Mother and Daughter Bring the Books
Mim Heggerston, left, listens as daughter, Michelle, reads to Lyngblomsten resident Hedvig Martinsen.
The entertainment is Mim’s daughter, Michelle, an engaging five-year-old, who loves coming along with Mom. Together they make every-Tuesday visits to residents in the non-profit senior care facility.
The mother-daughter team collects books residents have finished and gives them new ones. Some prefer receiving magazines, which are also available from the library cart.
“After a few visits I quickly learn who the serious readers are, and those who would like something just to pass the time,” says Mim.
She began volunteering when Michelle, her youngest child, started preschool. Two of her other children had been volunteering at Lyngblomsten for many years.
“[The older children] always had such wonderful stories to tell. I wanted to experience it for myself,” she said. “It didn’t take long for Michelle to let me know she wanted to volunteer too.”
Michelle has a special connection with the residents. With one she makes invisible cakes. Another has Beanie Babies which Michelle has named, and with which she plays whenever she sees them. With other residents, she reads from a book she brings with her (see photo).
“This experience has been wonderful and challenging,” says Mim. “Michelle has had questions about [diminished] hearing, and the way different residents appear, but my other children and the volunteer department staff have been great resources for helping me to explain aging to Michelle in terms she can understand.”
The Lyngblomsten Volunteer Department has over 500 volunteers, ranging in age from three to 93, serving elders through the Care Center, Senior Apartments, Community Senior Center, the Lyngblomsten Gift/Coffee Shop, and other areas.
“One of the strengths of our program is that volunteers can choose from endless opportunities,” says Carol Baker, Director of Spiritual Care and Volunteer Services at Lyngblomsten. “We work to match each volunteer’s interests, skills, gifts and time availability to a volunteer opportunity. It is a misconception that in order to volunteer you need to be able to commit to once a week. That is not the case at Lyngblomsten. We have volunteers who are seasonal, come twice a month, or are on call.”
For more information on how to become a Lyngblomsten volunteer, call the Volunteer Services Office, 651/632-5356.
