Prince George’s Community College Volunteer Makes a Difference

LANHAM, Md. - April 10, 2014 - PRLog -- Debbie Kelly isn’t a resident or a member of the staff at The Residence on Greenbelt. But Kelly’s is one of the most recognizable faces at the senior living community in Lanham, and her role is certainly valued and appreciated.

     Kelly volunteers as many as four times a week at The Residence on Greenbelt as part of the Prince George’s Community College Seasoned Adults Growing Educationally (SAGE) program. An instructor at the community college and part of the SAGE tuition-free program for adults 60-and-over, Kelly has volunteered at Greenbelt for 12 years while instructing residents in physical fitness and exercise routines, teaching history and current events or simply reminiscing with them.

     “She is a very talented instructor and is able to get her audience to participate in all activities,” said Dianne Bissell, Activities Director at Residence on Greenbelt. “She goes to our Memory Care department twice a week and has been instrumental in developing a prayer book containing the residents’ favorite prayers and poems.”

     Kelly’s efforts and the work of other dedicated volunteers are in the spotlight. April is National Volunteer Month and National Volunteer Week was April 6-12. The Residence on Greenbelt will hold a luncheon honoring its volunteers on April 22. A larger reception for the community’s spiritual volunteers will be held on April 27.

     Bissell said The Residence on Greenbelt has more than 50 spiritual volunteers who visit the building throughout each month.

     “Volunteers play such an important role in all walks of life, and especially in our senior living community,” Bissell said. “We can’t say enough about how much their hard work, dedication and caring attitudes mean to us.”