Volunteer Opportunities at Presbyterian Homes
Residents are not the only ones who benefit from compassionate volunteer services. Volunteers who give of themselves also receive much in return – such as the satisfaction of a job well-done…feeling connected to the people you serve…perhaps even exploring career choices within the health care and retirement community professions…and much more.
Despite the pressures and pace of everyday life, thousands of men and women celebrate volunteerism and take the time to reach out to others. Consider the opportunities to enrich your life by sharing your time and talents. In the process, you may build new relationships, learn something new, have fun and feel healthier.
Each year our volunteers log tens of thousands of hours of service. They enrich the lives of residents by spending time together. It is the personal service and caring of these volunteers that sets Presbyterian Homes apart from other retirement communities.
Volunteers have been an integral part of Presbyterian Homes since its beginning. Today residents and individuals from across our service area continue that commitment to ensure that Presbyterian Homes is a place that nurtures heart and soul.
Won’t you consider joining these special men and women? There is nothing to worry about, since we will train you and offer guidance while you learn about your new role. For more information about training and benefits, call the Volunteer Services Department at 847-492-2980.
If you would like to volunteer at The Moorings of Arlington Heights, please contact Paul Nustra, Director of Volunteer Services, at 847-956-4557 or complete an interest form.
If you would like to volunteer at Westminster Place, please contact Pat Fiorio, Director of Volunteer Services, at 847-492-2980 or complete an interest form.
If you would like to volunteer at Lake Forest Place, please contact Mary Eichenfeld, Director of Volunteer Services at 847-604-6519 or complete an interest form.
The Woman's Board of Presbyterian Homes
Founded in 1914, The Woman’s Board of Presbyterian Homes was established as the Women’s Board of Managers. Their initial tasks were to furnish and ‘keep’ the very first Presbyterian Home, a small house on the Near South Side of Chicago serving six vulnerable older adults.
In the early years, the Women’s Board of Managers was the workforce – handling everything from bed linens to admissions and beyond. When the Presbyterian Home moved to Evanston in 1922, residents were expected to help with daily tasks and the Women’s Board worked alongside them, sewing clothes, preparing meals, tending the vegetable gardens and even the goats! These women were pioneers in elder-care, providing a full and active life to the residents of the Home and ensuring their well-being and safety.
Over the years, the mission of Presbyterian Homes continued to grow, and professional staff increasingly supplemented the efforts of the Women’s Board. By 1952 the Women’s Board of Managers had settled into a less managerial role, a change reflected in its new name, the Woman’s Board of Presbyterian Homes. Notwithstanding this name change, the Woman’s Board’s dedication to Presbyterian Homes’ mission of service has endured.
Today, the Woman’s Board aims to create a climate of faith-based fellowship at Presbyterian Homes and therefore seeks to play an active role in the lives of residents. Board members visit residents, transport them to activities, and host various special functions, concerts, and receptions. They operate a variety of inviting shops that serve the needs of residents, staff, and the broader community.
The impact of the Woman’s Board is profound and broad-reaching. Through proceeds from their shops and an annual appeal, the Woman’s Board funds projects such as the Chaplain Intern Program, and programs that benefit Presbyterian Homes and its charitable mission. The Woman’s Board is proud to have raised over $3 million dollars for the benefit of Presbyterian Homes throughout the years.
For more information about the Woman’s Board, please contact Pat Fiorio, Director of Volunteer Services at 847-492-2980 or you can request information from the Geneva Foundation of Presbyterian Homes.