Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SOUTH BEND - Audrey Fancil, Warsaw, recently won the REAL Services Area 2 Agency on Aging award for Senior Volunteer of the Year.
She was chosen out of 53 nominees from five counties and will go to the state fair presentation to senior volunteers Aug. 7 in Indianapolis.
The Senior Volunteer of the Year Award is given to an older adult who has displayed a commitment to volunteerism in serving the aged.
Fancil, 77, walks five to seven miles before she even begins her volunteer work. Monday through Friday, she unlocks the doors to the Kosciusko Community Senior Activity Center, makes coffee and sets out snacks or doughnuts. Each Thursday, she sets up the cold drinks and snacks for bingo, and after bingo, helps with cleanup. For a special gathering once a month, she prepares two five-gallon containers of beverages, makes a large urn of coffee and bags popcorn. When the gathering is over, she puts chairs away, takes out trash and cleans the beverage urns and the popcorn area.
She has been volunteering at the Senior Activity Center since it opened in February 1991. When asked to help out with other events, Fancil always smiles and says, "Of course, I'll be there to help you any way I can." In addition to all that, she finds time to volunteer three hours a week at a neighboring nursing home.
Judy Bradford, health and education program director for the Area 2 Agency, said, "This tireless volunteer has enriched the lives of hundreds of older adults."
Other nominees from Kosciusko County were:
• Business category - The office staff of Stephanie Esenwein, Kosciusko County Treasurer, for its work with the Kosciusko County branch office of REAL Services. The treasurer's office responds quickly to requests for tax information and other documentation so that medical benefits can be provided to the clients in a timely fashion. Cathy Cripe, a case aide for REAL Services, said, "The treasurer's office defies the stereotypical image of a government entity - lots of red tape, indifferent clerks, mishandled requests, etc." Many elderly and ill citizens cannot produce their own tax documents when needed to apply for government programs.
• Student/classroom of the year - Brenda Houtz and Velma Pfleiderer, two third-grade teachers at Washington Elementary School, who take their students to Miller's Merry Manor to play bingo, serve refreshments and provide companionship to elderly residents.
• Volunteer under 60 category - Abbe Muta, Teresa Bartman and Brenda VanAmberg, of the Kosciusko Leadership Academy, for their work in "spreading the word" about REAL Services' need for volunteers. They visited churches, clubs and libraries to educate the community about services available to the elderly living in their own homes, and the need for volunteers.
• Others nominated in the senior volunteer category were:
- Mary Trease has done volunteer work with the elderly in the community. She also has taught Sunday school class at Walnut Creek United Methodist Church for 30-40 years and is a member of the church.
- Dorothy Harris has volunteered at Miller's Merry Manor for the past 15 years.
- Jean Purcell, Milford, spends 20-30 hours a week checking on elderly neighbors, doing errands for them and driving them to doctor appointments. She also helps with REAL Services nutrition site setup and cleanup.
This is the second year in a row that someone from Kosciusko County has won a top volunteer award. Aster Prentice, Winona Lake, won Older Worker of the Year for 2002.
The Area 2 Agency on Aging provides services to the elderly in Kosciusko, Elkhart, LaPorte, Marshall and St. Joseph counties. To volunteer or for more information, call 800-552-2916, or visit www.realservices.org
