Riverside Convalescent Center-Mathews is missing its volunteers and wants them back.
Administrator Melissa Evans said because of the COVID-19 pandemic, volunteers have “pretty much gone by the wayside.
“But we would love to have them back,” she said.
Riverside used to have visitors every single day, said Evans, with well over 20 volunteers listed at any given time. They would do such things as hold church services, play music, provide pet therapy, and just offer companionship to residents. “These are things our residents really, truly miss,” she said.
The center currently has just one regular, consistent volunteer, Mary Helliesen, who answers telephones and does clerical work, said Evans. In addition, the Bay School visits on occasion, and the center recently was treated to a visit from “The Fuzzy Ears,” a husband-and-wife team who carry their large angora rabbits to various nursing homes for visits.
Evans said there are two types of volunteers—regular ones who make a commitment to pro...