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Pictured above
are the Pleasant Ridge Manor "Friends Forever" 2007 Board:
Secretary/PRM Executive Director Robert Smith; Vice President Sally Hough;
President Marge Wojtkielewicz; Member Respresentatives Ted Mauz, Maynard
Sanders and Phyllis Pennica; and Treasurer Allen Amidon.
Volunteers
Pleasant Ridge Manor’s Volunteer Program, the Friends Forever, consists of an organized group of individuals and civic groups who are dedicated to providing a variety of services that help to enhance the lives of our Residents. October 2003 marked our twentieth anniversary as an official 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, however, there are written records dating back to 1977 and unofficial records as early as 1937. In late 2007, the Pennsylvania Association of County Affiliated Homes recognized two of our volunteers as “Volunteers of the Year”. These two lovely ladies have been volunteering for over seventy years, and actually began volunteering with their mothers! Just as Pleasant Ridge Manor has a long history of service to the community, our volunteer group has a long history of service to the Manor. The Residents, staff and families of Pleasant Ridge Manor appreciate the many activities, services and special events provided by its caring and dedicated volunteers. Volunteer Contributions Our volunteers and volunteer groups find their niche in a number of ways. We provide a variety of volunteering choices. Whether someone likes to work in a group setting or by themselves, there is always something to do! Some of the opportunities we have available are: Ø Transport Aides: Help transport Residents to and from various in-house clinics and rehab. Ø Hospitality Aides: Help as part of our commissary/snack bar staff; take hospitality cart full of goodies to each unit so Residents & staff can make snack purchases. Ø Events/Shopping Aides: Help our Activities Aides during evening and weekend events by transporting, helping with bingo, serving refreshments and even dancing a little! Shopping aides accompany Residents on our weekly excursions into the community thereby offering a 1:1 for every participant. Ø Clerical Aides: If you prefer to work alone, but really want to help us out, we have a variety of office type work that you can help with! Ø Sewing Aides: If you are handy with a needle and thread, we need you! We can always use an extra hand with the regular mending and altering of clothing. Sometimes we have special sewing projects that we just can’t get to without some extra help. Ø Garden Clubs: We have several garden clubs each of whom adopted one of our many courtyards as projects many years ago. We have several areas available for beautification if you have a green thumb! Ø Religious Services Aides: Pleasant Ridge Manor has a lovely chapel and accommodates both Catholic and Protestant services on a weekly basis. We welcome those individuals who would like to help our Residents maintain their faith however they would like. Ø Fundraising Aides: The Friends are involved in many fundraisers throughout the year. The proceeds directly benefit the Residents in a number of ways. We are always looking for volunteers to help us in our fund raising endeavors! The “Friends” sponsor a variety of fundraising events designed to provide funds that directly benefit the Residents and augment the services the facility already provides. Over the years, our fundraising efforts have enabled us to purchase two wheelchair lift vans for the Activities Department to transport residents into the community, to renovate the ecumenical Chapel and Beauty Shops at both facilities, and to design and build a secured courtyard for Residents and their families to enjoy. Our Physical Therapy Department was thrilled when we were able to purchase modified Nautilus-type gym equipment enabling them to expand their therapy options. We use some of our funds to sponsor monthly bingo groups, Annual Fall Dances and Christmas Parties, and an Annual luncheon cruise on the Victorian Princess, an authentic paddle boat that tours the bay at Presque Isle. Other excursions included trips to Niagara Falls, the Oil City/Titusville Railroad, Sea World, and the Carousel Dinner Theater in Akron, Ohio. Our largest fundraiser is the Annual Golf Tournament held every year at the beautiful Lawrence Park Golf Club in Erie. We are proud that after twelve years, we’ve managed to raise an average of ten thousand dollars each year. Our volunteers and Pleasant Ridge Manor employees work hard to make this possible. The Activities & Volunteer Services Department may be contacted for further information about participating in this very active and growing organization. |
