Friday, May 29, 2015
Program Poetry
It's time for some creativity! Here are some reflective haikus about the typical Volunteer Transportation experience for your enjoyment:
Haiku 1
Gently and swiftly,
The car moves. The people chat.
The ride brings relief.
Haiku 2
Riding together,
They talk. They laugh. They relax.
Nerves wane as wheels spin.
Who knew it would be so difficult to sum up the essence of our program in 5-7-5 syllables?!!
Haiku 1
Gently and swiftly,
The car moves. The people chat.
The ride brings relief.
Haiku 2
Riding together,
They talk. They laugh. They relax.
Nerves wane as wheels spin.
Who knew it would be so difficult to sum up the essence of our program in 5-7-5 syllables?!!
Friday, May 22, 2015
Small World Story: Reconnecting with Long-term Family Friends
 |
| Auburn circa 1920. |
Lee, Marie and Roy all know a lot of local history. Lee was born and raised in Auburn; Marie moved to Auburn in 1943; and Roy was born in Algona (Auburn’s neighbor) in 1921. Community involvement is important to all of them. Although they’ve seen the area change a great deal over the years, their reconnection demonstrates that Auburn still can have that “small town” feel at times.
The Volunteer Transportation program is full of such serendipitous reunions, and volunteers and clients often discover many commonalities. This inspires a possible new tagline for the program: See what worlds collide during a ride!
Friday, May 15, 2015
Farewell to Amy
Today is a sad day for the Volunteer Transportation community as we say goodbye to Amy Husted. Amy first started at Senior Services as an MSW intern in 2011 and has served as our Eastside Coordinator for four years. Staff, volunteers and clients of the program have come to know Amy as a dedicated, cheerful, thoughtful and efficient worker who always makes time to support people in need. Although we are all happy for her as she begins the next steps of her career, she will certainly be missed!Upon Amy’s departure from Senior Services, we asked her to reflect about her experiences with Volunteer Transportation:
What do you think makes Volunteer Transportation such a valuable program?
Volunteer Transportation provides much more than transportation; it offers a means to build relationships with people in our community. Clients, volunteers and doctors are all able to connect with one another through this valuable service and volunteer opportunity. It’s exciting to think of neighbors helping neighbors, retired pediatricians taking their (now older) patients, or community members reconnecting with distant family members or long lost friends. What a wonderful way of making the world a better place!
What have you enjoyed most about your work at Volunteer Transportation?
I've enjoyed working with a strong and supportive office team and lovely volunteers to provide a much needed service to our community. It has been a joy to be a part of this amazing group of people.
What has been a challenge for you?
Saying goodbye. I hate goodbye.
What has been most memorable for you?
I always enjoyed the Volunteer Appreciation Luncheons. Although I work closely with the Eastside and West Seattle/Burien drivers each week, I worked with many South King County and North King County volunteers when a co-worker was out of the office. It’s fun to match people’s names and voices with a human being! I appreciated seeing all the volunteers celebrating together in one place.
What have you learned from your time at Volunteer Transportation?
My time with Volunteer Transportation has taught me many things but the most influential lesson learned is the perseverance of the human spirit. Whether it’s losing a devoted partner of 40 years, living with a chronic condition, or struggling with memory loss, people are strong and resilient. They are capable of so many things.
Thank you, Amy, for all that you've brought to Senior Services over the last several years! We know that you’ll continue to lighten the lives of others as you move on to your next professional role.
Friday, May 1, 2015
Office Humor
We encounter many amusing situations on a daily basis. Today's story (which is based on common experiences around our office) is simply for your entertainment:
As part of her typical Friday callback routine, the South King County Scheduler patiently lists out the volunteer drivers assigned to a client heading to multiple appointments the following week. She says, “On Monday, Larry will take you to your appointment, and Jerry will take you home. On Wednesday, Terry will take you to your appointment, and Barry will take you home. On Friday, Harry will take you to your appointment, and Mary will take you home.”
The client pauses for a moment and remarks, “Oh, great! I’m so excited to meet Carrie!”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
About Me
- Volunteer Transportation
- “Behind the Wheel” offers stories, reflections, news and updates about Sound Generations’ (formerly Senior Services') Transportation Program. Throughout King County, our inspiring volunteers provide needed mobility to local seniors, supporting them in their efforts to remain independent, healthy, and happy. Please drop by to read more about the unique experiences of our volunteers, clients and staff!