Some reasons to volunteer for Caregivers: It’s local and it’s known

Marey Bailey is a no-nonsense kind of woman. Among other things, she has worked for the Albany County Hall of Records and History. In that capacity, she had the “dubious role of organizing Mayor Corning’s letters,” she said. Marey also worked for Floral Designs in Guilderland for 11 years.

When she retired in 2014, she planned to volunteer. Marey said, “I wanted to have some things to do that are regular.”

She heard about Community Caregivers. Marey’s last job was as a home-care social worker with The Eddy.  She said of Community Caregivers, “It’s local...It’s Guilderland. I like helping people.”

Marey’s volunteer assignment is driving people to doctors’ appointments. She “regularly takes a woman to dialysis twice a week.”  As a volunteer, she feels, for her, it’s important to be flexible but “don’t over commit. I tend to over commit,” she says so she watches it.

Linda Miller, Caregivers Outreach and Education coordinator, holds orientation sessions, emphasizing how Caregivers respects the volunteers’ choices regarding the days and times they can commit to be available.

Marey’s tendency to overcommit isn’t taken advantage of. And, indeed, even though she or any volunteer states their days and times of availability, stuff still comes up.

Mary Morrison, Volunteer/Client coordinator, is fond of saying Caregivers is a no-guilt organization. And this emphasizes the continued need for volunteers so that not just a few are always doing the work, so that, if you can’t make your commitment, there is always someone to back you up.

This is another in a series of interviews with some of Community Caregivers volunteers. Making the decision to volunteer is not easy. Or rather, deciding is easy, but implementing it is something else.

Marey’s decision to volunteer was “…when I retired” and it took a year. Decisions like this, commitments, do take time to come to fruition. For Marey, being local and being known were important considerations for the agency she would volunteer for.

If you’re available and want to help others in your community of Berne, Bethlehem, Guilderland, New Scotland, Knox, Voorheesville, or Albany, please call 456-2898 to make an appointment for an orientation. Currently, meetings are first Tuesdays and third Thursdays through December.

The Caregivers’ mission is to help people of all ages stay in their homes and communities and maintain their independence and dignity. We’re ready for you when you’re ready for us.