Duet: Partners In Health & Aging had a Volunteer Appreciation Event on Sunday, April 30 at Church of Beatitudes and recognized three outstanding volunteers with an award. Jerry Hotstetler, Bill Steele and Christi Cielens were this year’s winners. Each year, the celebration gives Duet a chance to honor all the outstanding volunteers who help homebound seniors – “neighbors” – needing rides to the grocery store, doctor’s appointments or friendly visiting.

Jerry Hotstetler, of Phoenix, has been providing services to our neighbors for over two decades now. This “jack of all trades” has provided an impressive 4,000 volunteer hours of services to more than 181 neighbors, through 555 personalized interactions. Additionally, he took in one of our neighbors for three months in his own home after she lost her home to a fire!

Bill Steele, a Phoenix resident, is currently matched with 10 neighbors and has provided 1,400 hours of dedicated service. The word “no” is not in Bill’s vocabulary as he is always contacting us for more neighbors to help.

The “full circle” award went to volunteer Christi Cielens, of Phoenix. This bright light dispels darkness with her smile and kind, warm voice that lights up the room at our front desk. Christi transitioned from needing our services to giving her services back as a volunteer in our office. But the truly remarkable quality about this volunteer is she does it all while legally blind. With dogged determination, this dedicated volunteer translated all Duet’s staff extensions and phone instructions into Braille.

“Duet volunteers provide a lifeline for the isolated and homebound adults we serve to vitally needed services such as medical appointments, grocery shopping, and human connection,” said Ann Wheat, Executive Director of Duet. “We are so grateful for their generosity and dedication to our mission. We could not do what we do without our volunteers!”

In addition to making life sustainably better for a homebound senior, volunteering your time and talent has benefits for you as well. Volunteering can reduce stress, enrich your mind, and develop interpersonal skills like the art of conversation and engagement. Feel fulfilled wherever you are now—be it newly retired, building your career, or seeking your better self. To learn more about our volunteer opportunities, visit https://duetaz.org/help-a-homebound-adult/.

About Duet: Partners In Health & Aging: Duet is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote health and well-being through vitally needed services to homebound adults, family caregivers, and grandfamilies. Duet’s free-of-charge services are available in the greater Phoenix area. To volunteer, donate or ask for help, go to http://www.duetaz.org or call (602) 274-5022.