Duet Recognizes Outstanding Volunteers at Annual Event

Duet: Partners In Health & Aging had a Volunteer Appreciation Event on Sunday, March 30 at Harkins Theatres Christown and recognized as outstanding volunteers with an award. Lita Herd and Pam Schaffer were this year’s winners. Each year, the celebration gives Duet a chance to honor all the outstanding volunteers including those who help homebound seniors – “neighbors” – needing rides to the grocery store, doctor’s appointments or friendly visiting.

Lita, a Phoenix resident, has been a dedicated volunteer with Duet since January 2011. She already had a heart for volunteering and came to Duet when she heard about the need for help because “it’s good for the community and the soul.”

In the 14 years that Lita has been a volunteer, she has helped and supported 110 neighbors with compassion and dignity by giving over 200 round-trip rides to medical appointments and spending over 300 hours carefully, kindly grocery shopping for and with the neighbors she’s served. In 2024, she volunteered nearly 1,200 hours!

Four years ago, Lita started volunteering in Duet’s front office where she’s given more than 500 hours of her time answering the phone and helping people who call with questions and concerns about their lives and the people they care about.

Pam, a Scottsdale resident, became a committed Duet volunteer in March of 1993. On her original volunteer application, she committed to supporting a homebound adult for a minimum of 2-3 years with friendly visiting, friendly phoning, and paperwork assistance.

“We expect she had no way of knowing the kind of impact this one volunteer assignment would have on her life,” said Ann Wheat, executive director of Duet. “The work our volunteers do put kindness and compassion into a world that really needs it.”In 1994 Pam was matched with a neighbor who is blind and needing assistance with managing her mail and other paperwork, which Pam generously signed up to do. Pam is still helping that same neighbor, over three decades later.It’s not common to find people who are committed to supporting others and will take someone who is a stranger and welcome them into your life and your care. It’s also not easy for a neighbor to let someone in to help, and yet without question, the relationships made between Duet volunteers and neighbors are mutually beneficial.Wheat added, “People like Lita and Pam, are living examples of the impact that stepping up to help can make in other’s lives.”

In addition to making life sustainably better for a homebound senior, volunteering your time and talent has benefits for you as well. Volunteering can reduce stress, enrich your mind, and develop interpersonal skills like the art of conversation and engagement. Feel fulfilled wherever you are now—be it newly retired, building your career, or seeking your better self. Duet has over 150 neighbors waiting to be paired with a volunteer. To learn more about our volunteer opportunities, visit https://duetaz.org/help-a-homebound-adult/.

About Duet: Partners In Health & Aging: Duet is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote health and well-being through vitally needed services to homebound adults, family caregivers, and grandfamilies. Duet’s free-of-charge services are available in the greater Phoenix area. To volunteer, donate or ask for help, go to www.duetaz.org or call (602) 274-5022.