FaithLink coordinator starts work
Volunteers sought to help elderly, disabledBy PAMELA BRUST pbrust@newsandsentinel.com
PARKERSBURG - A special open house for FaithLink volunteers this week included an opportunity to meet the program's new service coordinator, Melissa Ogden.
Ogden, 41, of Boaz started her new post on July 28.
"It is really exciting to have Melissa here. She will be working with the volunteers and care receivers in the program, handling requests, listening to care receivers and volunteers' needs, helping with recruiting volunteers and training, answering phone calls, and she is a resource for referral if they have a need we can't meet," said Jean Phillips, program community liaison.
FaithLink, which is affiliated with the Volunteer Action Center in the Dils Center, provides trained volunteers who assist elderly, chronically ill or disabled individuals who need help in order to continue living independently in their own home. Those needing help are linked with community volunteers trained to provide assistance with non-medical services that are needed. The volunteers may transport individuals to physician and other appointments, assist with grocery shopping, visit, call, help out with yard work or light household chores. Training for the volunteers is provided by FaithLink once monthly. The next session is scheduled for Oct. 28, with morning and evening sessions available.
Ogden said she hadn't heard of FaithLink when she learned about the job.
"I was working as a property manager at a local housing complex in the area, and I was just looking for a job change. I got the job description from one of the board members. I had an interview and was thrilled when I saw it was Jean, who had been my son's former third grade teacher. We had a great interview, I was offered the job and took it," Ogden said.
"Part of my job is to schedule transportation, that's probably our biggest need and request and growing all the time. We can only do that as we have volunteers available. I try to tend to the needs of individuals who call in, whether it's here or referring them to another service. I will be taking applications for the volunteers and the care receivers and I will be doing the volunteer training," she said.
"We constantly have a greater need than we have volunteers to fill it. On the roster, we have 398 volunteers, and 900 care receivers. Of the volunteers, who are actually active, there are 150 or less. Sometimes we try to meet needs by having a special day to handle a number of needs at one time. We are having a family volunteer day in November to do some special chores and light yard work. And we'll be sending out several teams that day," Ogden said. "I really enjoy what I'm doing, and I can see a lot of potential growth for the program and that's what we want." she said.
