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TEEN VOLUNTEER AND VETERAN BECOME FAST FRIENDS
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Roseburg, Oregon VA program teaches teens and
helps vets.
NOTE: The building pictured on this
old postcard still stands at the Roseburg, Oregon VA.
A reminder that the VA always needs
volunteers.
Got some time? Give a little to
veterans!
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Story here...
http://www.newsreview.info/article/20060905/NEWS/60905019
Story below:
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Camaraderie of Cheer
Youth volunteer, veteran form friendship
through Roseburg VA’s Cheer-a-Vet program
JENNIFER MATHIS,
jmathis@newsreview.info
It was the perfect accessory to set the mood.
Veteran Billy Brewer sported a cowboy hat as he listened to youth
volunteer Brittney Tice read from “Once an Outlaw,” a Western novel the
two gallop through a few times a week.
“It doesn’t matter what she reads,” said Marilyn Warren, recreation
therapist who oversees the student volunteers at the Roseburg Veterans
Affairs Medical Center. “It’s the companionship and the attention and
someone taking an interest in him.”
Tice isn’t the procrastinating type. At 17, she’s looking — and forging
— ahead to her goal of becoming a nurse.
About to embark on her senior year at Roseburg High School, she decided
the best preparation for nursing would be to place herself in a hospital
environment — or, become somewhat of a permanent fixture.
Over the summer, she has devoted generous amounts of time to working at
the Roseburg VA Medical Center. Initially, she was at the hospital six
hours a day, five days a week. She was spending four hours at the
outpatient lab performing administrative tasks and two hours with
Brewer.
“Better than having a job,” Tice, of Roseburg, said.
She said her time at the VA has made her more comfortable with all kinds
of people as well as given her a realistic view of the work field, which
she hopes to enter into someday.
She decided to volunteer at the Roseburg VA for the exposure to health
care as well for the opportunity to work with veterans.
“You get to see more,” she said. “If you get to observe, you’re kind of
ahead of the game. I ask questions a lot about what’s going on.”
Over the summer, volunteering became routine for Tice.
“Pretty much this is all I’ve done. I’ve left town like twice,” she
said. “My friend finally got me to go swimming the other day.”
Part way through the summer, she picked up a second volunteer shift at
Mercy Medical Center delivering and collecting patients’ lunch trays,
causing her to spend fewer hours at the VA.
Tice is one of 46 volunteers in the Red Cross youth volunteer program
called “Cheer-a-Vet,” according to Bill Duncan, national representative
for the American Red Cross at the VA, who runs the youth volunteer
program. Volunteers range from age 14 to 21 and the program runs
year-round.
“She has really good people skills — whether it’s with the staff or
veterans,” Warren said. “She’s just been a great volunteer.”
Tice and Brewer were introduced in June, and she said the friendship
stuck ever since.
Brewer, 66, was admitted to the Roseburg VA in 1984, making him the
longest continuous patient at the VA.
“I like learning about him,” Tice said. “He’s quite interesting.”
Brewer was in the 176th Aviation of the Army Air Force, where he flew
helicopters and served in Vietnam as a non-commissioned officer. He’s
divorced and has a son and a daughter, both living in Lebanon in
Oregon’s Willamette Valley. He lived in Arkansas before moving to
Roseburg.
Together, the two play poker and bingo, talk, walk the halls, take trips
to the canteen and read.
“We talk about the ‘Dr. Phil’ show sometimes,” Tice said.
“It’s the greatest show on television,” Brewer, 66, added.
“He’s gonna like you for that,” she replied.
Brewer said Tice has a sweet personality and added he likes to talk to
her about his experiences in the military, enjoying each opportunity to
talk with her.
“Makes me feel important,” he said.
Although life will get busier during the school year with academics and
running cross country, Tice will continue to pay visits to the VA. She
and Brewer have agreed on Sunday afternoon visits where she’ll read to
him.
“He’s like a brother,” she says, putting a smile on Brewer’s face.
Anyone over the age of 14 may participate in
the Red Cross youth volunteer program called Cheer-a-Vet at the Roseburg
Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Youth under age 18 must have parental
consent . Service opportunities range from visiting with patients to
performing office work.
Participants are encouraged to volunteer at least four hours a week,
although any amount of time is appreciated. For more information or to
become a volunteer, contact the hospital’s voluntary service program:
440-1272.
Still, she’s accumulated approximately 125 volunteers hours at the VA,
enough to earn her the “People helping People” award at a back-to-school
pizza party and awards ceremony. The male recipient for the same award
was Mason Dunn of Roseburg.
• You can reach reporter Jennifer Mathis at 957-4208 or via e-mail at
jmathis@newsreview.info.
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Larry Scott
