The Buckingham Honors Local Senior Volunteers with Salute to Seniors Awards Dinner

March 8, 2012 - PRLog -- The Buckingham retirement community recently held an awards dinner to honor four Houston area seniors who received The Buckingham Salute to Seniors Award.

The Salute to Seniors Award is presented quarterly to honor an individual who is making a difference in their community. Qualified nominees are active adults age 62 and above who volunteer their time and talents to their communities, and who also exemplify leadership, spirit, and citizenship.

“Recognizing and honoring seniors for the contributions they bring to Houston is very important to The Buckingham,” said Cathy Lightfoot, director of sales and marketing at The Buckingham. “As a native Houstonian, I have seen how much this city thrives on the tireless efforts of volunteers. These honorees dedicate an immense amount of time, energy and passion to the organizations they serve, and the Salute to Seniors Award is our way of showing our sincere appreciation.”

The honorees were nominated by the nonprofit organizations they serve, and include:  Phyllis Edwards, George Clouette, Jim Feaster and Dr. Robert H. Peterson.


Phyllis Edwards
(Nominated by Memorial Assistance Ministries)

Edwards began her efforts in volunteer services over 28 years ago when there were just two interviewers and one table. Local ministers would meet monthly to discuss problems they’d seen in the area, and through these discussions they came up with the idea for MAM. Edwards’ church asked for volunteers and she signed up. Today, MAM offers a large number of services including rent and utility assistance, medical assistance for doctor visits, employment services and vouchers for workplace clothing, school uniforms and sack lunches. The Resale Store helps provide revenue to support their services and affordable household goods and clothing for clients and customers. They also provide necessary items that food stamps won’t buy such as paper towels, toilet tissues, cleaning supplies and personal hygiene products.

George Clouette
(Nominated by The Beacon)

After retiring from Lockheed Martin after 30 years, Clouette decided he was going to do as much volunteer work as he could. He originally volunteered with organizations in Brenham, but he moved to Houston in 2005 and began attending Christ Church Cathedral, where he met Father McGill, one of the founders of The Beacon. Clouette began volunteering with The Beacon one month after they opened in 2007, and has been helping the organization ever since.

Clouette, 73, has always enjoyed cooking and decided the kitchen would be the best place for him to serve. He enjoys helping prepare the meals and then works as line monitor when it comes time to serve the food.

Jim Feaster
(Nominated by Star of Hope)

After moving from New York State to Houston in 1995, Feaster decided to find an organization to volunteer with and came upon Star of Hope. He started by bringing a group from Friendswood Community Church to assist with lunch once a month. As volunteers from the church trickled off, Feaster recruited friends and family members to help with the monthly schedule.

After starting in the kitchen, Feaster learned that Star of Hope was looking for someone to help in the eye clinic. After some training, Feaster began helping in the eye clinic one morning each week fitting and dispensing eyeglasses to patients after the doctor completes exams.  In addition to his kitchen and optician duties, Feaster and his wife Marge, both retired teachers, began teaching GED students one morning each week. Jim teaches science and then Marge follows with history and some English. They have also taken on the role of volunteer hosts, where they have been specially trained to meet and greet other volunteers and give tours.

Dr. Robert H. Peterson
(Nominated by Lord of the Streets)

Dr. Peterson first learned about Lord of the Streets through his church, St. Martin’s Episcopal. He felt it was a natural fit for him. Dr. Peterson blocks off one half day each week to serve Lord of the Streets. The organization brings clients in a van to Dr. Peterson’s office where he examines them and writes prescriptions. Another organization, Lighthouse for the Blind, is able to donate glasses.   Dr. Peterson is able to help 150 to 175 patients each year through his work with Lord of the Streets.  When he’s not working or volunteering, Dr. Peterson, 71, enjoys spending time with his wife, children and four grandchildren.

ABOUT THE BUCKINGHAM

The Buckingham is Houston’s premier life care senior living community located in the Memorial neighborhood.  Situated on a 17-acre site along Buffalo Bayou at 8580 Woodway Drive, The Buckingham offers resort-style services and amenities for active, independent seniors, as well as all levels of health care services on-site at The Plaza at The Buckingham.  The community features 205 independent living residences; 43 private assisted living apartments; 16 private memory support apartments; and 60 private skilled nursing suites.

The Buckingham is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit senior living community owned by Senior Quality Lifestyles Corporation (SQLC), a Texas-based nonprofit organization that owns sister communities Edgemere in Dallas, Querencia at Barton Creek in Austin, Mirador in Corpus Christi, and The Stayton at Museum Way in Fort Worth. For information visit www.buckinghamhouston.com, or call (832) 426-1372.