Volunteer Voice
Wanda: Bringing Heart to the Game
By Dave Gardener
Wanda Pommer has probably heard "Bingo!" yelled out more times than anyone can count, but that comes with being one of The Mount's popular Bingo callers. Wanda has been volunteering in this role for18 years and she loves every minute of it. How did she get to be the one who hands out the prizes to the winners (fifty-cent scrips redeemable
in Emilie's Treasures or the Gift Shop)? In 1994 she saw an ad in the West Seattle Herald: The Mount was looking for someone to call Bingo games. She applied and landed it. In addition to calling Bingo, she has volunteered doing background checks and helped out at The Mount's Mother's Day Tea, Black-Tie Bingo, and other special events.
What keeps Wanda volunteering year after year? "I love the people," she says. "The staff is so caring and compassionate." Wanda has a gift for making friends and she genuinely shares her time and warmth with the residents, staff and other volunteers. She also says that volunteering at The Mount is one of the nicest things she does for herself.
Most of the residents who play Bingo are familiar to Wanda, but every now and then there's a new face. "I try to reach out and talk to them," she says, "to welcome them, to see how they're settling in, and to assure them they couldn't be in a better place." She recounts the time talking with a family from Mercer Island whose mother had recently had a stroke. When Wanda asked why they chose The Mount over "some pretty fancy places" nearer their home, their answer was, "We did our homework and we're not paying for the chandeliers."
To me, that says it all: "It's not so much about the facility, but the people who make The Mount such a beloved community."
Wanda is also famous for the wonderful Brown Sugar Shortbread cookies for the bake sale. One time the cookies all sold in 30 minutes!
Since 1984, Wanda has worked full-time as a judicial assistant for the Washington State Court of Appeals. She has no plans to retire any time soon, but when she does, she looks forward to more volunteering at The Mount.
And her favorite quote? It's from Eleanor Roosevelt: "Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art."
By the way, Wanda plans to continue calling Bingo another18 years and doubling the number of times she hears someone yell, "Bingo!"
Storey's note: I call Wanda, "The Voice," because she has an exceptionally lovely speaking voice and because I so appreciate it when people use their special gifts in a creative way that enhances the lives of others. Also, Wanda's shortbread cookies have to be tasted to be believed. At bake sales I've seen them hoarded and traded like they were gold bars. Lastly, there is a form in every volunteer's file that Wanda created while she was doing volunteer background checks. It's a clear, professional way to track everyone's annual requirements. Beautiful! Having Wanda here as a volunteer is the equivalent of a lucky B-I-N-G-O for The Mount community.
Announcements
Creative cupcake collaboration results: Thank you to all the volunteers who brought in a sea of beautiful, Valentine's Day themed cupcakes for the bake sale organized by Emilie's Treasures/Sewing Ladies/Auxiliary volunteers. An additional thank you to all the volunteers who oversaw the event and those who purchased cupcakes to take home. You made a lot of people happy and made the lobby look beautiful. Your efforts really paid off - a $840 donation to PMSV Foundation. Bravo.
Thank you WDS volunteers: Many thanks to the 20 volunteers who volunteered for World Day of the Sick Mass on 2/12. One guest said afterwards, "Great volunteers. Every time I turned around there was another volunteer-you were like the Secret Service." The large number of volunteers who responded to this call to service was one of the key reasons that this year's Mass was particularly beautiful. Thanks also to the Knights of Malta (including the Mount volunteers associated with the Knights) for your collaboration and support with this event.
Highly recommended class will only be offered for another few months: Dementia 102. Want to learn more about communicating and connecting with people with dementia? This class will stop being offered sometime within the next few months. If this subject interests you, I thoroughly recommend this class. Yes, it is worth getting up to be here by 8 am. Next class will be offered Thursday, 3/15 at 8:15 am OR Wednesday, 3/28 from 2:15-4:15pm. Pre-registration is required. Contact Storey at storey.squires@providence.org or 937-3701 ext. 28170.
Highly valued opportunity to serve: If you're interested in attending the next class to train volunteers and unlicensed staff to serve as "dining assistants" (who assist residents with eating), please let Storey know what your availability is-that information will help with scheduling a class in June. A Saturday class is possible if there is enough interest. Neighborhood staff are speaking up loud and clear that volunteers serving in this role would make a huge difference in both the residents' quality of life and in the staff's ability to manage their workload. The class is a full day commitment.
No One Dies Alone: Jennifer Paquette plans to offer a training session for volunteers willing to sit with a resident who is dying. The training will likely be two hours long though it is still in the planning stages. Please let Storey know if you're interested in attending.
Save the Date- Black Tie Bingo (BTB). Please see attached flyer for information on attending BTB as a guest, volunteering or supporting the event in another way.
March Calendar of Events
Note: Please sign up in advance for any of these events by
contacting Storey at 937-3701 ext. 28170 or storey.squires@providence.org.
Thurs., 3/1 Burke Museum (Eileen), 9:30 to 2pm. 6 volunteers requested.
Thurs., 3/1 The Cornell's (Café), 6:30-8 pm, 1 -2 vol.
Sat., 3/3 Bingo (Café), 1:30 to 3 pm. 2- 3 volunteers.
Sun., 3/4 John Hutchings (Café) 12:45-2:15 pm. 1-2 volunteers.
Mon., 3/5 Angel of the Winds Casino (Hipp). 9:30 to 2pm. 5 volunteers requested.
Mon., 3/5 Orchestra of Flight, (Café), 6:45 to 8:15 pm.
Wed., 3/7 Bingo (Café). 1:30 to 3 pm. 1- 2 volunteers.
Wed., 3/7 Ray Cole (Café), 6:30-8 pm, 1-2 volunteers
Thurs., 3/8 Frye Art Museum (Richard). 9:30 to 2 pm.
5 volunteers requested.
Sat., 3/10 Bingo (Café), 1:30 to 3 pm. 2- 3 volunteers.
Sun., 3/11 Emmy Purainer (Café), 12:45-2 pm. 1-2 volunteers requested.
Mon., 3/12 Burke Museum (Hipp). 9:30 to 2pm. 5 vols.
Mon., 3/12 Bingo, Café, 6:30 to 8 pm.
Tues., 3/13 Furney's Nursery (Julie). 9:30 to 1:30 pm. 4 vols.
Wed., 3/14 TBD (Café), 1:30 to 3pm. 1-2 volunteers.
Thurs., 3/15 Dan Roberts (Café), 6:30-8 pm, 1 -2 vol.
Sat., 3/17 St. Patrick's Day Party, (Café), 1-5 pm. 6 vols.
Sun., 3/18 Hanky Panky Band (Café),12:15 to 1:45 pm. 1-2 volunteers requested.
Mon, 3/19 Ferry ride to Bremerton (Hipp) 9:30 to pm.
Mon., 3/19 Bingo, (Café), 6:30 to 8 pm.
Wed., 3/21 Bingo (Café), 6:30 to 8 pm
Thurs., 3/22 Frolic Tunery (Café), 6:30-8 pm, 1 to 2 volunteers.
Thurs, 3/22 Aquarium (Richard) 9:30 to 2pm. 5 volunteers.
Thurs, 3/22 Happy Hour on 3N/S (Eileen) 2-3 volunteers.
Sat., 3/24 Bingo (Café), 1:30 to 3 pm. 2- 3 volunteers.
Sun., 3/25 David Locke (Café), 12:45 to 2:15 pm, 1-2 volunteers.
Mon., 3/26 LTC Shopping (Julie and Eileen), 10-12 pm., 4 volunteers.
Tues., 3/27 Bremerton Ferry Ride (Julie). 9:30 am to 2pm. 4 volunteers.
Wed., 3/28 Chapel at Seattle University (Eileen), 9:30-2 pm, 6 vols.
Thurs., 3/29 Richard Dean (Café), 6:30- 8 pm, 1-2 volunteers requested
Volunteer Opportunities
St. Patrick's Day Party: Saturday 3-17. 1-4 pm 6 or more volunteers are requested. Cafe
Happy Hour on 3N/S: Thursday, 3/22 3-5 PM. 2-3 volunteers requested
Black Tie Bingo Mentor: Bingo mentors work with 2 or 3 tables of guests to make sure they know which type of bingo game is being played. and to sell additional bingo cards as requested. This is a fun and festive job that requires an ability to stay on one's feet for at least 2 hours. Saturday, April 21st.
2N volunteer requests:
- Reading group leader
- Bingo caller
- Garden club assistant
- Board/card game player:
4th Floor Volunteer requests:
Lead a newspaper reading group in the morning
preferablyTuesday or Wednesday.at 10:00 AM
Assist Richard with an arts and crafts group at a mutually
conveniant tome.
Do one on one visits, especially escorting residents on walks
around the building.
Manicure group - remove old polish and put on new polish.
(special manicure skills are not needed).
Dining assistants needed on the weekends- help by clearing
dishes pouring coffee and assisting the host.
Helping residents eat.: 4N/S would greatly appreciate the
help of any volunteer willing to be trained to assist a
resident with eating.
Bulletin board design- Every 2 to 6 months.
Card making group - assist residents making cards to give to
other residents.
Assisted living volunteer requests:
Reshelve books in the 4th floor library this job would kikely take 30 minutes once a week.(flexible schedule). Library lovers would greatly appreciate this service.
Substitute in the sewing ladies shop- If you like to sew/mend, please consider becoming a Sewing shop Sub. to occasionally cover shifts as needed.
Also, the ILC seeks volunteers for other classrooms as well (mutually convenient schedule) and would especially appreciate adding male volunteers to the mix.