Becoming like a family

Volunteer Services Agency volunteers and their clients became close friends.
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CANFIELD -- "I just think of them as family," Mary Jane McDonald says of the Volunteer Services Agency volunteers who do her grocery shopping each week.
"We love coming to see her," says Margaret Drummond and Barbara Chronister, three-year VSA volunteers who work with VSA's Retired Senior Volunteer Program and Volunteer Services to Seniors, respectively.
These programs help frail elderly people remain independent and in their homes, said Virginia Leskanic, VSA executive director.
VSA recruits, trains and manages volunteers for nonprofit, governmental, health care center organizations, and schools in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties. VSA relies heavily on financial support from the Youngstown-Mahoning Valley United Way, Leskanic said.
Drummond, of Ellsworth, and Chronister, of Austintown -- two of VSA's 2,000 volunteers -- have become fast friends with McDonald.
Needs help
McDonald, 87, is diabetic and has severe arthritis. Getting around her small apartment is very difficult. Maneuvering around parking lots, pushing shopping carts and lugging heavy grocery bags -- even doing normal household chores such as vacuuming or stripping the bed -- are almost impossible for her, Drummond said.
Drummond and Chronister are retired nurses and were members of the faculty at the former St. Elizabeth Hospital School of Nursing. As VSA volunteers, however, they don't function as nurses .
"We abide by the rules and regulations, but we are always assessing," said Drummond.
"They are both wonderful people," McDonald said.
The sentiment is mutual.
In writing about her experience with McDonald, Drummond said:
"Mary Jane has been my grocery shopping client for almost three years, and we have become good friends, caring and sharing life experiences. She is 87 years young, twice widowed and determined to live out her remaining years as independently as possible. It is my privilege to help her maintain that independence, self-confidence and dignity that have always been part of her life."
Born and reared in Canfield, McDonald graduated in 1936 from Canfield High School. She was married to Nick Fithian for 49 years. At age 70, she married Dudley McDonald, a former high school boyfriend, who died seven years later.
"We had a good time. But the time was too short," she said of her second marriage.
McDonald was a bookkeeper for 22 years at a Pontiac dealership in Alliance. She is a member Canfield Christian Church, is interested in genealogy, likes to play cards, and was an avid gardener in her younger years.
Perhaps that is why she particularly enjoys the flowers that Drummond brings her and the produce from Chronister's garden.
"They never come to see me that they don't bring something -- canned goods, or some of Jack's (Drummond's husband) chicken noodle soup," McDonald said.
Getting bargains
Drummond and Chronister also go the extra mile when shopping for McDonald.
"After three years, we pretty much know what she likes and wants. I clip coupons for her, and we can tell you where all the bargains are. With her limited income, a buck here and a few cents there helps," Drummond said.
Chronister and Drummond do other volunteer work as well.
Chronister is active in a support group for women who have had breast cancer; and Drummond participates in several ministries at her church, St. Paul Catholic Church in Salem.
McDonald was a volunteer herself in her younger years. She worked for the American Red Cross driving people to medical appointments, was a Pink Lady at Alliance City Hospital, and delivered meals on wheels.
Now, she is getting some of her caring and kindness back, which illustrates one of the reasons Chronister says she volunteers.
"The day may come when I need help too," she said.
"What started three years ago as a weekly contribution of two hours time to grocery shop for an elderly client has grown into something much larger ... something that, in an ever so small way, answers the biblical question, "Who is my neighbor"? Drummond said.
alcorn@vindy.com