Read the article that appeared in the August 2022 edition of the Front Porch magazine:
In 1935 the United States Congress pronounced the first Sunday in August to be designated National Friendship Day. This year the holiday falls on August 7th.
At Mental Health America of Fredericksburg’ s Senior Visitors Program, we love to celebrate friendship every day! However, we cannot pass up the opportunity to recognize some special friends – our volunteers – whose kindness and friendship make such a positive difference in our community. Our volunteers are our program. Our volunteers are college students, couples, working professionals, recently retired, young adults, active older adults, and so on. The thing they all have in common is a desire to give back to the older adults in their community.
Though our volunteers are only asked to give an hour a week visiting an older adult, they often go beyond that in both time and compassion. Volunteers offer a listening ear, encouragement, someone to laugh with, perhaps someone to go for a walk or a drive with, and so much more. Volunteers offer friendship.
One of our volunteers, Bonnie Newcomb, says of her volunteer experience with the Senior Visitors Program, “I thought the program offered a good way to meet seniors in my community who would be interested in making new friends. I enjoy meeting new people and sharing time together.”
Bonnie started volunteering with her new friend, Gil, in January of this year. “Gil is such a sweetheart. He is a great conversationalist, shares very interesting stories, and has a beautiful smile.”
Bonnie also says of volunteering, “[I appreciate] how much enjoyment I get from volunteering and the kindness of the people I have met.”
Gil says of Bonnie, “She’s good people. She is very friendly. I don’t get a lot of visitors, so she is a godsend. We call and check on each other. I just like her and like her company. I also got to meet her husband and he is real nice, too.”
Recently, Bonnie helped Gil celebrate his birthday. Gil, chuckled as he explained, “I can only have baked things in moderation, but Bonnie brought me a little coconut cake which is my favorite. She’s real good to me.”
Bonnie and Gil are just one example of how friendship can enrich and brighten our lives. A smile, a kind word, and a listening ear may seem like small things, but they can make a huge difference to both the giver and the receiver.
I hope as you celebrate National Friendship Day, you will be able to honor all the wonderful friends in your life. Perhaps you can also celebrate by reaching out and forging new friendships.
Laurie Black is the Senior Visitors Program Coordinator at Mental Health America of Fredericksburg.
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.