Ashlar To Hold Orientations For Junior Volunteer Program

Ashlar of Newtown will be hosting several orientations and tours for children ages 13 and over to learn about the skilled nursing facility’s Summer Junior Volunteer Program. This program is geared to give teens the opportunity to experience the joys of volunteering and at the same time, learn about the operations of a health care facility.

The orientations will be held on Tuesday, June 24, from 10 am to noon; Wednesday, June 25, from 2 to 4 pm; and Thursday, June 26, from 6 to 8 pm. This year’s program will have teens volunteering a minimum of two hours a week in a specific area of the home.

If teens are interested in spending time outside, they will be recruited for Ashlar’s “Fresh Air Club,” which gives Ashlar residents the opportunity to go outside and get some fresh air. The new program in the physical rehabilitation department will give teens an opportunity to learn about all aspects of physical, occupational, and speech therapy.

“We have a list of 34 activities volunteers can get involved with,” said Hilda DeLucia, community resources manager for Ashlar of Newtown. “There’s something for everyone.” During the orientation and tour, individuals will be screened for the appropriate placement.

Junior volunteers at Ashlar of Newtown do not need special skills or education, just a friendly, caring manner. All that is needed is the willingness to commit a small amount of time on a regular basis. And the rewards will be great for everyone involved.

What makes volunteering special and different in a nursing home setting is that participants learn about a generation of people with a life history dating back to the early 1900s. There is a wealth of knowledge waiting to be tapped. For more information on the program or to register for one of the orientations, call Ms DeLucia at 364-3127.