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Show Youths Cheer War Veterans BY STEPHEN W. GIBSON Church News Staff Writer A group of youths is taking part in a small but meaningful, volunteer program at the. Salt Lake Veterans Hospital. Originally conceived to give attention to Vietnam-er- particular veterans, it has now oulgrown that group of men and serves all of the veterans in the hospital, said Dr. Clarence Hartman, director of psychology at the hospital. He said that the program began when they were studying the needs of the Vietnam veterans to insure that they were being met. a W. Winterton Chaplain Boyd informed me of a group of LDS girls who were anxious to be involved as volunteers. We were delighted, and have been ever since, with the feeling these charming young people bring to the hospital, he said. Group of volunteers, Bethany Reed, Alice Kohlmetz, Henry Lindsay, Becky Knowlden and Jody Higginsor., head for assigned wards. This group of LDS girls provided the initial group. Now we have many groups and religions providing volunteers, he said. LSki pwst volunteer programs, girls seem to be receivtngSs ftnich visiting as do the veterans. the front'-th- Jody Higginson. Mountain View' 2nd Ward, Hillside Stake, was articulate in expressing w'hat she was gaining from the program: Tve always wanted to do something for Others, but I never knew how to go about it, until I started coming here. Almost everyone we visit here has no family and is very lonely. The men look forward to our visits, and are so appreciative of the attention we give them, she explained. My visits here have become a special of my life, because I know I am really needed. If I walk into a room, the part television immediately goes off and the eir veteran is ready to talk. gooda warm feeling when get such a I Im giving of - myseif." Jody, like many of the other volunteers, is busy with schoool, church and even a part-tim- e job, but squeezes in visits to the hospital twice a week because I want to. She spends much of her time with Cecil Ballenger, formerly of Twin Falls, Idaho, who has been in the hospital for 12 years. We are working on a book together about his sickness, she added. Alice Kohlmetz, Ensign Ward, Ensign Stake, is a convert of five years, She has been involved in several volunteer pro- stint as a grams, including a two-yeVISTA volunteer among the Indians in North Dakota. I find answers about myself as I help It is important for tlgse veterans to know that although they may be handicapped physically, there is a lot more to themselves than their body. They have a mind and a spirit, Alice said. Alre said. others, Anyone can be a volunteer. Even hello and a smile is greatly appreciated, a she said. Bethany Reed, Waterloo Ward, Wells Stake, has been going to the hospital for five months, It isnt fun work, but it is rewarding. I came here to learn to be unselfish. As I am talking with the men, I try and feel the way they feel. When I am with them, I try hard to stay happy, Bethany said. Becky Knowlden has only been a volunteer at the hospital a week and a half. She has already had some meaningful dialogue with the veterans. a started. I went into a ward and asked a man how he was feeling. He answered by asking me how I would feel if I had just had my leg amputated. From then on, I knew I had a challenge to say and do the right thing, she said. When I first . I wish more young people would volunteer here. They all seemed so concerned on the surface about the war, but they dont seem to want to get involved in helping to heal the wounds caused by the war, Becky said. The girls visit between two and eight veterans a night, depending on the needs of the patients. They usually ask the nurses which men seem to need the attention the most. Its difficult sometimes not to spend the whole evening with one person who is so obviously lonely," one of the girls added. Henry Lindsay, who for the last six months has coordinate the program, has nothing but praise for the girls. "They help to actually change the whole mood of the men here, he said. They also arc a great help in letting the staff know which men need special attention. Alice Kohlmetz visits with Kurt Christensen at the Salt Lake Veterans Hospital. . Chaplain Winterton, a Navy veteran needs of the men. vcry aware o Henry Lindsay has planning meeting with chaplain. a great deal of time in the hospital himself. These young ladies lift the morale of the men just by sitting down and chatting with them. He has spend We have many girls involved in the program who arent church members. Each adds an important spirit to the total program here, he said. The chaplain is bishop of East Millcreek 4th Ward, East Millcreek Stake.. We could, as I am sure all hospitals across the .country could, use more girls who are highly sensitive to the needs of the patients. The LDS Social Services Utah, especially Charlie Stewart, has been a real help in developing the program," the chaplain said. WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 9, 1972 CHURCH- -5 |
