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A ‘Baby Boomer’ Volunteer Extraordinaire

Pam Lucas, left, an Exemplary Chautauqua County Retired and Senior Volunteer (RSVP) shares a small array of handmade items created as requested for individuals within our community. To her right is Debbie Basile, project director.

Pam Lucas brings quality service making pronounced impact by her “random acts of kindness.” As an exemplary “Baby Boomer” volunteer serving others within our community — infants, families and elders — her talents reach all demographics and every socio-economic class. In three short years, Lucas has served 1,116 hours. As RSVP’s “Fearless Volunteer,” she will tackle any project, suggest solutions, and solve problems.

Lucas provides individualized solution to simple yet complex resident concerns for those living in healthcare facilities. Examples of her never-ending and continual “random acts” are:

“Promoting Healthy

Independence”

A man living in a healthcare facility purchased some new duds — new pants — eager to wear them, he puts them on and, oops, they are too long. Sometimes as we age, we may lose inches in height and maybe he is not five foot, nine anymore. Obviously, he could not wear the pants, presenting a tripping hazard in addition to fashion faux pau. He was happy with his purchase but sad he could not wear them. A call to Lucas and “shazam” — the pants picked up, properly hemmed, returned the next day — bringing great joy to this person.

“Supporting

Self-Sufficiency”

Some individuals rely on wheelchairs for mobility. Each wheelchair occupant is fitted to their chair, foot petals are selected which are also specifically tailored and assigned to each occupant. What do you do when you wake up, one foot pedal is here, and who knows where the other one is? Now Lucas is the master of the foot pedal bags. Vinyl bags equipped with handles hang on the back of each wheelchair assuring proper foot pedals are intact with their appropriate wheelchair. Chaos avoided.

“Sustaining Health

And Independence”

What do you do with small scraps of fabric or fleece pieces? Baby booties are a constant need as infants kick them off anywhere and everywhere becoming lost. Lucas has created a pattern making fleece booties. Church youth groups within our area make “hand-tied” fleece blankets to donate to agencies aiding families with small children. If you are familiar with this process, you know there are always four small squares remaining. A conversation with a fellow parishioner uncovered the church youth were making fleece blankets and I quickly asked for the leftovers squares. The squares transform into the most practical and warm booties. Scraps of fabric or remnants are always available discarded by quilters. Lucas assembles these “discards” into beautiful quilts or lap robes resembling stain glass windows that RSVP distributes to daycare centers, emergency rooms, Child Advocacy Center, Chautauqua Adult Day Care, The Salvation Army, and other great agencies.

These are only samples of Pam’s multitude of “random acts of kindness” making someone’s life better in Southern Chautauqua County.

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