A Busy Summer

No. I'm not there yet.

In 13 days, I will be airborne.



I thought I'd talk a bit about what I've been doing this summer.  As a naturally restless work-a-holic, I thrive when I am busy.  So, I created some work for myself this summer.  I've been volunteering a total of 6 days a week at two different locations since late June.


1. The Prison Library Project
Located in the Claremont Forum (a bookshop and art gallery in the Packing House), The Prison Library Project is a non-profit run by volunteers that supplies books to prisoners upon request.  We receive letters from prisons all around the nation, process them, and send out a couple books that fit the interests of the inmate.

The PLP's goal is to promote literacy, personal responsibility, reflection, and growth. And that they do.  Sending out 12,500 packages a year, their impact is profound and I've loved being a part of it.  Coming in Tuesdays thru Thursdays each week has been a joy.  I've met wonderful people and have been happy to help brighten the dreary lives of inmates.

There, I participate in a variety of jobs.  I can be found reading letters, highlighting letters to make the request clear, making address labels, pulling books off of the shelves to be sent out, and wrapping packages.  I do it all except deliver the books to the prisons! (The USPS takes care of that)

Some people believe that prison is solely meant for punishment and that the inmates do not deserve our help as they have wronged society in the past.  But we at PLP believe that some people need a little help to get back on track.  With all the time the inmates spend locked up, to ensure they don't waste their precious time, we ought to facilitate their growth by providing the resources they need.

The most frequent request we receive is that of a dictionary.  We also often receive requests for Spanish-English dictionaries, self-help books, religious literature, and for fiction.  I've read hundreds of letters and have come across some very touching stories.  Some, claiming to be wrongly accused, others explaining that they have no one to help them from the outside, and some telling horrific stories on the treatment of inmates in prisons.  We do what we can at PLP.

It has been a wonderful experience, and I recommend dropping by if you have some free time and want to give back.  Again it's located in the Packing House in the Claremont Village in the bookshop The Claremont Forum.  For more information on the PLP, go here http://www.claremontforum.org/#!services/ca4p .



2. The Health Center at Mount San Antonio Gardens

I have also been spending 4 days a week volunteering in the Health Center at Mount San Antonio Gardens, an old folks home.  It is a nationally recognized, non-profit Life Care senior community.  Everyone there knows everybody and I have had great fun getting integrated into the close-knit community.

I spend my days in the Health Center where the residents who require more care live.  There, I play music and sing for them, paint nails, assist the Activities Directors, give hand massages, take the residents outside, and generally just hang out with them.  I have established very valuable and genuine relationships with each and every resident I've come across.

Recently, we took a handful of seniors to the LA County Fair where they had a great time looking at the flowers, animals, and art.  It is so sweet to know I am brightening their days.  They are always so kind to me, greeting me by name, and are always happy to talk.  When the situation is so grim for many, it's awesome to know I'm lessening their pain, helping distract them from whatever may be keeping them at the health center.

Still, sometimes it gets really sad at the Health Center.  There was a week where 3 residents I had visited with all passed away. That was extremely difficult.  But still, death is a part of life and I am sure that all 3 of them lived very happy and certainly long lives.  Volunteering there has taught me a lot about life, death, and just about what I can and cannot handle.  Being so close to serious illness and to people of their death bed sure makes you think.

But if there is one lesson I have gathered from The Gardens, it's to be grateful for what you do have.  One of my closest friends there, a 94 year old man who was born in Ukraine and was a big shot with the water company in his earlier days, has had a great big influence on me.  He has dementia and thus doesn't know much about where he is or who he was and still is.  But that doesn't stop him from enjoying this life.  I take him outside and push him around in his wheelchair and he can't stop talking about how beautiful the trees are and shouting "Look at that sunshine!" and just marveling at nature and the beautiful scenery at Mount San Antonio Gardens.  He has taught me a lot about how precious life is and how to appreciate what's in your life instead of pining for what you don't have.

My experiences at the Health Center have been unforgettable and it deeply saddens me to know that when I say my goodbyes to go on my trip, it may be the last time I see some of my friends.  Still, I am so happy to have created the strong relationships I have with these people.  As Dr Seuss said, "Don't cry that it's over, smile that it happened" :)  For more info on The Gardens see http://msagardens.org .


As always, thanks for reading.  Have a lovely day!