Deb Bauer

By Jim Coppinger, Milestone Senior Services Volunteer

A program for young women got its start in a New Jersey junior high school in 1944 and quickly spread across the country; that program became known as Candy Stripers—for the distinctive red and white striped uniforms worn by participant. Candy Stripers provided volunteer services to patients at local hospital patients.

One of those Candy Striper volunteers was Deb Bauer, who joined the organization when she was fourteen at nursing homes and Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids. Deb fondly recalls visiting with patients—many of whom became like adopted grandparents.

Through the program, Deb recognized her passion for medical care and went on to became an RN (registered nurse). She later earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing at the University of Michigan.

Deb’s nursing career led her into obstetrics at both Borgess and Bronson Hospital as a Labor & Delivery nurse. Late in her profession, she took a position with General Electric’s electronic medical records division and helped medical centers across the country develop internal record and monitoring systems as well as ongoing training programs. Deb also volunteered for a program at Borgess

Hospital called “No One Dies Alone.” The program matched volunteers with terminally-ill patients who had no local family members for support.

Deb says volunteering has always been an important part of her life. She adds, when it comes to volunteer opportunities, “there are more needs than volunteers to fill them.”

For the past six years, Deb has been an active volunteer at the Discovery Store located on West Main in Kalamazoo. The Discovery Store is a non-profit retail-type store selling donated items to support the American Cancer Society’s 24-7 support line for cancer patients and family members. The Discovery Shop is a community partner agency with Milestone’s AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP program.

The Discovery Store just celebrated its 30th anniversary. Deb says it is the perfect place to begin anyone’s volunteer experience. The store needs volunteers in all sorts of roles – to accept and process donations, serve customers, help with pricing items, bookkeeping, stocking shelves, marketing, and everything in-between.

She says the great thing about working at the Discovery Store is the people who work and shop there—it is a warm and happy bunch of people. If you are interested in learning more, call the Discovery Store at (269) 345-0661. And if you would like to first try it out, stop by and the store would love to show you by shadowing one of the volunteers.

Deb has always has been an active person. When she’s not working or volunteering, you can find Deb bicycling somewhere around the state—she loves to ride her bike. She is also a quilter. When the pandemic hit, she sewed 250 masks for Bronson Hospital and pillowcases for the Pediatric unit. As Deb says, “Hobbies can be a means for volunteering–and from home. During COVID, Deb made and sold masks to raise funds for a meal program.

Milestone Senior Services (previously known as Senior Services of Southwest Michigan) is an AmeriCorps Seniors grantee. AmeriCorps Seniors empowers people age 55 and older to serve their communities. Milestone helps people find a volunteer opportunity that fits their passion. There are currently opportunities in Kalamazoo County and a few in Calhoun County. Volunteers are needed with Meals on Wheels, Companionship Calls or Visits, Transportation, Home Repair and Ramp Builds and more with area nonprofits. Regular, flexible schedules available. Contact Milestone’s Volunteer Services at 269-382-0515 or apply to volunteer at www.milestoneseniorservices.org.