Young Professionals

The Burden Center has experienced a growth in young professional volunteers over the last few years. As a result, the Center formed a junior committee for those who are dedicated to helping the community's seniors on a more active basis. This group, the Burden Center Associates, started two years ago with a core group of four volunteers and has now grown to fifteen active members.

The Associates meet monthly in the evening and their 2005 calendar is published on the Burden Center website in the Associates section. The Burden Center understands that working volunteers have busy schedules and different volunteer interests. To meet these needs, the Associates provide flexibility and variety for each member. Some Associates cannot make monthly meetings, but they participate in weekend activities.

Associates are involved in a number of activities that combine both direct-service volunteering and fundraising. Some members are friendly visitors to a senior and visit them once a week to provide companionship. Others deliver hot meals on Saturdays to homebound seniors. The entire group sponsors two or three free activities for seniors each year such as the Homecoming Dance (Pg. 1), trips to cultural institutions and movie screenings. They sponsor fundraising events such as a raffle or seek other sources of funding to cover the costs of these events.

Events with the seniors are the most popular with the members as they get to interact with the seniors and see the direct impact they are making. Lindsay O'Reilly, Chair of the Associates, looked over the crowded dance floor at the Homecoming Dance, and said, "THIS is why we do it!"

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