{"id":4674,"date":"2021-12-14T17:46:10","date_gmt":"2021-12-14T23:46:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bluekcblog.com\/?post_type=engage&p=4674"},"modified":"2021-12-14T17:46:10","modified_gmt":"2021-12-14T23:46:10","slug":"winter-2021-giving-more-than-they-receive","status":"publish","type":"engage","link":"https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blog\/engage\/winter-2021-giving-more-than-they-receive\/","title":{"rendered":"Winter 2021 – Giving More Than They Receive"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What do you do after you\u2019ve spent a lifetime volunteering, and then retire? If you\u2019re Dave and Wanda Harris, you keep volunteering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the course of their married lives, the Kansas City couple has volunteered in many different capacities. When their children were young, they served as members of the school board, coached their kids\u2019 basketball, volleyball, and baseball teams \u2013 and even manned the concession stands on weekends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cService is very important to us, and it\u2019s important to our culture, Dave explains. \u201cWe\u2019ve been fortunate in our lives, and we\u2019re very glad to give back.\u201d To this day, the Harris\u2019 are active in their church community, and the couple stays busy helping their three children, six grandchildren, and extended family that includes 12 siblings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just in our nature to give more than we receive. It\u2019s amazing what you receive in return,\u201d Wanda and Dave shared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once a week, Dave and Wanda put on their volunteer jackets, and report for duty at Saint Luke\u2019s East Hospital. Wanda volunteers in the surgery waiting room where she relays updates from the surgical team, keeping families informed. She also makes sure that families are comfortable as they wait for loved ones to be moved out of recovery and into a hospital room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wanda elaborates, \u201cIt\u2019s enjoyable to be able to help people there. I\u2019ve been a nurse for 44 years, so it was like I couldn\u2019t walk away from it totally.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wanda talks about what it\u2019s like to fill an important need at the hospital, and to be valued by patients, doctors, nurses, and staff. \u201cI get a lot of Thank-You\u2019s, We-Appreciate-You\u2019s, and What-Would We-Do-If-YouWeren\u2019t-Here\u2019s,\u201c she said with a big smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dave, a retired assistant controller and accounting manager, volunteers at the Diagnostic Center entrance at Saint Luke\u2019s East. He provides directions and assists patients who\u2019ve come in for doctor appointments, lab work, X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans. Sometimes patients are physically challenged and need more help, in which case Dave will grab a wheelchair and escort them to their appointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I see other people in need, it really helps me focus on how I need to get physical activity, eat properly, and maintain my health,\u201d Dave shares. \u201cThis is just another powerful incentive to keep volunteering.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dave also volunteers once a week at Lee\u2019s Summit Social Services. Lee\u2019s Summit Social Services is a non-profit agency that benefits low-income families and individuals with basic needs such as food, utility and rent assistance, clothing, medical items, school supplies for children, and holiday needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dave drives a van to a local grocery to pick up closeto-date products for donation to Lee\u2019s Summit Social Services food pantry. His service has been essential throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. What\u2019s more, loading and unloading donations has proven to be great exercise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI encourage folks to volunteer because you stay active and you get that exercise,\u201d Dave says. \u201cIt\u2019s really amazing how you benefit emotionally and physically in return for the volunteering you do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s widely reported that volunteering has numerous emotional and physical health benefits for older adults. According to a study done by the Corporation for National and Community Service, adults over age 60 who volunteer reported higher levels of well-being and lower disability than those who did not. A study done by Wharton College found that volunteers feel more useful, capable, and confident. And the National Institute on Aging has stated that participating in meaningful social activities such as volunteering, can improve longevity, improve mental health, and reduce the risk of dementia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dave and Wanda plan to stay engaged in their volunteer efforts for years to come, and hope others will join them. They leave us with this final thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe hope that when someone reads this story, they\u2019ll come to understand the rewards in volunteering and will be inspired to get out and do the same thing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Blue KC is grateful for all that Dave and Wanda Harris do to make our region a better place to live. We invite you to volunteer for a cause that you care deeply about. Saint Luke\u2019s East Hospital and Lee\u2019s Summit Social Services is always looking for volunteers. If you\u2019re interested, here\u2019s who to contact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michele Malone<\/strong>
Volunteer Services Manager
Saint Luke\u2019s East Hospital
816-347-4621
mmalone@saint-lukes.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tonee Schwartz<\/strong>
Special Service Coordinator
Lee\u2019s Summit Social Services
816-525-4357 ext:106
tonee@lssocialservices.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For opportunities outside Lee\u2019s Summit, use these links to browse and sign up in your area!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

United Way<\/strong>
https:\/\/www.unitedwaygkc.org\/
get-involved\/volunteer<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Volunteer Match<\/strong>
https:\/\/www.volunteermatch.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":4680,"template":"","engage_categories":[],"class_list":["post-4674","engage","type-engage","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWinter 2021 - Giving More Than They Receive - The Blueprint Blog - Blue KC<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Winter 2021 - Giving More Than They Receive - The Blueprint Blog - Blue KC\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"What do you do after you\u2019ve spent a lifetime volunteering, and then retire? If you\u2019re Dave and Wanda Harris, you keep volunteering. Over the course of their married lives, the Kansas City couple has volunteered in many different capacities. 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