Touchmark Retirement Communities
Edmond Oklahoma Volunteering with Touchmark
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“It is abundantly clear from a number of studies that people who live generous lives also live happier lives.”
—Stephen G. Post, PhD, co-author of Why Good Things Happen to Good People
Share your time and talents
Research continues on the positive impact of “giving back” in regard to the physical and emotional well-being of the volunteer. In the past decade, there have been several in-depth studies on the benefits of volunteering for individuals of all ages—youth to older adults.
In Touchmark communities, residents are encouraged to participate in a wide range of civic engagement opportunities, and they devote countless hours to community service for deserving programs and organizations.
Volunteers in action slide show
Resident OK Stubbs watches Oklahoma Christian School freshman and golf team member Jackson Ogle putt at the recent golf gathering at Touchmark. Members of the golf team and the Bill Nicklas Memorial Junior Golf Foundation helped residents sharpen their putting skills.
Alice Snyder (left) and Evelyn Clark work on a blanket’s edging.
Judith Harris works on a pink project.
Faye Kelsey pours love and attention into a no-sew blanket for Project Linus. Residents and team members made blankets for this volunteer, nonprofit organization, which donates the blankets to terminally ill children.
Touchmark held a food drive to benefit The Hope Center of Edmond, which provides food, clothing, and some financial assistance to local people in need. Touchmark residents and team members filled 20 boxes with nonperishable food, personal hygiene, and cleaning products. A total of $445 was collected to aid the Center’s work, and an additional $95 donation benefited the Touchmark Foundation, which aims “to enhance the well-being of seniors.” Some team members and residents gathered for a photo before delivering the boxes. From left, Jamie Ham, Faye Kelsey, Betty Matthews, Cathy Bird, and Scott Kelsey.
Christen Bianchi, a Cheyenne Middle School FCCLA member, and resident Charlotte Buchan help stuff 1,500 eggs with treats to prepare for the third-annual Easter Egg Hunt.
Petting Paws pet therapy group poses for a photo during a recent visit. From left, Laura Lighthill with Heidi, Sandi Morgan with Broncho, Nita Eason with Jessie, Jan Hall with Paris, and Betty Bohan with Noodles.
Touchmark was visited by a group of wild animals from the Oklahoma City Zoo’s Zoo Mobile program. Betty Thomas touches Puff, the bearded dragon.
In addition to volunteering in the surrounding community, residents provide support to programs and services on the campus, sharing years of life experience, talents, and skills. This unselfish commitment contributes to the relationships and outcomes that enhance the quality of life for both the giver and recipients.
Touchmark also invites volunteers from the broader community to support activities and services. A menu of possible volunteer opportunities is posted here, and interested people are encouraged to contact us to pursue the possibilities.
The process of volunteering is very much like applying for a job at Touchmark. Volunteer candidates fill out an application and proceed through the process of reference and background checks, orientation, and training. We place a high value on volunteers and want to find the right fit for each one.
To find out more about the volunteer opportunities within Touchmark, call the community’s main number or click here to contact us and convey your interest.
Pssst! Inquire about volunteering here!
Volunteers welcome!
Touchmark communities in the US and Canada actively recruit individuals who want to make a difference in their own and others’ lives by committing time, talent, and energy to the Life Enrichment/Wellness program offerings. Volunteer opportunities include:
- Piano players
- Musicians
- Gardeners
- Pet pals
- Crafters
- Storytellers
- Walking/hiking buddies
- Bible study leaders
- Exercise buddies
- Cooking connoisseurs
- Hosts and Hostesses
- Artists
- Discussion group leaders
- Board and card game enthusiasts
- Needle crafters-quilters; knitting; crocheting; needlepoint; weavers
- Excursion buddies
For details on available opportunities, talk with the Life Enrichment/Wellness director or complete the application.
Resources about volunteering
These articles and links provide more information about the benefits of volunteerism:
“Growing Older in America: The Health & Retirement Study”
www.nia.nih.gov/ResearchInformation/ExtramuralPrograms/BehavioralAndSocialResearch/HRS.htm
“The 2007 Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating” [Note: This is a 94-page document.]
www.givingandvolunteering.ca/files/giving/en/csgvp_highlights_2007.pdf
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