Verde Valley AZ (August 2, 2016) – Nine team members of the Rotary Club of Sedona donned rakes and weed whackers Saturday morning and tackled the nearly half-acre yard of a Verde Valley Caregivers elderly client. The group of volunteers cut weeds, raked and bagged leaves and brush, and sprayed organic weed killer.
Pam, 73, said the transformation of her yard is fantastic. “I’m thrilled about what they did for me. I so appreciate their volunteering for work I’m not able to do.”
Pam uses a walker to maneuver around the inside of her home. She must make careful strides down several concrete steps to land on a wooden box to get outside of her house to enjoy her yard.
In assessing the project, Kent Ellsworth, director of Verde Valley Caregivers, and Dave Young, president elect of the Rotary Club, and former building contractor, determined a ramp is needed to make Pam’s entry safe. The Rotarians were joined by Cullen Hollister with Habitat for Humanity, who will build a porch and ramp with materials provided by the Rotary Club.
Ellsworth said Pam is extremely excited about her new porch and ramp to be completed this month. “This work helps our client maintain her independence at home,” he said. “She will be able to stay living there for as long as possible.”
One member of the Rotary Club team is this year’s youth exchange participant, Daniel, from Sweden. After only a couple of days in Arizona he found himself helping take care of the property of a stranger. Daniel broke down piles of boxes for recycling.
“This would never happen in my country,” he said. “I will suggest such projects to my Rotary Club back home.”
The Rotary Club of Sedona welcomes volunteers to help with projects such as this. If you’d like to spend a couple of hours now and then helping your aging neighbors with home maintenance projects please call the club’s Community Services director Miki Dzugan at (928) 284-2660 and ask to be added to the list of people to be notified when volunteers are needed.
The Rotary Club of Sedona is an affiliate of Rotary International, a service organization that works internationally to promote world health, to support the education of young people, and to make our communities a better place through a variety of local service activities. The club meets every Tuesday noon at Relics Restaurant, 3235 State Route 89A, Sedona, AZ 86336. Visitors are welcome.
VVCC is in its 24th year providing services to 2,400 older adults. Volunteers transport neighbors to medical and other appointments, install and maintain Guardian Angel medical alert units, provide home safety checks, provide handy person help, shop for neighbors, provide business help, patient scribe, and pet assistance. Volunteers are especially needed for friendly visiting, respite assistance, pet walking and in our Silver Linings Thrift Shop, located in Uptown Sedona. To volunteer with VVCC call (928) 204-1238.