Pines Offers Helping Hands to Elderly

What: Pines of Sarasota

Web site: http://www.pinesofsarasota.com/volunteers.html

What they’re all about: Pines of Sarasota has provided compassionate care to the elderly for more than past 60 years. The center helps assist people with Alzheimer's disease, short term rehabilitation and outpatient services. The organization was started by the Downtown Kiwanis Club. 

How to help: Pines of Sarasota is built on volunteering as the Downtown Kiwanis Club started the organization.

Beyond the skilled nurses helping the 204 residents and 72 assisted living residents, volunteers are needed to help bring cheer to the residents. 

“We’re known for our caring staff, but it’s the extra volunteers that com in with a different point of view, willing to give to others, willing to lend an ear,” Pines volunteer director Susan Wezel said.

Volunteers first come to the 13-plus acre campus and want to help because they assume the elderly are lonely and don’t have much to do, but they find out how active they are, she said. 

The campus has several buildings and residents need wheeled from building to building, which takes a lot of hands, she said.

The newest part of the campus is rehab therapy where people stay short term.

“Once they’re done with exercises, they’re exhausted,” she said. “But at the same time they’re not home, and they’re not in a nursing home, but they want people to come in and help them stay connected with what’s going on in Sarasota.”

It’s a treat to see how no matter the age, people are still full of laughter, opinions and conversation, she said.

“When residents see volunteers, it’s a breath of fresh air,” she said. “It’s like a friend coming here.”

Volunteers are also needed for delivering meals and helping folks open their meals and packages, she said.

Someone with retail experience and knowledge is needed for Pines’ , which is open six days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“Thrift stores are solely based on donations,” she said. “Anything from furniture to high-end apparel to knick-knacks in the living rom — all that is donated. Monies made goes back to enhancing the lives of the residents.” 

The Pines Foundation is always welcoming ongoing cash donations, too, to fund the organization's operation. 

Volunteer candidates can visit http://www.pinesofsarasota.com/volunteers.html and apply to be a volunteer.