Agency celebrates National Volunteer Week

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National Volunteer Week is upon us, and it’s time to celebrate the unselfish work of all who give freely of their time, effort, skill and talent to help others.

Roberta Macko, director of volunteer services at Eastern Agency on Aging, based in Bangor, wants readers to know that more than 800 “dedicated people” volunteer time to that agency in a variety of capacities.

They volunteer with Meals for Me as either home-delivery drivers or dining room help, and last year they served 226,000 meals to senior citizens living in eastern Maine.

“We could not have done this incredible feat without the support of the many volunteers,” Macko pointed out.

Other volunteers perform minor home repairs, which in many cases, Macko said, enables seniors to “remain in their own homes as long as possible.”

Eastern Agency volunteers also participate in Matter of Balance classes, “which increase a senior’s physical and mental well-being; emergency preparation to help keep seniors safe; and education on Medicare.”

She wants you to know the services she has described constitute just “the short list of volunteer opportunities. There are many others.”

More important is the fact that “these people make a big difference in the lives of the elderly person whom they help.”

Eastern Agency on Aging thanks its hundreds of volunteers because “without their dedication, we would not be able to fulfill our mission,” Macko said.

“Every hour that every volunteer puts in is appreciated,” she said, “not only by EAA, but by the client as well.

“We wish you all a Happy Volunteer Week.

“Thank you.”

Noreen Clark, activities director, and Denise Pease, marketing director for Quarry Hill, a retirement community in Camden, wrote “to express our sincere appreciation to the countless volunteers who help make our community a wonderful place to visit, live and work.

“All Quarry Hill residents and staff genuinely appreciate the dedication and commitment of those that volunteer.”

And the women added, the community’s “active retirement lifestyle offers a multitude of volunteer opportunities” so, if you live in that area, and are considering becoming an active volunteer, you are invited to call Clark at 230-6250.

During National Volunteer Week, Bangor area residents can participate in the annual Earth Day Penjajawoc Stream Clean-Up, which offers two sessions, one at 10 a.m. and another a 1 p.m. Saturday, April 23, at three Bangor sites.

One starting point is Hannaford Supermarket’s parking lot on Bangor Mall Boulevard, another is the Borders parking lot on Bangor Mall Boulevard, and the third is the Bangor Humane Society parking lot on Mount Hope Avenue.

Bangor City Councilors Susan Hawes and Richard Stone are honorary co-chairmen of this event, which is organized by Fields Pond Audubon Center in Holden and Bangor Area Citizens Organized for Responsible Development.

Work gloves, sturdy shoes and walking the stream banks is all that is asked of you as you help remove trash in and along the stream.

Judy Markowsky of Fields Pond Audubon Center and the project sponsors remind you this stream “is an important wildlife corridor linking the Penobscot River Valley with the Penjajawoc Marsh.”

For more information about how you can participate in the Earth Day Penjajawoc Stream Clean-Up, call Fields Pond Audubon Center at 989-2591.

People with hearing concerns are invited to take advantage of opportunities offered by volunteers from University of Maine faculty and students in the department of communication services and disorders and its Conley Speech, Language and Hearing Center in Dunn Hall on the Orono campus.

A Hearing Expo is scheduled for 5:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, April 28, at the Conley Center’s audiology clinic in Dunn Hall.

The expo will offer free screenings for adults, and an opportunity to examine the latest in hearing aids and equipment for the hearing-impaired.

That equipment includes alarm clocks that shake your pillow instead of ringing or buzzing, lamps that flash when the doorbell or telephone rings, and a wristwatch that vibrates at a specified time.

Also available will be free hearing aid batteries and a free hearing aid cleaning.

If you plan to attend, staff audiologist and department lecturer Amy Booth requests you call ahead for planning and scheduling purposes.

The number for the audiology clinic is 581-2009.

Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288.