In 2005, volunteers with McKean County Retired and Senior
Volunteer Program provided 46,604.14 hours of work to 49 agencies
throughout McKean County – from the Allegheny National Forest to
the Eldred World War II Museum.
This is National Volunteer Week, and The Era spent some time at
the Christian Community Charities food pantry Wednesday with the
all-volunteer staff to talk about their dedication to helping
others.
“There’s no salary involved for anybody,” said John McElroy,
program director at the food pantry. With a little chuckle and a
smirk, McElroy whispers, “We’re making a fortune on the side.”
But that fortune is not in money; it’s in the knowledge that
they are helping other people and in the thanks – and sometimes
tears – of grateful families for their assistance.
McElroy, a volunteer with RSVP since 1991, started with the
program when he saw a notice in his church bulletin that the food
pantry needed help.
“My idea of service is you give something back,” he said. “I
don’t get too excited about religion if they aren’t doing
anything.”
And the importance of the pantry is another thing that keeps
McElroy and others coming back.
“The fact is when these things go down, they don’t always get
resurrected,” he said.
“It’s very important, with the poverty level here,” agreed Barb
Reider, program director of McKean County RSVP. With rising energy
and prescription costs, it gets harder for those on fixed incomes
to make ends meet.
That’s where programs such as the food pantry come in. Last year
alone, 11 volunteers worked 395 hours at Christian Community
Services providing food for 1,310 families.
“That’s why we’re here,” said Phillis Barnhart, a volunteer of
about four years. “I really do feel for the people. I was in that
position once myself … it’s nice to have a facility like this. This
is wonderful.”
Debra Bennett agreed, “I raised three daughters by myself. I’ve
been there.”
She said when people come in to the pantry, some of them are
ashamed of their plight and are hesitant to ask for help.
“I’ve been there. I know the condition they are in,” Bennett
said. Gesturing towards the other volunteers, she said, “we’re here
to offer a helping hand and a helping word.”
And that help is appreciated by most. “I see a lot of smiles and
relief on their faces,” Bennett said.
The general consensus is that helping the people who need it the
most is the best part of being a volunteer.
Ralph Gustafson, who was busy Wednesday stocking the shelves
with canned goods in the back room of the pantry, has volunteered
about five years or so. “I don’t keep track,” he said with a
laugh.
“I like helping the people that come in,” he said.
“It’s rewarding that you’re helping somebody,” Barnhart said. “I
guess the reward is what I like the best.”
“It gives you a sense of value and a purpose in life,” explained
Doris Ann Nourse, who has been volunteering about 10 years. She has
helped out with the American Cancer Society, Meals on Wheels and
with the Bradford Senior Center, where she is a member of the
Kitchen Band.
The elderly residents of the nursing homes really enjoy the
visits and entertainment from the Kitchen Band, she said. “They
look forward to it,” Nourse added with a smile.
Dulcie Kahle, who started out as an RSVP volunteer about 18
years ago and now serves as a member of the board of directors,
said that with a little thought, people will realize the tremendous
purpose the volunteers serve.
“All those volunteers … volunteering all that time, and the
money that would have to have been paid for that,” she said,
explaining volunteerism is a tremendous cost savings for the
county.
“It’s a benefit for everyone, for all the community,” Kahle
said. “Basically we have volunteers in all the organizations.”
And volunteerism helps out the volunteer as well.
“They do it because it makes them feel good, it gives them a
purpose,” she said. “Volunteering gives you a happy reason for
living.”
