September’s Volunteer of the Month: Scott Rose
September’s volunteer of the month is Scott Rose. For Scott, volunteering with AFTD is a way to keep his late wife Maureen’s legacy alive. “My caregiving days were so very difficult for both of us, with her inability to act and speak as she wanted and my inability to ease her burdens. However, in that difficulty, we also found stronger ways to communicate and the ability to treasure the simplest moments,” Scott shares. “I volunteer to connect with people in their darker times and help them find moments still worth celebrating. Maureen had grace. If I can draw upon that in my volunteer efforts, whether through support groups, fundraising, or awareness campaigns, then through me, she continues to impact this world in a positive way.”
As a dedicated volunteer, Scott has raised critical awareness and funds through AFTD’s annual Food for Thought and With Love campaigns, has brought his local community together by hosting a Meet & Greet, and provides essential support as co-facilitator of a Portland-area support group.
Scott shares that his most rewarding moments as a volunteer are when he gets to see a person’s thinking shift. “I try to help people see an alternate view when they are stuck in the darkness. When ‘it is all so overwhelming’, I try to help them see some light. When someone says ‘I am all alone,’ they can be reminded of the community surrounding them when they hear the stories of others. The reality that ‘there is so much pain’ can be eased if someone can be prompted to recall and tell a positive story from their own life,” he says. “I volunteer in capacities both big and small, but it is all rewarding when I see that shift, whether I offer a discreet nudge toward the positive, or take a more overt action on someone’s behalf. When I see them smile, I remember Maureen’s, and that warms my heart.”
AFTD is exceedingly grateful to Scott for his service, and all of the ways he advances AFTD’s mission. If you’re interested in joining Scott, and becoming a part of our national volunteer network, please visit our website to learn more and fill out our volunteer form to get connected with a Volunteer Coordinator.
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