The invitation read: “Mennonite Home Communities of Ohio volunteers are like an assortment of ice cream flavors. You just make life happier for everyone!”

More than 140 volunteers responded to the invitation to the annual volunteer appreciation banquet held on April 8 at Ebenezer Mennonite Church.

SEE MORE VOLUNTEER PHOTOS AT BOTTOM OF STORY.

More than 400 volunteers donated 9,090 hours in 2014, which is the most ever recorded. Volunteers from each of the four communities of MHCO were represented:
• Hilty Home
• Willow Ridge
• Maple Crest and
• Mennonite Memorial Home.

“The strong volunteer force is one of the things that make MHCO distinctive from other for-profit nursing homes,” said Laura Voth, CEO.

"Volunteering has been at the core of MHCO’s success over the years. In the early years of MHCO’s history, volunteers did everything from canning and freezing food to bathing residents. While these activities can no longer be performed by volunteers, there are many other opportunities for volunteers to support the mission of MHCO," she added.

This year is MHCO’s 60th year of providing services and support to elders of the community. It is also the 20th year of Mennonite Home Health and Senior Services. During its 20 years, Home Health has served over 800 community members.

The banquet also provided  volunteers with an update of what’s happened at MHCO over the past year. 

Highlights included:
• Hilty Home began using eight new ceiling lifts made possible by donations and a 3:1 grant from the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation.
• Hilty Preschool and Child Care received a grant from the Midwest Ohio Electric Community Connections Fund to purchase eight I-pads to support the educational program.
• Hilty Preschool also received a 2-Star, Step-Up-To-Quality designation from the Ohio Department of Education and Job and Family Services.
• The Transition to Home Rehabilitation Center at Mennonite Memorial Home has served 111 individuals since it opened on April 1, 2014, helping many return to their homes following surgeries or an illness.
• A new “Delay the Disease” program will begin at Mennonite Memorial Home in June, 2015.  This program is designed for those with a Parkinson’s or related disease diagnosis.
• Willow Ridge was rated 13th out of more than 900 nursing homes in Ohio based on family members’ responses to a bi-annual survey.
• Maple Crest was ranked in the top 25 out of 598 Assisted Living facilities in Ohio based on resident satisfaction.
• Final touches have been put on the Memory Garden and Pier Project at Maple Crest.
• 2014 also saw the kick-off of the first-ever Brighter Lives Annual Campaign, which raised over $55,000 for specific projects and the general fund.

Following the meal, volunteer coordinators Debbie Mohr and Dee Steffen invited volunteers to raise their hands if they participated in a particular activity. Some of the volunteer activities mentioned included traditional events such as calling Bingo, driving elders to appointments, folding newsletters and delivering mobile meals.

The more unique activities included measuring fish at the annual fishing derby, husking sweet corn, cleaning bird cages and painting fingernails. While these tasks provide a great support to the staff, an even greater benefit is the personal interaction, the friendly smiles and the relationships established with the elders. Volunteers also find great satisfaction and a personal blessing through the interactions they have with elders.

“New volunteers are always welcome,” said Mary Ann Ring, volunteer coordinator at Mennonite Memorial Home and Willow Ridge. 

Persons interested in learning more about the volunteer program at MHCO may can call Ring or  Mohr at 419-358-1015 or Dee Steffen at Hilty Home at 419-384-3218.