There are so many reasons why Neighbors Who Care volunteers choose to become Neighbors Who Care volunteers. For Mike Amato, it’s about fulfilling his calling to help seniors. “God has given me a passion for coming alongside them,” he humbly remarks. “(For me), being matched up with Neighbors Who Care is the right fit.” And we couldn’t agree more.
Mike joined our volunteer ranks in June of 2021 after recently retiring and moving with his wife Debbie (who is also a wonderful NWC volunteer!) to Sun Lakes. He ramped up quickly and has since logged more than 300 hours of service and driven well over 3,200 miles while serving our clients. Mike provides such services as dinner delivery, minor repairs, respite care, and shopping/errands. But his greatest contribution continues to be his service as a transportation driver. He has taken various clients to medical appointments in excess of 130 times!
“What satisfies my soul the most is being able to help someone who needs it,” Mike says.
No matter which service Mike is providing for our clients, he is also engaging them in conversation and treating them with dignity and respect. This goes right along with our mission.
“We are so grateful to have a volunteer like Mike on our team,” says Sheryl Keeme, Executive Director. “In addition to the services he provides, his kind, helpful, and positive demeanor shines through whenever he engages with our clients. He not only gets the job done, but he does so while making an incredible impact on the people he serves.”
Mike says he especially enjoys volunteering because, “It’s like I have many, many grandmothers!”
To add to Mike’s dedication to serving our clients, he is also a member of our governing Board of Directors (also a volunteer position) and has recently been tapped to serve as this year’s Board Vice Chair. And, if that isn’t enough, Mike is also serving on our Aging Made Easier conference planning committee for the second year in a row. He isn’t afraid to roll up his sleeves and do whatever is needed to accomplish a task.
With all of this on his plate, Mike also supports Neighbors Who Care with his financial resources as a regular donor, and he encourages donations from others including those in local clubs and organizations who can help raise funds through benefit events and activities.
Needless to say, we feel blessed to have Mike Amato—with his can-do attitude and his giving heart—as a Neighbors Who Care volunteer. And we know that Mike feels equally blessed to be able to serve those in our community who need our help.
Thank you, Mike!
What is YOUR REASON for serving with Neighbors Who Care? Our aging seniors need YOU! Become a volunteer!
Read more on what’s happening with Neighbors Who Care in our recent The Care Connection newsletter.