Paul Pollard visits with a Senior in Everett. Photo courtesy Homage.
During the month of July Homage is looking to add to their Senior Companion Volunteers. Meet Paul Pollard and consider joining him as a Senior Companion in Everett, Washington.
In May of 2021, in the middle of the pandemic, Paul Pollard felt the need to do more to help others in his Everett community. After seeing a flyer about the Senior Companion Volunteer program, he reached out to Homage and applied to become an AmeriCorps Seniors volunteer, with the desire to serve older adults in Everett as a Homage Senior Companion. He shared that his father told him early on, “Get to know older people, talk to them and learn from them.”
“Paul has definitely taken this opportunity to follow his father’s words,” reports Homage Program Coordinator, Mary Ann Higgins. She was eager to welcome a new volunteer in Everett area and since Paul was a Veteran, this was a good opportunity to serve some older Veterans waiting for volunteers. After his pre-service training was completed that summer, Paul accepted assignments to initially call (due to the pandemic), then to visit weekly with several older Veterans in the area. And as he continues to serve, all three of his clients benefit from Paul’s social support and connection as an Everett resident and Veteran. He and his clients take walks, play chess, tell jokes, or go to lunch. Paul’s time and visits bring a much needed happiness to his clients, and the opportunity to connect with a friend on a regular basis.
Many isolated older adults are waiting for Senior Companions in Everett. If you know someone who is interested in being a friend and learning from older adults, please reach out to Mary Ann Higgins at 425-355-1138 or mhiggins@homage.org Volunteers are 55+ and low-income. A Tax-free hourly stipend is available. This program is supported by a federal grant from AmeriCorps Seniors.
July 2, 2023
Everett