Volunteer Spotlight
Pam Cercone
Pam Cercone has supported Child & Family Services as a volunteer since 2009. After learning
about the agency through her friend and current Child & Family Services employee, Pam attended
an informational meeting and “developed an emotional feeling about the agency and its mission.
After learning about the breadth, scope and number of individuals Child & Family Services helps,
I thought, I want to get involved with C&FS,” she explains.
Throughout the years, Pam has given of her time and talents to volunteer for Heartlight, the
agency’s premier fundraising event. Her roles have included: setting up for the event, volunteering
on the auction committee, and creating and organizing auction-themed baskets. “It was very gratifying
to watch last year’s auction come together and seeing the results of everyone’s hard work.” Pam also
volunteered at the 2012 Savor the Flavors of the Walden Galleria event, helping with set up, check in
and providing general support throughout the evening.
Pam is currently volunteering on the theme and decorations committee for the upcoming 2012 Heartlight
event on October 5th at The Hotel Lafayette. She uses her creativity to capture the theme of this year’s event,
‘Masquerade,’ through color schemes, decorations and centerpieces. In addition to assisting with events,
Pam also volunteers weekly in the Development Office, where she helps with researching grant opportunities,
creating mailings and general clerical duties. Pam says she wants to do whatever she can “because I know
that ultimately all the efforts go to raise money for a great cause.”
To learn more about event volunteer opportunities, please contact Michelle Kij, Special Events Coordinator,
at mkij@cfsbny.org.
Mrs. Ella Delaney, Senior Companion Program
Mrs. Ella Delaney has been a Senior Companion
for Child and Family Services since 2005. She joined the program as a volunteer
out of the Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Center (MOOT), where she is assigned
to work with two homebound seniors. One of her favorite parts about volunteering
with Senior Companion is helping her clients make the most of out of life and reach
goals that many take for granted. For example, Mrs. Delaney assists clients with
making meals and cleaning their homes, transports clients to their doctors’ appointments
or just lends a listening ear in their home and engages them in friendly conversations.
She explains, “before I became a volunteer, I took classes in gerontology to become
more familiar with the needs of older individuals. What I learned has helped tremendously
as I work with my current clients.”
Her typical day of volunteering starts at 8:30am. She begins her morning routine
by visiting her client and preparing a light breakfast for her. After breakfast,
Mrs. Delaney and her client read through her mail and organize the bills. Once all
the hard work is completed, they usually spend the afternoon doing an activity outside
the house such as grocery shopping or going to the mall. This opportunity allows
the client to enjoy a sense of freedom and have an opportunity to partake in conversation
with others. Every day Mrs. Delaney spends with her client can be different depending
on the needs of that person.
Senior Companions assist their adult clients in basic but essential ways:
- Offering companionship and friendship to isolated and frail adults
- Assisting with simple chores
- Providing transportation
- Adding richness to their clients' lives.
If you are interested in learning more about becoming a Senior Companion, please
call, 716-335-7200.