ARC Volunteers- An Inspirational, yet Difficult Experience

I took a visit to the ARC Community Services Center this morning to see our ARC Volunteers in action! The ARC Community Center was very busy; the Volunteers could be seen playing games, talking, and watching television with clients. While talking with the volunteers, I asked what event or moment at the ARC has left the greatest impact on them thus far. An ARC Volunteer, Anna, said "I met a boy who was in a football accident and he wanted to play college football- he had his heart set on it. Then he got hit and suffered a brain injury and now he can never play football again. That made me realize how lucky I am to be able to play hockey and [it pushes me] to keep working hard."

Similarly, Andrea said that "just hearing the stories of how people got here. Especially the people who had accidents [had a great impact on me]." Many of the Volunteers noted that volunteering at the ARC is a very humbling experience. The Volunteers were very open about discussing their most difficult experiences at the community center. One Volunteer remembered "The other day when they started talking about death and one of them who is in a wheelchair said 'you don't need a wheelchair when you go into heaven'" and that was really sad."

Although the experience has been difficult and humbling for the Volunteers, there was also a general feeling of hope and good-will in my discussions with the ARC Volunteers. All the Volunteers explained how they began to treasure the little moments of success within the day- when one of the adults who struggles to walk makes it all the way around the 'track' (they called the hallway that runs in a circle to the rooms at the community center 'the track' and the clients walk around it for exercise) or when they are able to have a coherent conversation with an adult who struggles to speak clearly. The challenges that the Volunteers encounter on a day-to-day basis are overwhelmingly overshadowed by the successes they witness daily.

ARC Volunteers Going Strong

Yesterday, the ARC Volunteers continued to work and play games with mentally-challenged adults at a community center in Fitchburg. Group members have been playing games, building block towers, and hanging out. Group members have had mixed reactions about their first few days at the community center. Jordan H. noted that "there are some adults who say really funny and cute things." Ashley V. said that she was a little nervous when "one man invited me for a beer, but then I told him that I'm too young to drink...he then invited me for coffee instead!" Although the ARC Volunteers come home tired at the end of the day, they generally feel good about their time at the community center!