Summer Vocation
BUTLER TWP — During the summer months, visitors to VA Butler Healthcare's adult daycare program aren't limited to only veterans.
On certain days each week, a handful of teenagers can be found seated with veterans around a table, doing activities like reading trivia questions from a book.
"This is about sports," began Jessica Begley, 15, of Evans City last week. "(Name) a game played on ice."
"Hockey!" several clients called out.
"What kind of animal is useful in herding livestock on a farm?" asked Jessica's 16-year-old brother, James.
"A big, good dog — a shepherd, preferably," one man answered.
The Begleys participate in the the VA's Small Group Activities summer volunteer program, which unites teens with veterans who would benefit from social activities like trivia games, crafts or playing cards.
Although the VA maintains a year-round pool of volunteers, an influx in the summer allows for expanded services.
Ordinarily, volunteers do anything from typing and computer work to wheeling disabled vets around campus, said Paula McCarl, voluntary service specialist. With extra seasonal help, McCarl can arrange for teens to participate in extra activities on request.
The teens usually work with veterans visiting for the day in the Adult Day Health Care department or with long-term residents in community living center upstairs.
In addition to interactive games, McCarl said reading aloud is popular.
"The biggest thing for summer is taking them outside on nice days," she said.During the lunch hour or between projects, the Small Group Activities volunteers assemble in an office area, on call to help wheelchair-bound veterans navigate between destinations.Some volunteers, like 16-year-old Shannon Waldenmyer of Fenelton, gravitate toward this area, anxious to help with clerical work. Others, like 15-year-old Shannon Albert of South Butler, prefer the client interaction."I'd much rather be on the floors hearing the guys telling their war stories," said Albert. "It's really a great way to learn history that's not actually in the history books — it's history in full color."With no plans to join the military after high school, Albert said volunteering offers an alternative way to support the cause."It's my way of doing service for my country without actually having to enlist," said Albert, who joined the program last year when it started.The same holds true for the Begleys, who initially volunteered to fulfill confirmation requirements at church."But we really enjoyed it, so we came back this summer," Jessica Begley said.While office and other professional skills sometimes are gained through volunteering, some teens list qualities like compassion and tact among the skills they develop."Sometimes (the clients) are hard of hearing — and you have to be patient," Jim Begley said, explaining some also can occasionally be grumpy if they're having a bad day. "You have to be polite," he added.McCarl said initial training helps volunteers understand their role as well as learn procedures for transporting patients. Once trained, she tries to match each teen's special interest with veteran requests and needs on the VA campus."I want them to feel comfortable and to have a wonderful experience while they're here," she said.For more information, call McCarl at 724-285-2575.
