i have a friend: SPECIAL DELIVERY

“I Have A Friend”

special delivery

By Laurie Black

When I sat down to visit with volunteer, Mary Pope, and her senior friend, Hattie, the smiles and laughter were immediate.

I asked Hattie what she enjoys about Mary's visits. Hattie responded with a pause and then a chuckle, "Where do I begin? She's good. I'm glad she visits me, talks to me, and tells me about what is going on in her life."

I asked Mary the same question to which she replied, "We spend our time talking and listening to each other.We all agreed that both were equally important”.

Mary heard about the Senior Visitors Program first through the Front Porch Fredericksburg magazine. "I would read the monthly column about seniors and their volunteers and think, 'I want to do this.' Then my good friend, Dianna Flett, who is the President of Mental Health America's Board of Directors, also encouraged me to volunteer. I never dreamed I would be in one of those articles myself."

Mary went on to say, "I love Hattie's sense of humor and I enjoy hearing her stories of yesteryear. I felt a connection to Hattie before I even met her because I heard she had been a mail clerk for many, many years. My Dad was a mail courier and so I thought this would be a special connection for us. I am surprised at how quick our time goes when we are together."

I also spoke with Hattie's daughter, Tamara. Tamara works with Healthy Generations Area Agency on Aging ' s Travel Training program, training seniors to use local transit to help maintain independence after they stop driving their own vehicle. Tamara certainly understands how important it is for seniors to have social contact and connection to their community.

Tamara said of the Senior Visitors Program and her mother's volunteer, "Mary is so sweet! My mother loves to visit with her. It gives me peace of mind to know someone else is there for my mother. This program gives her some extra interaction she would not otherwise get. I so appreciate your program."

If you know a senior who could benefit from having a weekly, friendly visit or if you would like to volunteer to visit a senior, call the Senior Visitors Program at (540) 371-2 2704 or visit our website at mhafred.org to download volunteer or senior applications. The Senior Visitors

Program is a free community service program of Mental Health America of Fredericksburg. Laurie Black is the Senior Visitors Program Coordinator.