Name: Peggy
Town of residence: Framingham
Which UWTC program(s) have you volunteered for?
• Call2Talk
• TeleCheck
How Long Have You Been Volunteering here?
I have been volunteering here for six years.
Do you volunteer regularly or occasionally?
I volunteer regularly.
Why did you decide to volunteer?
I decided to volunteer because I feel that I've been lucky in life and I want to give back to people who have not been so lucky.
How did you decide to volunteer with us?
I had worked at a hotline before and found it satisfying, so when Call2Talk started I thought it would be a good thing for me to do. I had also worked with Eileen Davis (the Director of Call2Talk) before and knew she was wonderful to work for.
What do you do when you volunteer?
I now work for TeleCheck which is part of Call2Talk. I call at-risk seniors at home to check up on them. Everybody that does TeleCheck is a senior and has gone through some training and similar experiences, so I feel we know how to listen well to other seniors.
How does volunteering make you feel?
Volunteering is very satisfying. I look forward to doing it. We have had to change the way we're doing things because of COVID-19, but it's working well. I feel it's even more important than before because the people we call are feeling alone and some are scared because of all of the uncertainty.
Why do you think it's important for people to volunteer?
I think everybody that has the time and energy should volunteer for something. Everybody has different talents and interests and I think everybody could find something they would like and would feel satisfying to them.
You are retired, what did you do before?
I was a chemist.
Tell us a story of a time when you knew your volunteering made a difference.
One of the people we call has nobody in her life. She lives alone and the only person she ever sees is an aide that comes once a week. I feel like the only thing she has to look forward to is our calls.
What's your best advice for someone interested in volunteering?
Find something that you like doing that would feel satisfying.