A knock on the door announces a Meals on Wheels delivery, a highlight of the day for many shut-in residents in Adams County. As the door opens, Typical Life Corporation Direct Support Professional Laura Pope and a TLC individual she works with present the resident with a hot meal and a smile.
“Sometimes we’re the only people they see during the day,” Laura says of those to whom they deliver meals.
Volunteering with the meals service brings joy not only to the recipients but to the TLC individuals.
Opportunities to serve
Volunteering long has been built into the Adams County TLC Day Program. Besides Meals on Wheels, Laura helps individuals volunteer at The Gardens at Gettysburg for Nursing and Rehabilitation, where they help with bingo on Wednesdays.
Throughout the spring, summer, and fall, individuals travel to the National Apple Museum in Biglerville to help clean and prepare for events. They also have volunteered at the local YMCA’s Nearly New sale and Gettysburg College’s Give It Up For Good Sale.
“We like to get out into the community to learn good skills and grow as a team,” Laura says.
She’s always looking for volunteer opportunities for the individuals TLC serves in Adams County.
Each day is different
Laura wasn’t looking for work in this field when she found TLC seven years ago. She had worked with children and the elderly in the past and found that her personality and skill set were a good fit for helping TLC individuals.
Laura loves that each day is different. When working with individuals at the Adams County Day Program, she might help them look over the local newspaper, exercise, or prepare for a volunteer activity. Together, they work on math, reading, and writing skills, and sometimes relax playing Nintendo Wii Sports games.
Getting out into the community is a great way for individuals to learn life skills. Each week, Laura likes to pull out the local grocery store flyer and help individuals compare prices of products. Then they go shopping together, a hands-on experience to practice math and money management.
Whether bringing smiles to faces as they deliver for Meals on Wheels or park hopping across Adams County, Laura and her individuals are making memories and learning skills that they will carry through life.
“I love my job, I absolutely do,” Laura says. “They’re just wonderful people, just wonderful.”
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