Remembering a Friend

Elaine Whitford Give_Receive_Care

By Lisa Hoskins There’s no better way to understand what’s it’s like to be a volunteer at The Center than to provide services in the role of volunteer. All of our staff occasionally provide volunteer services either by having a one-on-one match to visit or support a care receiver in their home or by giving rides to medical appointments or …

Volunteer Spotlight – Jacquie

Elaine Whitford Give_Receive_Care

Jacquie is new to The Center and looks forward to interning this semester as part of her Master of Social Work (MSW) program at East Carolina University. She is also pursuing a Certificate of Gerontology and plans to work with older adults in the future. When reviewing options for her field placement, Jacquie was excited to hear about the work …

Volunteer Spotlight – Anne

Elaine Whitford Give_Receive_Care

As a social worker, Anne has known about The Center for Volunteer Caregiving for many years and often referred people to The Center. Anne worked at Resources for Seniors, the aging agency for Wake County, as the sole geriatric case manager. At Transitions LifeCare she worked in the field as a hospice social worker and then transitioned to managing their …

Volunteer Spotlight – Lanny

Elaine Whitford Give_Receive_Care

Lanny has volunteered with The Center since 2016. He learned about The Center through one of his friends who was already a volunteer for the organization. Lanny’s friend knew of an existing care receiver of The Center who needed help and thought that Lanny would be a great fit to help him. The care receiver, Don, was a former NC …

Volunteer Spotlight – John

Elaine Whitford Give_Receive_Care

Many years ago, when John lived in Washington, D.C., he volunteered at an organization that provided reading services for the blind. He enjoyed that volunteer role because he was able to work one-on-one with an older adult. When John relocated to Cary in 2000, he looked for a similar organization and put it on the back burner when he did …

Volunteer Spotlight – Rick

Elaine Whitford Give_Receive_Care

If you’ve ever attended a networking event for professionals who work with older adults in the Triangle, you’ve most certainly met Rick Messemer. Since 2011, he’s been the community liaison for Carolina Estate Counsel, a law firm in Raleigh, and is a familiar face among professionals in the aging industry. Rick is not a lawyer, but he travels the area …

Volunteer Spotlight – Yolanda

Elaine Whitford Give_Receive_Care

Yolanda likes to get her groove on when she drives for The Center’s care receivers. “I always listen to music in my car,” Yolanda said.  “Usually I have K-Love, a local radio station, playing in the car, and a lot of [the care receivers] always comment that they love riding with me because of the music that I play.” Yolanda, …

Volunteer Spotlight – Ellen

Elaine Whitford Give_Receive_Care

After retiring from her teaching career in elementary education, Ellen wanted to find something worthwhile to give back to her community. She saw a blurb in her church’s bulletin on The Center for Volunteer Caregiving, and the opportunity appealed to her. Ellen has always enjoyed older adults and was very close to her grandmother. Since her former career focused on …

Volunteer Spotlight – Paige

Elaine Whitford Give_Receive_Care

Soon after she was activated as a volunteer with The Center in March 2021, Paige was matched with Sylvia for friendly visits. They’ve been inseparable since then with friendly visits on a weekly basis. Sylvia said that she looks forward to Paige’s visits every weekend. Paige heard about The Center for Volunteer Caregiving from her aunt. Paige had a close …

CVC Volunteer a Finalist for Cary Hometown Spirit Award

Elaine Whitford Give_Receive_Care

In December 2022, Don Seay was recognized by the Town of Cary as a finalist for its annual Hometown Spirit Award, which recognizes community-minded Cary residents who enhance the quality of life in Cary by preserving, promoting, and carrying out positive small-town community values and traits. Don was nominated by the staff of The Center for Volunteer Caregiving. He began …