A “Buddy System” for DignityUSA

As Operations Manager, I receive renewal notices from members almost every day. Most of them are pretty standard, $50 membership or $100 for a couple. I glance at the little boxes to see whether folks want the QV delivered via e-mail vs. snail mail; whether they want to be listed anonymously; or whether they want their names shared with other organizations. I also check to see if they are adding a donation to DignityUSA and/or their chapter.

Sometimes there is a note attached to the renewal form letting me know of a change of address, email, or telephone number. Other times the member will make corrections to their join date, or the spelling of their last name.

And some notes make me sad and this is why I am writing this article.

I received a note just last week from a member who had to put his friend in a nursing home. His friend is a longtime member of 37 years and is now in an assisted living facility, getting involved in the activities offered to the residents. This story made me wonder: how do we reach out to the older members who don’t have access to a computer or have not signed up for Facebook or Twitter? How do we reach the members who are alone and don’t have the ability to go out and socialize as they once did? Do we wait for the staff to read it on a renewal notice? Do chapters have a way of keeping track of those on their mailing list who don’t attend services? As a group of Christians, are we not all responsible for one other?

I have an idea but I need your help. I would like to start a “Buddy System.” It would involve a group of people who would send cards, notes or Datelines to people who are alone, in a nursing home, in assisted living, and so on. This group would also work with the chapters to identify individuals who would benefit from a buddy.

I am on board, are you? If you are interested in this type of pastoral care outreach, please let me know. Please send me an email at info@dignityusa.org stating you are willing to help. I will get back to you once we have a group and we can get started.

Let’s see if we can make someone’s life a bit more cheerful. Isn’t that what we want when we get old?