MY FRIEND

A real friend is one who walks in when everyone else walks out.                                                                                                                                                                              

Finally my computer is back in operation!  What I noticed the most about not having a computer was that I became a little lonely in the evening because I could not do a quick “check-in” with friends via the Internet. 

This started me thinking how it must feel to be in a long-term care facility without family and friends dropping in for a visit.  The facilities have plenty of activities and yes, there are residents and staff there, BUT there is not anyone interested in you only.  Betty Brewer’s Angels’ mission is to reduce the sense of isolation of residents in long-term care facilities who have no one to visit them by establishing a one-on-one relationship. That one-one-one is what sets Betty Brewer’s Angels apart from other visiting charities.

Betty Brewer’s Angels do not do what I call “hit and miss” visiting. Rather we purposefully chose a resident who has little or no visits from friends or family and then establish a friendship with that person by our weekly visits with only them. We are interested in them and their life.  I always know I have made a connection with a resident when they introduce me to others in the facility as “my friend.” Sweet words!

If you or someone you know would like to share one-hour of your life each week to establish a relationship with a person in a long-term care facility who has no one visiting with them, please contact me.    

MALE VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR NAMED!

With the growth of Betty Brewer's Angels, and our policy of men volunteers only visiting with men and women volunteers with women, it was becoming apparent that a Volunteer Coordinator who would train and be a mentor to the new male volunteers was needed.  Herb Scholes has graciously accepted this role.  We are so grateful to Herb.  He has been involved with the training of our two new male volunteers, and Herb has spoken with me to various groups about Betty Brewer's Angels.  Last Friday while doing training of Betty Brewer's Angel's newest male volunteer at Flint Ridge in Newark, Herb reported that when he and the new male volunteer were leaving, one of the male residents repeatedly asked, "You are coming back, right?" This brought tears to both Herb's and my eyes to realize such a little thing as visiting with someone could mean so much. Sometimes it is easy to take for granted the exchanges we have with our friends.  To people in long-term care facilities who have outlived their friends, Betty Brewer's Angels visits mean so much. If you, or someone you know, would like to share one-hour of your/their life each week to establish a relationship with a person in a long-term care facility who has no one visiting with them, please contact me.

Singing a Song of Hope

“A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and sings it back to you when you have forgotten how it goes.” (Author Unknown)

When I read that quote I thought immediately of the Betty Brewer’s Angels volunteers! They sing the songs in their hearts to the lonely residents they visit and soon they are both singing!  We have witnessed so many residents who used to sit and stare but now with their own personal Betty Brewer’s Angel their mood and spirits are lightened.  Recently I saw a resident I had met once Before she had her own Betty Brewer's Angel visiting her. This resident looked so much better than the last time I saw her, and when I commented on the improvement to her, she told me it was because her Betty Brewer’s Angel had given her hope about life.  Now that is a song we can all sing….a song of hope!    If you know of anyone that would be interested in making a difference by spending only one hour per week visiting with someone in a long term care facility, please contact me. 614-309-4677 or bettybrewersangels@wowway.com.  Come join us!!   

BE SOMEONE

You may only be someone in the world, but to someone else, you may be the world. (Author Unknown)

This is the year Betty Brewer’s Angels has redoubled our efforts to reach out to even more residents living in long-term care facilities who have no one visiting with them.  We had two new volunteers start the first week of January and will have three more by the end of January. A nice start to 2012!  If you know of anyone that would be interested in making a difference by spending only one hour per week visiting with someone in a long term care facility or would just like more information to help them make a decision, please contact me. 614-309-4677 or 
                                           bettybrewersangels@wowway.com   

Be The Change!

Alert: Betty Brewer’s Angels needs a male volunteer to visit with a man living in a long-term care facility. His wife died on Christmas Eve and he sure could use some male company. Our policy is only men visit with men and women with women so if you are, or know of, a man who could spare an hour a week to visit with this gentleman, please call me at 614-309-4677.  We are already visiting at this facility so we could get you started quickly.

Here we are in the second week of the New Year!  Decorations have been put away and people are back to their regular routines. Are you back to “the same old, same old” or have you added some new good habits? 

For years one of my habits was to say every morning, “Let Me Be a Blessing to Someone Today.” This year I have added,  “Be the Change You Wish to See in the World” (from the song, “It’s the Little Things” written by Greta Gothard.)  I am wishing you as you start this New Year that you find a way to do little things throughout the day to be a blessing and to make this world a better place by your actions. If you, or someone you know, would like to brighten someone’s life by visiting them in a long-term care facility, please call me.   

Two new volunteers started at Kensington Place last week. Great way to kick off the New Year!!!  Be the Change!

“It’s the Little Things” can be found on the Gothard Sister’s new album “Story Girls”. Not being paid to recommend this album…I am just a huge fan : - )  http://www.gothardsisters.com/

Starting 2012

Two new volunteers begin their journey with Betty Brewer’s Angels this the first week of 2012!  

We think it is prophetic because this is the year we expect to reach out to a greater number of residents in long-term care facilities then we ever have before. 

Do you have an hour a week to change the life of a resident that has no one visiting them, and as a result change your life too? Contact me!  If this is not a good time in your life to join us, please share this blog with everyone you know……..by this simple act you could changes lives!

While I personally don’t agree with a lot of what Margaret Mead believed, I think she was exactly right when she said:

“Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” 

Your Reflection Week

Do you love that December 25^th, Christmas Day, fell on a Sunday this year?  I do because it gives us a whole week after the celebration to do some quiet reflections before the rush of a new year is upon us. There really are no expectations for this week. Many people are on vacation and the skeleton crews that are working are saying things like “Let’s address that in the new year.”  We really have a week to reflect on the past year and make plans for the new. 

What happened to you, and what did you make happen, in 2011? What have you done to make the world a better place?  Someone’s life better?  Your own life better? What made you truly happy? What made you truly sad? What have you loss? What have you gained?  Too much wasted time you would like to have back?  Spent too much? Didn’t donate enough? What would you do differently if you could have a  Do-Over last year?  These are the questions I asked myself this morning as I took a quiet walk around my neighborhood.  What a blessing to have this week to ask ourselves these questions. 

Last week our volunteers shared with me reports of how appreciative the residents they visit were with the personal Christmas gifts they received from their own Betty Brewer’s Angel. This personal attention is what sets Betty Brewer’s Angels apart from other visiting organizations.  We establish a one-on-one relationship with a resident living in a long-term care facility that has no one else visiting with them.  We get to know them and what they need. A personal relationship that celebrates that individual! 

When you are assessing your 2010 this week, I suggest if you want more happiness in your life, then you could share your life with someone that has no one. Email or call me! Betty Brewer’s Angels can help you make this happen.