What is Faith in Action?
Our Stories
AARP Couple Volunteer Together
AARP members volunteer together to help their neighbors.
Sharon and Ted are AARP members who were interested in volunteering in their community. When they received the information on Faith in Action, they immediately sent in the form and attended the Faith in Action orientation. Sharon and Ted wanted to volunteer together and they were looking for another couple that needed their help. As it turns out, they live just 5 miles from Karen and Chris, in a rural area in the northern part of Fairfield County
Karen and Chris had been on the Faith in Action program for about 1 ½ years, but had not yet been matched with a volunteer because there were no volunteers who lived in that area. Faith in Action of Fairfield County, under the leadership of Janet Stout, had done several group projects for them (yard work and housecleaning), but what they really wanted was a companion for Chris who is confined to a wheelchair.
Since the two couples were matched through the Faith in Action AARP partnership, they have become friends. Sharon and Ted help Karen and Chris with things like yard work, housecleaning, and staining the deck. But the best part is that Chris has found someone who shares his interests. Ted and Chris recently spent the day at the Air Force Museum in Dayton, OH. Chris loves airplanes, but his wife does not share this interest. So when Ted offered to drive to the museum, it was great for Chris to have someone to ride with and to discuss what they had seen.