Grand Villa of Largo Salutes its Volunteers

National Volunteer Week is April 21-27, but Volunteers are Needed Yearlong

By Larry Prescott, Executive Director of Grand Villa of Largo

Just imagine where we would be without the time and talent of dedicated volunteers!  National Volunteer Week, established in 1974 and part of Points of Light (www.pointsoflight.org), is a special time for people across the country to recognize the impact and value of volunteerism.

Here in Largo, we have a number of volunteers who give so generously of their time to visit with residents at Grand Villa.  We’d like to share one story with you – that of Mary Lusk.

Born in Georgia, Mary married Robert Lusk.  Together they raised four children and two of their six grandchildren after their father died. 

Mary has been an active volunteer most of her adult life, working in senior living communities, hospitals and churches.  We first met her when she brought Robert to live in Grand Villa’s memory care unit after his diagnosis with Alzheimer’s.  At Grand Villa, we’d say she’s the volunteer equivalent of a baseball “utility infielder,” taking residents to programs on weekends, working on our weekly omelette breakfast and just about anything else that needs to be done. 

And, when she’s not volunteering here, she is usually helping elderly neighbors with household chores or by taking them to their appointments. 

We are so grateful to Mary for being one of Grand Villa’s special volunteers and thank her for all she continues to do for our residents and staff.

For information about volunteer opportunities at Grand Villa of Largo, please contact Tracee Hartman at 727-586-0108.

About this column: Volunteering to work with seniors can be a very rewarding activity. Larry Prescott, executive director of Grand Villa of Largo (http://www.largoseniorliving.com/) an assisted living and Alzheimer’s care facility, welcomes inquiries.  Contact him at ed.lar@smacommunity.net.