She lights up the room with her youthful energy and beauty. Her toothsome grin and giggly laugh captivate her audience. Corrie Smith, seven, has been volunteering at Foss with her mom, Debbie Smith, for two years. The pair come in weekly to visit, do crafts, celebrate holidays and color (one of Corrie’s favorite activities).
Debbie was initially introduced to Foss a couple of years ago through the Seattle Bible College which routinely brought a group of students to Foss to visit and sing. She returned on her own to visit a friend staying at Foss. Debbie enjoyed her visits and decided she would return to volunteer with her daughter. Volunteering here has also been a wonderful opportunity to teach Corrie to volunteer, to have patience and to enjoy the friendship of older people. As many parents know, Debbie found that “a lot of times children go through life thinking they’re always going to be young and their health is always going to last forever.” Thus, she wanted to teach Corrie to enjoy all of her life and appreciate her vitality. Debbie enjoys volunteering at the Foss simply because she enjoys “being with the old folks. They’re sweet and they need people. It would be hard to be in their situation, it can be lonely and frightening for them. I try to bring comfort to them and joy to their hearts and I can share my faith.”
The mother and daughter team came in recently to participate in one of the many projects offered by the creative and energetic activities staff. The group is planting pansies in specially decorated pots. Several of Debbie and Corrie’s friends have come, and Debbie skillfully and respectfully assists with the planting. One of their closest friends, Doris Warren, has come to do a craft project and to enjoy the company. Doris, who has been at Foss since January of 2001, really enjoys having Debbie and Corrie come and thinks their presence really adds to the activities. Doris is very thankful they give their time “week after week after week--they are very generous.” She expressed her appreciation by giving Corrie a prize she recently won at game of Bingo at Foss. This small token of affection demonstrates how important Debbie and Corrie have become in Doris’s life. Thank you, Debbie and Corrie, for all of light you shine on the lives here. Your presence here means more than you could know, and in the years to come, Corrie’s life will show that she received far more than just a Bingo prize from a friend.