Heather Sutherland - Volunteering at Charleston Transitional Facility

Introduction
          I chose to volunteer at Charleston Transitional Facility for my volunteer hours. I volunteered on March 17^th from 2pm-7pm. I was under the watch of the supervisor there for the first hour where we went over different information for the clients. For the other 4 hours I was left with the other staff known as DSP’s and the client who live in the home.

2pm-3pm

            For the first hour of my volunteer hours I got a lay of the land at the home at Douglas. The supervisor took me around the house having me help to prepare the guys home for their arrival. This consisted of making sure all of the beds were undone for the ones that tend to go to bed directly after the get home from workshop. We then looked at the menu for the day and got everything out so that dinner was ready to be prepared. Normally they would wait until around 3pm to get their dinner ready but since I was volunteering she let me help get it together early. I helped cook the noodles and prepare the lasagna that was being cooked that night.

3pm-4pm

            During this time of the day I helped one of the staff do transportation. We first had to go to the workshop called Blumenthal where the older clients of the house go during the day. There we picked up 4 clients and brought them home. My job was to help secure the wheelchair into its spot. Once we got back to the house I helped unload the clients from the van and brought them into the house. We then left for the second load of guys where we went up to the Charleston Transitional Facility day program. There we picked up the other 4 guys and brought them home. I stayed in the back of the van with one of the clients and helped secure the two guys in wheelchairs into their spots on the van. We brought them home where I helped get them off the van and bring them into the house.

4pm-5pm

            The clients in the home get medication distributed to them from one of their staffs at 4pm. My job was to bring each of the 8 clients to the medication room when it was their time to get their medication. I asked for a couple of them what kinds of medications they were getting and the staff informed me that some of the medication was for their hearts, vitamins and/or for their behaviors such as for their schizophrenia or bipolar disease.

5pm-6pm

            After medication is distributed to all of the clients dinner is then served. I was to help with passing out the client’s food to each of them. I was even able to help feed one of the clients whom cannot feed themselves.  His food also had to be pureed because he has had previous choking experiences. Once all of the clients were done eating we had to clean up all of the plates and put their clothing protectors into the washing machine to be washed.

6pm-7pm

            After dinner is done if there are any outings for the clients those are done then. I was able to go on an outing with one of the staff member’s and one of the client’s. We went to Wal-mart where we picked up hygiene products. The client was able to be brought with and brought to the different sections of the personal care section and was allowed to pick out his own brand and fragrance of each item that he needed. After he picked everything out we checked out where he handed the cashier the money. We then were done with the outing and went back to the house where we put everything away that we bought.

 

Conclusion

This was definitely related to the disadvantaged families class because all of the individuals that live in the homes of CTF are disadvantaged individuals with mental and physical disabilities. This organization gives the community a chance to work and help with individuals who are not as fortunate and to give them the care that they need and deserve. I had an overall great experience volunteering at the home. It was nice that I was able to help out with the clients and that the staff was very welcoming in giving me some information but not too much to disturb the clients of the home’s privacy.