WOW update

Do you have a child who was born in 1968? Were you born in 1968?
Give us a call at 333-3317 or see Kristen or Lisa in the administration office.

As this is my last column as WOW coordinator, I want to express my deep gratitude to Lisa Howard and Gerald Beninga for believing in me to develop the Workers on Wheels program. I admire each and every staff person at The Center For Active Generations an have wonderful memories of working hard fro a good cause and laughing often. I cherish my relationships with our members and WOW clients, and above all, I am inspired and forever changed by my WOW volunteers. Their positive attitudes, their commitment to a client and a project, and the sheer power of their quiet, selfless kindness has lifted my heart in more ways than one these four years. We are all fortunate to live in such a caring community. Thank you for this opportunity. - Kristen Lueth

Ever Wonder What WOW Volunteers Do?
When you volunteer, you give part of yourself - your time, energy, skills and feelings. you give to your family and friends, to your neighbors, to your community. Sometimes, you are giving to people you don't know, and, in some cases, to people thousands of miles away.

Giving is one of the reasons why people volunteer. Their contributions to others and to their communities bring them feelings of self-fulfillment and the knowledge that they have made a difference.

Volunteering is also a way of saying thank you. It's a way of recognizing the countless others who, in big ways and small, have made life richer and better through donations of time and effort.

But there is more to volunteering than giving. As a volunteer, you also reap personal benefits and enhance your personal growth. You:

If you are a young adult, volunteering gets you ready for the workforce. By volunteering, you:

With a strong resume and new skills, you'll find it easier to strut your stuff to prospective employers, fill out university or college application forms, talk to scholarship officers, or take on more challenging volunteer positions in the community.

That's the ting about volunteering: You get as much out of it as you put into it! And often, you get a whole lot more. So, roll up your sleeves and get involved. you will find volunteering a great experience. But it doesn't stop there. By catching the volunteer bug, you will be giving yourself a lifetime of rewarding experiences.

We recently complied a tabulation of Workers on Wheels volunteer hours per job for the time period June 2006 - July 2007. (See the table below.) It is truly amazing the time and commitment shared by these fantastic volunteers! WOW drivers contributed over 700 hours to help clients get to medical appointments, and our rakers raked almost 2000 hours. WOW could not offer these services free of charge without the dedication of these volunteers. We salute them.

Job	Hours	Job	Hours
Housekeeping	128	Gardening	34
Errands	31	Gutter Cleaning	30
Grocery Shopping	158	Hedge Trimming	10
Furniture Moving	44	Mowing	300
Laundry	60	Raking	1808
Window Cleaning	60	Snow Removal	9
Packing	13	Weeding	125
Moving	74	Yard Work (General)	271
Heavy Housekeeping Organizational Help	34	Multiple Chores	149
Carpentry	60	Companionship	92
Electrical	25	Office Assistance	74
House Repair (Exterior)	53	Computer Help	5
House Repair (Interior)	11	Pet Care	9
Painting (Exterior)	14	Miscellaneous	32
Painting (Interior)	11	Project Consultation	13
Plumbing	40	Haul Debris to Dump	62
Auto Repair	3

The Workers on Wheels (WOW) program has completed its third successful year and volunteers have officially filled 2000 requests for seniors in need, the Center For Active Generations and The Sioux Empire United Way.

We are so fortunate to have the cooperation of wonderful volunteers and corporate sponsors who are willing to serve he community and lend a hand. Families, executives, teachers, retirees, students, and people from all walks of like make up our volunteer roster and our clients are so delighted to see that friendly face! Many clients have called or written to say just how meaningful WOW's service is to them It's the little things around the home that matter and we are getting those jobs done or giving them a ride and that really helps our seniors remain independent, safe and comfortable in their homes.

Caring WOW volunteers throughout the Sioux Falls community have come to the aid of senior residents by helping with rides to medical appointments and for groceries, home repairs, yard work, moving, hauling, packing, furniture assemble, and much more.

Seniors receive this service free of charge thanks to the volunteers and the support of The Sioux Empire United Way, its donors, and WOW supporters. Volunteers also use their own funds for gas and do not ask to be reimbursed.

In addition, the Augustana College football team raked 30 yards on May 19, 2007, helping the program reach its 2000-job mark.

Workers on Wheels began as a Sioux Empire United Way pilot program in March 2004 with just five volunteers. The mission of the program is to help seniors remain independent and in their own homes. Currently, there are 93 WOW volunteers who range in age from 7 to 76. More than 500 clients have been served in the last three years. Rake the Town 2006 served additional clients. One hundred and fourty-six yards were raked by 600 corporate and community volunteers last October.