Volunteers Make a Difference
The Joyce Raye Patterson 50+ Activity Center (JRP) relies on volunteers to help with daily activities, programming, answering phones, assisting with lunch and helping with projects around the center. Before and during the pandemic, the JRP has had volunteers who needed to step away. This proved to JRP staff just how important these volunteers are to the daily operations.
Recently, the facility was offered and accepted a donation of resistance circuit fitness equipment from Meril. With the excitement of being able to provide a circuit training room at the facility, staff began the process of determining which room to dedicate toward this use and how to remodel the room. Parks maintenance staff moved shelves from the newly dedicated space to the computer room, repaired carpet, painted and installed new floorboards. Once these duties were completed, it was time to install trim boards. Some of the JRP staff had a bit of experience doing this, however knew it wouldn’t look as professional as it would if this job was completed by someone with a bit more experience.
After some searching, former superintendent of the landfill Bill Blacketer offered to install the trim in the room. A job which took him and staff member, Sheldon Pearce, several three- to four-hour sessions would have been a significantly longer project for staff to complete on their own. Bill’s expertise, experience and volunteer spirit was truly appreciated by staff and reminded us once again, how much we value those who take time from their own schedules to help out at the facility.
