the State Health Insurance-Assistance Program (SHIP), which is a free health-benefits counseling service for Medicare beneficiaries and their families or caregivers. SHIP’s mission is to educate, advocate, counsel, and empower people to make informed healthcare benefit decisions. SHIP is an independent program funded by federal agencies and is not affiliated with the insurance industry. If you are on Medicare, check the back of your Medicare book for your state’s contact information. Not yet enrolled? Use the link below. Volunteers are readily available to assist you. They’ll require some information from you, such as the medications you are currently taking, in order to identify the different plans that might fit your needs. Or look for a SHIP event in your community. People eligible for Medicare can often attend a “Medicare Monday” workshop and learn about options

034 Sam Bowman—Brethren Volunteer Service Brethren Volunteer Service—For Those Wanting a Life Adventure Brethren Volunteer Service places volunteers in a six-month, one-, or two-year assignment in the United States and around the world, focusing on peace, justice, service to those in need, and care for creation. This Church of the Brethren ministry, which has been active since 1948, is open to all persons regardless of their faith tradition and even to those who claim no religious tradition. The program served as a model for the development of the Peace Corps. Older adults are especially welcome. Sam Bowman, who has served in two very different assignments, values especially the three-week orientation that helps volunteers discern where their passion, call, skills, and desire to grow fit with the “hundred” opportunities that the Brethren Volunteer Service coordinates. Sam matched his own farm background and interest in the outdoors with an assignment to a camping program for people with disabilities. In a sec

033 Kay Gray–Room in the Inn There is Room in the Inn! Room in the Inn (RITI) was formed when four congregations started working together in 1986 to shelter homeless people during the coldest months. Now nearly 190 congregations in Middle Tennessee provide safe haven overnight to nearly 1,400 men and women November through March. The rest of the year the organization offers emergency services, transitional support, and long-term solutions to help these people rebuild their lives. West End United Methodist Church in Nashville is one of the participating congregations. Kay Gray and her husband, Buddy DeFord, coordinate Room in the Inn at that location. Kay speaks highly of the service through the winter months at her church. She says, “I sleep better at night knowing I’m doing some little something to help those who otherwise would have to sleep out on park benches.” Retiring after 37 years as a pastor herself, Kay also knows the importance of inviting others to serve. Room in the Inn is a ministry that can use

032 Crys Zinkiewicz – Saddle Up! Horsing Around–Good for Kids and Volunteers “Mom, go ride your horse—you’ll be a nicer person!” For years, family members knew the value of horseback riding for Crys Zinkiewicz. Being outside, with her horse, riding with friends, having fun—all added up to a calmer, stronger, happier Mom. When she retired, Crys followed her passion for horses to Saddle Up!, a therapeutic riding center for children with disabilities. “I didn’t know much about kids with special needs,” she admits, “but I knew I could clean stalls if nothing else. However, the training at Saddle Up! gave me the confidence I needed. My nine years as a volunteer there have been wonderful. I know how being with horses has helped me through the years, and now I also see the ‘magic’ they work again and again with the children. ”Saddle Up! has been helping children for more than 25 years. Starting with only ten children, four borrowed horses, and four volunteers, the program now regularly serves more than 250 children

031 Paulette Broadbent–Sewing American Girl Doll Outfits American Dolls–Recipients of One-of-a-Kind Handmade Outfits Paulette Broadbent isn’t your average seamstress. She has been sewing since she was twelve years old. Her grandmother and mother knew this seemingly “lost art” might be a worthy hobby for a young girl. It wasn’t long before Paulette was using her babysitting money to buy patterns and material to create clothes for herself as well as Raggedy Ann dolls and robes for her family! Paulette’s passion for creating led her to sew her wedding dress and years later numerous dresses for her daughter and tiny clothes for her Barbie doll. With the granddaughters came a new opportunity. To the delight of the girls, their American Girl dolls are now the recipients of Grandma’s one-of-a-kind outfits. But Paulette doesn’t just sew to benefit her own family. She also creates and donates doll clothes to churches for their silent auction fundraising. Additionally, she sells the special outfits and tithes the incom

030 Everett Davis–Bookkeeping & Morgan Scott Two Different Ways of “Doing Good for Someone Else” In Everett Davis’s own words, he gravitates to “doing good for someone else.” Retiring after a career in a bank’s accounting department, Everett found that his expertise in the world of finance (his “head” knowledge) led him not only to volunteer to help his local church with its general ledger but also to assist the broader world of Christian churches. When the international organization, World Convention, needed a financial person, Everett was asked to share his time and talents. World Convention works globally to connect various branches of Christian churches in fellowship, understanding, and common purpose for the sake of unity in Christ Jesus. Through their local church, Everett and his wife, Judy, also give their hearts to a very different volunteer opportunity. After a series of visits to the most poverty stricken counties of Tennessee, Morgan and Scott, Everett and Judy realized this project was an out

029 Anna Kapoor—Volunteers in Mission Volunteers in Mission-Making a Difference Domestically and Internationally Anna Kapoor is making a difference wherever she goes. Professionally she has served as a registered nurse in oncology, and now as a retiree she volunteers with the United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (VIM). Having been part of 18 mission trips, she currently arranges specific trips, especially for the Mexico Medical Mission. She knows from her own participation that volunteers of all kinds are needed, not only medical but also those in a helping capacity. Anna promises that no previous experience is necessary—just a willingness to serve. United Methodist Volunteers in Mission exists to promote, encourage and enable Christians to exemplify “Christian Love in Action” through short-term mission service at home and abroad. It provides opportunities for service by developing and nurturing relationships with domestic and international leaders. The VIM program continually nurtures their contacts with t

028 Bob Lewis—Council on Aging Middle Tennessee Council on Aging Bob Lewis’s education in management plus his career experiences in large corporations, including Xerox and Northern Telecom, prepared him well for his volunteering in retirement. Having moved to Nashville, he soon discovered this was the place to put down roots and work on behalf of the community. For many years now, Bob has volunteered for Middle Tennessee’s Council on the Aging. He volunteered in several different programs and found a special match for his managerial and strategic planning skills as he served on the COA's Board of Directors for a six-year term. He is also active in Toastmasters, honing his communication skills. He is pleased to say that both competencies are ways he is able to give back to the community. For information on Council on Aging of Middle Tennessee, visit their website: www.coamidtn.org. For more about coming podcasts, sign up for Ed’s free Retire-To newsletter: retire-to.com/ed-s-newsletter and visit retiretovolunt

027 Betti Lose—Food Programs Joyfully Serving the Community—St. Luke’s Community House Community volunteer Betti Lose goes above and beyond in everything she does. St. Luke’s Community House presented her the Joe Sowell Legacy Volunteer Award, the agency’s highest volunteer award, which is given annually to a volunteer who gives of herself or himself, champions St. Luke’s to others, and sets a great example of servant leadership. Sounds like Betti Lose, for sure. Betti enjoys the variety of opportunities at St. Luke’s, helping the many people served by that organization. On any given day, she might do administrative tasks, schedule free VITA income tax preparation, assist a senior citizen playing bingo, or shelve books in the wonderful preschool library. She is also the volunteer coordinator for St. Luke’s food programs. She is continually impressed with the staff, facility, and other volunteers who help the people who live in the neighborhood. Betti says, “I’m embarrassed to be honored for doing something I

026 Kim Kline–Saddle Up! Volunteering with Horses As the Volunteer Services Director since 2007, Kim Kline has been helping nearly 500 people a year provide various riding programs to over 145 children and youth per week. Kim says, “Saddle Up! could not do what it does without lots of volunteers.” Each of those riders need from one to three volunteers every time they are at Saddle Up! Saddle Up!’s mission is to provide children and youth with disabilities the opportunity to grow and develop through therapeutic, educational, and recreational activities with horses. Founded in 1990 and incorporated in 1991, Saddle Up! is Middle Tennessee’s oldest and largest recreational therapeutic riding program, and it is the only one exclusively serving children and youth with disabilities. The organization operates year-round on their 34-acre, farm near Franklin, Tennessee. For many of the riders, Saddle Up! is one of the few, if not the only, recreational programs available to them. In this interview Kim introduces severa

025 Jacquie Sojourner–Archiving Church Archive and History—A Unique Passion Fulfilled Jacquie Sojourner, a graduate of Drew University’s college and graduate school, has a passion for history. Fulfilling that, she is in charge of West End United Methodist Church’s Archives and History Committee. She and other volunteers on the committee collect, preserve, and display materials of the church and beyond, including Vanderbilt University and the Tennessee Conference of The United Methodist Church. Keeping these records provides others with a window into the past, which can light the future. The resources include not only the written word, but also visual, pictorial, and digital material. Genealogy records, including wedding and baptism information from members of the church, are also part of the collection. On the horizon for celebrating the church’s 150th anniversary is audiovisual material, possibly a film, as well as a book. Finding creative ways to bring the past forward to delight others is part of the fun o

024 Bob Day–Parthenon Docent Serving as an Ambassador—Educating Visitors As one of Nashville’s ambassadors, Bob Day loves his “work.” His volunteer job takes him and his wife to the museum as docents. Having participated in the docent program training, the two of them now serve as ambassadors promoting awareness and providing education about the Parthenon, Nashville’s full-scale replica of the ancient Greek temple. The couple have been so inspired about what they have learned that they have traveled to Greece and Italy to see firsthand places and objects de art previously they only enjoyed from a far! Docents play a vital role in offering quality programming to Nashville’s visitors. They are teachers, guides, givers of directions, and public relations experts. The Parthenon program, which started in September 1998, is now in its third decade. Docents there are asked to work four to eight hours a month and commit to one year in various volunteer duties. Bob reminds everyone. “There is a museum out there lookin

023 Karen Stevens–Fundraising Events Event Coordinator—aka Fundraising Extraordinaire and Community Volunteer Not everyone enjoys coordinating events, but Karen Stevens does. From an early age organizing a party seemed to be in her DNA. Her earliest memory, around the age of six, was creating her mother’s birthday party at one of her mother’s friend’s home and wrapping presents (which she found in her mother’s vanity drawer) as birthday gifts. On another occasion, realizing her younger sister didn’t have an “appropriate” birthday cake, she created a drum cake for her party. Who would have ever guessed these would be preparation for her passion? Karen is no stranger to the non-profit world. Helping organizations increase revenue is her way of making a difference. From Vanderbilt University School of Nursing to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Magdalene, Habitat for Humanity, Siloam Family Health Center, Room in the Inn, Nations Ministry Center, Luke 14:12, and Music for the Soul, she has helped increase their finan

022 Chuck Jaeger—Docent with Nashville Symphony Introducing Guests to the Schermerhorn Center Since 2009 Chuck Yaeger has volunteered as a docent at the Nashville Symphony’s home, the Schermerhorn Center. He is quick to say that he and other docents are introducing guests to the building! Whether a passionate symphony lover or simply a curious tourist, visitors love hearing about the history of the building and its creation. Docents are asked to keep their tour to an hour although it could easily last three, given the volume of questions from the enthusiastic guests. The Nashville Symphony offers a wide variety of opportunities to engage volunteers from Nashville and its surrounding communities. If you would like to support the performing arts through volunteer service, they would like to partner with you. Nashville Symphony volunteers can customize their schedules to fit their lifestyles. For more information, visit their website www.nashvillesymphony.org where you will find the “support” tab …click, and you