Riis Settlement is excited to introduce our next Volunteer Spotlight, Amelia West. These segments are part of a greater effort to recognize the amazing volunteers that continue to have a positive impact on our community during the pandemic.
Amelia has been volunteering within Riis’s Senior Services department since October 2020. She is from West Palm Beach, Florida, and she studies accounting and business management at Palm Beach State College. Amelia’s presence is a great example of how virtual volunteer opportunities, although new and challenging, can bring together people from all across the country looking to help others.
Amelia volunteers with our senior bingo program, which happens weekly on Fridays via Zoom. She and other volunteers call out bingo cards for the games and socialize with the seniors. “The seniors are so fun and sassy, and I see them as family,” Amelia said. “Interacting with them is better than watching my favorite TV show because they are very entertaining as the game progresses each session.” Amelia also spoke about the value of virtual service: “Before this pandemic came about, I used to be out in my community a lot. But since the threat of catching COVID-19 freaked me out, I knew that I had to take my love of service virtually. While looking on volunteermatch.org, I found my home with bingo with the seniors, and I will be here for as long as this program is available.”
Senior participants were also asked to share their experiences. Mrs. Isalean McClary said: “The volunteers were prompt in arriving at Zoom bingo meetings with us. They worked well with each other, taking turns calling bingo. They were pleasant, respectful, and patient with us. It was an excellent experience having them join us.” Another regular participant, Ms. Helen Edmonds, shared that “the volunteers were very pleasant and patient with us when calling the bingo numbers. They always had a smile and a caring disposition.”
It is clear that this relationship is beneficial for everyone involved, and Riis is grateful to continue bringing people together virtually when social distancing is necessary. If you are interested in volunteering for this program or others, please view the Volunteer Tab on our website to see open opportunities and fill out an application.
