A Day in the Life of a Service Volunteer
by Liz Proctor

I wake at 6:45 a.m. on the dot, as my alarm clock wouldn’t have it any other way. I could use a few more winks, but it’s time to start the day. I have 15 minutes before I wake up Eleanor, our village elder.  7:00 arrives, and I give her the morning knock on her door and give her a few minutes to wake up. I take that time to prepare Eleanor’s morning medication and false teeth. At 7:05, it’s time to get Eleanor up, take her to the bathroom, and dress her. These tasks easily last until 8:00, as advancing Parkinson’s limits her mobility significantly. Still, the slow pace of the morning gives the two of us time and space to catch up and prepare ourselves for the day’s work. Around 8:00, Eleanor and I arrive at the breakfast table, and I prepare her oatmeal. I excuse myself by about 8:20. Luckily, I live 2 minutes away (walking) from my morning workshop, so I have a few minutes to myself before I leave.

I walk into the weavery at 8:30 a.m., where our resident early bird Don greets me. I then pick a finishing project or two to occupy the time between assistance given to villagers. Ideally, I get half an hour to work on my own weaving, but this goal is not always possible. I begin tying off rugs, sewing on straps, and so forth as the rest of the crew filters in. I walk around every 15 minutes or so to make sure that everything is okay with individual projects and to assist those having difficulties. Some villagers take more time than others, which can really tax my patience. On the other hand, these trying moments help me appreciate quiet work so much more. Around 10:00 a.m., the weavery crew stops for the morning tea break.  Time flies after break as I go from one task to another, and I call for cleanup around 11:55 a.m. I say goodbye to my workshop leader, Felicity, and head home around noon.

I get a little free time before bringing people to the table for a 12:30 lunch. I enjoy seeing all of my housemates together, which really only happens at mealtimes. Everyone’s energy is high, and conversation is lively. I feel so good after lunch that I don’t even mind the cleanup. I even have enough energy left over to go for a run. Run I do, which actually adds to my stamina. Occasionally, I am responsible for encouraging the villagers to take quiet time, but this is not a major commitment. On the contrary, it opens up over an hour to take care of personal housekeeping (phone calls, paperwork, etc.)

By 2:30 p.m., I am ready for my afternoon workshop, housework in Serena, where I live. All service volunteers take on housework, and I rather enjoy it. This shift is shorter than the morning workshop by an hour, and it is occupied by tasks that I already do for myself, including laundry, cleaning, and cooking. The only difference is that I am doing these things for an entire household. I do not have a set break as I do in the morning, but I manage to work in a cup of coffee. My householders are very good about relieving me of my duties at 5:00, and I am then free until supper.

5:00 p.m., or my “second rest hour,” is occupied by whatever I didn’t do midday. Sometimes I rest, but I like to use this time to get something done. There is no end of phone calls to return, paper work to fill out, the list goes on. Somehow, though, these tasks tend to get pushed to the back burner as the weather gets warmer. The sunset isn’t to be missed.

I head downstairs a few minutes before 6:00 p.m. and bring villagers to the living room for the evening bible reading. After the reading, we sit at the table, say the blessing, and begin our meal. By supper, I’m starving, and I almost always have seconds of something (usually soup and bread in our house). If I don’t housesit that night, I help cleanup. Not my favorite chore, but it goes quickly with helping hands.

If I don’t housesit, I’m free for the night, and I am quick to connect with friends. If I do housesit, I’m pretty much in for the night unless something really exciting is going on. Housesitting consists of making tea, setting the table, changing the kitchen cloths, pouring the night medication, soaking the breakfast oats, and getting everyone to bed. This takes a couple of hours and a lot of energy. At the end of it, I’m usually very thankful that my bed is just upstairs.  I’ve earned my sleep, and it feels great.





First a Volunteer, Now a Friend
by Sue Weicheld

When I visit Kimberton Hills, I feel rejuvenated and relaxed.  Stress rolls off my shoulders.  It must be due to the wonderful sense of community in the village.  When I became unemployed in the spring, I contacted Diedra Heitzman and Rachel Martin Swartz to volunteer a few hours a week.  (I knew about Kimberton Hills because my dear sister-in-law, Sue, lives in the village and our family is a member of Sankanac CSA).  They thought it might be a good fit for me to volunteer at Serena House.  They were right.   It has been a privilege to spend time with Eleanor and Herbert and the residents of Serena House. 

Eleanor is one of the best village spokespeople.  She told me about the Monday morning village gatherings, the Sunday morning church services, the concerts and other events held at Rose Hall, the handmade items in the craft shop, and the hours the café is open.  She taught me how to work with fresh and dry herbs from the community garden and helped me with dinner ideas for my family.  She just celebrated her 86^th birthday!  She is a gracious, caring lady, and has become a dear friend.

When I first started volunteering, I helped Herbert write letters to his friends.  After writing a few letters, we found out we had several things in common:  the Philadelphia Phillies, politics (especially Barack Obama), interest in the United States and world financial crises, sports and the residents of Kimberton Hills.  He has a great sense of humor, is sharp, kind, and also has become a dear friend.

Karen Arthur and Debra Falkenberg run Serena House with a gentle calmness and strength.  The Serena House villagers go for walks, contribute to the household meals and the village community, visit with friends, participate in group meetings, attend concerts, and go to special plays and dinners outside the village.  Their lives are active, engaging, and ever changing.  

Although my life is changing, with the start of a new job, I will not stop volunteering at Kimberton Hills.  Eleanor, Herbert, Karen, Debra, and dear Sue are an important part of my life.  With Karen’s help I will reschedule my visits to evening and weekends.  Volunteering at Kimberton Hills opened my eyes to the joys, challenges and daily activities in the lives of all the residents of this unique village.