Compeer honors program's valuable volunteers

On May 17, Compeer held its annual Volunteers Appreciation Dinner at Far West Center. To show our gratitude to all of our valuable Compeer Match Volunteers, Group Event Volunteers, and Community Volunteers, staff organized a bountiful dinner in a warm atmosphere. The room was decorated in an elegant dining room style. 

Our goal was to treat our “Valuable Volunteers” as the VIPs that they truly are. Each was given recognition for the care, time and heartfelt friendship they bring to the Compeer Program. Our Valuable Volunteers make it possible for Compeer to offer the friendship and opportunities greatly needed to decrease isolation and depression.

Compeer is planning to spotlight each of our Valuable Volunteers in our upcoming Westlake | Bay Village Observer articles. In this article, we are spotlighting volunteer Krystal Kinley. 

Krystal became a Compeer Match Volunteer in July 2010. She is currently a social work student at Youngstown State University. After receiving her associate degree at Lorain County Community College, Krystal has been working toward her bachelor's degree and her Ohio Social Workers License. Krystal tells us she has plans to continue her education and earn a master's degree. 

Krystal is an enthusiastic and caring young woman that has already made volunteering one of her lifetime missions. She also volunteers by helping younger students in the two separate mentoring organizations. Also, in her current position at an assisted living facility for elderly individuals, she works one-on-one with residents and helps them to improve the quality of daily life.  

Krystal is matched in Compeer with a woman named Shari. Together, Krystal and Shari make their own plans to meet in the community for lunch, dinner or to have fun. Together they have enjoyed playing the interactive games at Dave and Buster’s in Westlake. As a Compeer Match, Krystal and Shari have become friends that enjoy a good laugh. They also attend Compeer events like “Dancing and Exercise Group with Louis B. Naylor" (a retired CSU dance instructor).

Throughout our upcoming articles you can read about our other Compeer Valuable Volunteers. They are women and men, college students and teachers, athletes and professional athletic assistants, scientists, cosmetologists, young adults and older wise and experienced adults. Each has encouragement to offer and time to spend with an individual that had been isolated due to mental illness. 

If you are interested in becoming a Compeer Valuable Volunteer, please call Denise and Jody at 440-835-6212, ext. 242, or email compeer@farwestcenter.com. It is totally free to ask us questions and there is no obligation unless you decide to join. Our volunteers set their own monthly schedules, a unique and flexible feature of the Compeer Program!