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Show 1S.1M Hlagiearaiclf7 fin n ran nnrrnnn Students make holidays joyous for elderly citizens Bennion Ctr. projects ensure that seniors living in Salt Lake City don't feel forgotten Elderly Services for Salt Lake City, a division of the Community Service Council. More than 12 percent are BY RACHEL LINDHARDT Chronicle Feature Writer living below the poverty line, Winter. While some look forward according to Nollenburg. To meet the needs of this group, to snow sports, others watch the the Bennion Center projects were gentle descent of the season's first set up. "Lowell Bennion always focused on elderly people, and the snowflakes with dread. For many elderly citizens of Salt Monthly Elderly Project was one of Lake City, snow brings not the promise of skiing, snowboarding "The death rate for the elderand sledding, but blocked driveA frozen and steps. simple ly increases during the holiways trip to the mailbox becomes a treacherous journey. One fall days, so we want "to be there could mean a concussion or a to befriend them, Kevin broken hip. Hammond said. The Lowell Bennion Community Service Center is. providing much needed service to the elderly community of Salt Lake City. Through the Monthly Elderly Project and the Befriend the Elderly project, Bennion Center volunteers are trying to meet a wide range of the elderly population's needs. In Salt Lake City proper there are 22,463 people over 65, according to . . said. The project encompasses the social, mental and physical needs of the elderly, according to Hammond. "We participated in the Autumn leaf hall, we do yard work, and light work around the house, along with providing some sort of entertain- - rwf Joann Nollenburg, director of 1 the first to come together," Kevin Hammond, director of the project, 1 k ment, like taking them to the symphony and theater." If a job needs to be done, those in need merely call in, and the volunteers will set up the project for them, according to Hammond. In some cases, elderly people don't want to have to ask for help. In order to help as many people as possible, representatives from the project call the Community Service Council to see who some needs assistance, Hammond said. Most of those who receive assistance cannot perform the tasks themselves for medical reasons and often can't afford to pay for help. "The work, it hurts me, and I don't have a lot of money to spend," Elizabeth Staurackis, a participant in the project said. Volunteers help Staurackis with chores that she is either unable to do herself, or that take her a long time to do. "It can take me three hours just to dress, so it is nice that I can just call and they help out," she said. Connie Kendall has also received service from the volunteers. "I certainly appreciated them when they came and raked and worked in the yard and there was a dear boy who took me to the ballet and the symphony, " she said. Kendall who is a widow, has medical problems that prevent her CHRONICLE PHOTOPaul Reinarz from being able to do yard work ' High School student Dane Christiansen helps out at the home Connie herself. If it wasn't for the volunKendall by raking leaves. teers, the work would go undone she said. Volunteers feel that they also gain that the project provides in the They are motivated and really know months of November and that they can make a difference," a lot from the projects. she said. "I didn't realize that a lot of the December, volunteers are also going Service The Bennion volunteers deliver the to be aiding Community people that are living on Social food about for boxes 100 of the boxes. "They are in Council to that it isn't enough delivering pay Security, in of the Thanksgiving and Christmas. for their needs," dealing with situations that great which the are said. Rich Trussell go holidays along with elderly who are "During project, The projects not only help the supposed to be a happy time, many poverty stricken." Sometimes the recipients of the immediate needs of the elderly, but of them don't have anyone, and lose boxes are bitter and ungrateful. sick never and also help them not to feel forgotten recover," hope, get said. Hammond "I it think that "Receiving help reaffirms that life according to Trussell. for the didn't end up how they wanted it death rate "The the in elderly upcoming gives them hope the and increases that shows and to," holidays Nollenburg said. The voluntduring they're generation so we want to be there to befriend eers are able to deal with the situanot being forgotten," Trussell said. tion nicely, she concluded. Volunteers benefit by gaining them," he continued. The Befriend the Elderly project The Community Service Council valuable experience, Hammond is another program offered through said. "I'm planning on going into that makes up the boxes, are betvolunthe Bennion Center. The project with Bennion the social work and this gives me a pleased on social aspects, and "The to focuses where of ter understanding they're teers, according Nollenburg. absois to create personal friend-se- e Bennion Center Lowell from." my attempts coming work to favorite with. lute service with the "elderly" on page eight place regular Along I ",7 or I CHRONICLE PHOTOPaul Heinarz Kevin Hammond and Rich Trussell check up on Elizabeth Staurackis, one of the participants in the Monthly Elderly program. CHAOS by Brian Shuster by Jim Jim's Journal 1V Ti 4 Mil Vlj II. vtert tV,K crwHt- i As the result of a linguistic fluke, Dracula experienced ...Afpt nl"ht r4 hie Ufa al-- m w mm m ii i m i i i 1 m TO k4"1 |
