6 years ago
Grandparents are extraordinary people who generally make grandchildren feel special and loved. One man?s relationship with his grandmother had such a lasting effect?that it left him wanting to help the elderly. We feature Sam Kilpatrick for JC and friends.
"It?s been a joy to know that someone cares enough to come see about you. Just willing to do whatever needs to be done...it has made me more willing to do whatever I can do," Helen Mitchell said.
Visitors are important to 81-year-old Helen Mitchell of Northwest Washington. Her four children are busy with their personal lives. So when Ms. Mitchell needed some legal advice, she contacted Emmaus Services for the Aging.
Little did she know she would meet new friends for life. "We seemed to take to each other right away...we had a lot of things in common," Helen said.
For 20 years Sam Kilpatrick has volunteered with seniors at Emmaus Services for the Aging, providing transportation, making home visits and creating a lot of smiles. "I like being with elderly people, and I thought it was something I could easily do by volunteering a few hours of my time to so visit and it was not a serious commitment," Sam says. "Anybody can go visit it is just a matter of being able to sit a little time."
"Sam is such an amazing volunteer because he?s been here with us for over 20 years. He?s totally dedicated to the cause. He?s willing to go behind the scenes...he?s willing to delve further." Sarah Tooley is the volunteer coordinator at Emmaus Services for the Aging. She knows all too well the importance of people like Sam Kilpatrick.
"Volunteers are hugely important to Emmaus. Without our seniors there wouldn?t be Emmaus, without volunteers there wouldn?t be Emmaus," she says.
Helen Mitchell still talks about last year's garden with pride. Sam helped her plant seeds, but besides growing flowers, they grew closer together. "That is the most joyful gift I ever received. I think I will always remember that. It provided joy all summer long. It made a place in my heart and I will keep that there forever," Helen said.
A funny thing happened on this journey, not only did Sam Kilpatrick give, he also received. "I appreciate what a good life I have and it makes you realize everyone is not as fortunate as some of us are, not everybody grows up the same way," Sam said. "It makes me feel that we all need to give back at some point whatever way we feel we can mane a difference."
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Written by JC Hayward
