Volunteer to help Hill City Senior Citizens Feb. 15

“Have a Heart, Do Your Part,” is the slogan for the Hill City Senior Citizen’s (HCSC) Volunteer Job Fair and Ice Cream Social Saturday, Feb. 15 from 1-3 p.m. at the Hill City Center.
The HCSC are looking for volunteers to help keep their many events, projects and community donations going strong in the coming year. To facilitate this, the seniors formed a volunteer committee about three weeks ago and appointed Hill City resident Merle Glenn as the chairwoman.
“Without volunteers, we wouldn’t have a senior program. We have one part-time paid person who’s our director. Other than that, everything that’s done is done by volunteers. Our workforce brings with them their wisdom and their skills. You can’t beat senior volunteers. They’re the best kind you can get,” said Glenn.
However, since COVID-19, Glenn said it has been a struggle to get enough volunteers.
“They kind of stepped back in society, and they’re not going out as much. So we’ve noticed a drop in our numbers,” Glenn said.
Although the seniors have numerous members and some new members, Glenn said the same people tend to volunteer over and over again. Each activity takes time, and the seniors want to provide opportunities for other people to get involved, thus lightening the load of elder members.
“We almost had to stop our Sunday Breakfast because we couldn’t get volunteers. We were calling at the last minute. People get busy in their lives, and we need more of a volunteer base to draw from,” said Glenn.
So to raise awareness and recruit more help, the volunteer committee decided to hold a Volunteer Job Fair.
“We want to just reach out to them and say, ‘We need you. We’ll embrace you. We’ll train you. We’ll be happy to have you,’” said Glenn.
When people come to the job fair, they will be given a calendar noting some of the HCSC’s biggest events of the year like the Sunday Breakfasts, South Dakota State Railroad Museum Antique Show and Sale, 4th of July Pancake Breakfast and Lunch, Summer Rummage Sale, Annual Biker Breakfast, annual meeting, Veterans Day Luncheon and Christmas Rummage and Bake Sale.
On the back of the calendar is a section where people can record what they’re interested in helping with. That way volunteers can get events on their calendars before planning their summer adventures.
A second handout will contain a more detailed list of volunteer opportunities like setting up before events, donating baked goods, helping in the kitchen, working as a cashier or helping to clean up after events. There will also be a list of activities like card games or exercise classes that people can come enjoy regularly.
Tables will be set up around the room representing major activities. At each station, volunteers can learn about the different events, ways to volunteer, what it takes to put on the event and what the time commitment is.
There is a chairman, board member or senior in charge of each activity or event. Glenn said. “They’ve got everything down pat.”
They can explain everything from what needs to be done to what to wear for different events. For example, working in the kitchen requires aprons, hats, comfortable shoes and gloves.
“The kitchen is a big thing there,” said Glenn. “Judy (Swift) is like the kitchen queen. She knows everything about how everything runs in there, and what it does, and where it is.”
Glenn said the seniors are also putting together handbooks for the major events so volunteers can refer back to them.
After learning more about volunteer opportunities, attendees can stop by the ice cream station where volunteers will be serving sundaes, cookies, root beer floats and strawberry or raspberry 7UP floats.
After getting their sweet treat, attendees can sit down with their old or new friends and fill out their volunteer forms.
“We want to really make people feel welcome. We want to go after present, past and potential volunteers,” said Glenn.
Volunteers do not have to be members of the HCSC or even a senior. Glenn said anyone can help, and they are also encouraging high school students to volunteer as a way to fill their public service hours.
“We’d like the whole community to know about us and what we do. And we’d also like them to become more acquainted with the center so they can use it more,” said Glenn.
When asked why she would recommend volunteering, Glenn said, “I think volunteers in the senior program are the happiest ones. They have some purpose. And as I said, when you get senior volunteers, from their life experiences they bring so many neat things with them. You’re always amazed at all the skills and abilities they have and their knowledge base.”
Glenn also said, “When you volunteer with the seniors, it becomes part of your life. It’s a good social foundation for people.”
However, the HCSC recognize that volunteers need training too.
“We recognize that volunteers need instruction. They need to feel comfortable and happy in what they’re doing. They need to be well communicated with. They need appreciation and recognition, although most of them say they’re not there for that. They still need it,” said Glenn.
When a new volunteer comes, they will be mentored by an experienced volunteer who will show them what to do and answer questions. Glenn said they are also planning to get volunteers engraved nametags to wear at the center while working.
“When you get some identity when you volunteer, it’s always helpful. That’s fun to say, ‘I’m a senior volunteer,’” said Glenn. “There’s no downside to being a volunteer.”
According to Glenn, the HCSC are always open to new ideas and have fun working together.
“Once you get the feeling of being able to reach out as a volunteer and make things nice for other people, it’s just a really good thing to do in your life. Even if nobody tells you, you’re very much appreciated. I think people who are community-minded get some opportunities to be out there. There’s a lot of people that the senior program is their only social outlet. That’s their life. That’s what they do. So that gives them an opportunity again to socialize,” said Glenn.
Anyone interested in learning more about the HCSC, the Hill City Center or volunteer opportunities is welcome to stop by the job fair.
“Bring your sweetheart, come and have some ice cream, mingle with some of the seniors and get yourself set up for your year of volunteering,” said Glenn.