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Linda Valleau
Traverse City
Hero Story
Linda Valleau is a Senior Companion Volunteer. She has been serving with our programs since May 2019. In more typical years, Linda has served by visiting her isolated senior citizen clients, taking them to the grocery store, doctor appointments, out to do errands, and being a part of their community. During quarantine, she was not able to visit in person in order to follow the State of Michigan Stay Home, Stay Safe Order. Linda spent much time every week calling her clients. She would check in with them to see if they were okay, make sure they had access to food and emergency care if needed, and she would be there for them. While social isolation and loneliness were active prior to COVID-19, with the Stay Home, Stay Safe Order, it grew during the pandemic. That is why Linda having weekly contact with her clients was so important. With little-to-no human contact for months with those seniors who live at home, a friendly voice they knew and could count on was something to look forward to.
During that time Linda got her sewing machine out and got to work. In addition to making her phone calls, Linda started making face masks at the beginning of the pandemic. She used all of her own materials and handcrafted over 65 masks: one for every senior in our volunteer programs, each of her clients as well as office staff.
After her COVID-19 safe training provided by staff, Linda has been able to have safe visits with her senior clients and help them with errands, appointments, grocery shopping, and more in the community. To be able to have her back in their lives in person, the clients have benefited so much. In addition to visiting her clients safely, Linda has been doing extra by sending her clients cards in the mail, creating holiday-themed baskets of goodies, and more to help lift their spirits.
The isolated senior citizens she serves have benefitted from her social contact, first through phone during the pandemic and now through safe visits. Mental health and physical health have been challenged during the pandemic, especially since the clients she visits are seniors who live alone. She is creating a need to change the social isolation and loneliness that has been increased during the pandemic. Linda calling weekly gave her clients someone to talk to and to fight the isolation of the pandemic by keeping in touch. Receiving cards that let them know they mattered and were cared for by Linda really helped her clients feel connected and not alone. Visiting and spending time safely with her clients has helped to fight social isolation and give them back a taste of their life’s pre-pandemic.
What makes Linda special in her role as a volunteer is that she really cares about others. Linda meets and exceeds the needs of each of her clients on an individual and personal level. She accepts the challenge to help her clients in any way she can. On any given day, she might just sit and chat to relieve loneliness, or she might get creative and teach a new craft.
Finally, what makes Linda a genuine volunteer is that she enjoys helping others. For Linda, volunteering brings her joy, and you can tell by the smile on her face and how she lights up when talking about her clients. Linda is a treasure for these programs as well as her community. Her desire to give enriches the lives of those she serves.
Linda Valleau
Traverse City
Hero Story
Linda Valleau is a Senior Companion Volunteer. She has been serving with our programs since May 2019. In more typical years, Linda has served by visiting her isolated senior citizen clients, taking them to the grocery store, doctor appointments, out to do errands, and being a part of their community. During quarantine, she was not able to visit in person in order to follow the State of Michigan Stay Home, Stay Safe Order. Linda spent much time every week calling her clients. She would check in with them to see if they were okay, make sure they had access to food and emergency care if needed, and she would be there for them. While social isolation and loneliness were active prior to COVID-19, with the Stay Home, Stay Safe Order, it grew during the pandemic. That is why Linda having weekly contact with her clients was so important. With little-to-no human contact for months with those seniors who live at home, a friendly voice they knew and could count on was something to look forward to.
During that time Linda got her sewing machine out and got to work. In addition to making her phone calls, Linda started making face masks at the beginning of the pandemic. She used all of her own materials and handcrafted over 65 masks: one for every senior in our volunteer programs, each of her clients as well as office staff.
After her COVID-19 safe training provided by staff, Linda has been able to have safe visits with her senior clients and help them with errands, appointments, grocery shopping, and more in the community. To be able to have her back in their lives in person, the clients have benefited so much. In addition to visiting her clients safely, Linda has been doing extra by sending her clients cards in the mail, creating holiday-themed baskets of goodies, and more to help lift their spirits.
The isolated senior citizens she serves have benefitted from her social contact, first through phone during the pandemic and now through safe visits. Mental health and physical health have been challenged during the pandemic, especially since the clients she visits are seniors who live alone. She is creating a need to change the social isolation and loneliness that has been increased during the pandemic. Linda calling weekly gave her clients someone to talk to and to fight the isolation of the pandemic by keeping in touch. Receiving cards that let them know they mattered and were cared for by Linda really helped her clients feel connected and not alone. Visiting and spending time safely with her clients has helped to fight social isolation and give them back a taste of their life’s pre-pandemic.
What makes Linda special in her role as a volunteer is that she really cares about others. Linda meets and exceeds the needs of each of her clients on an individual and personal level. She accepts the challenge to help her clients in any way she can. On any given day, she might just sit and chat to relieve loneliness, or she might get creative and teach a new craft.
Finally, what makes Linda a genuine volunteer is that she enjoys helping others. For Linda, volunteering brings her joy, and you can tell by the smile on her face and how she lights up when talking about her clients. Linda is a treasure for these programs as well as her community. Her desire to give enriches the lives of those she serves.