Eugene (KMTR) - The Senior Companion program at Lane Community College has 27 new volunteers, increasing their ranks by about a third.
Those new volunteers are going through training this week.
The need for volunteer companions for seniors is greater, thanks to the recession. The volunteers help seniors with everyday chores and needs, and prevent them from becoming isolated.
Some volunteers, like Erika Seiferling, see this opportunity as an investment in their own futures.
"I'm learning how to develop trust in people, in me and later on, hopefully, somebody will be there for me that I can have faith and confidence in, to help me when I have dependency" says Seiferling.
Volunteer Eddie Leach says the program’s qualification requirements have been relaxed. Leach says, “Recently, the age for senior companions has been lowered from 60 to 55, so we can actually appeal to a wider range of people. So, if there are people out there who'd be interested, we encourage them to get in touch, because we need all the people we can get.”
Those who have to volunteer are invited to find out if they qualify by calling (541) 463-4630, ore visit the program’s Web site at www.lanecc.edu/scp.
