JO
I’ve been volunteering here for eight years. I think it’s one of the best things around because there are so many people hurting and so many people who just don’t have the money for even bandages after they’re fixed up by somebody else and there are a lot of people who need psychiatrists and they can’t afford it. The doctors are very helpful with them. And the donated medications--something that comes in very handy!

Mostly I sit and take care of the door that goes into the drugs so they don’t disappear on us. Since I have macular degeneration now I don’t see too well, but I do help in the background. I size shoes when they come in so that we know what size they are and odd jobs. And I listen well.

I went to school four years—I received a minor in psychology. And when I came to Gainesville, I realized they were starting a suicide and crisis intervention center and I worked there for about eight years. I was on the phone and did care-team work until they put me on as a case manager.

I know that our community needs something like Helping Hands Clinic and some nights I think we could use more help--more volunteers. I don’t know the statistics of how many we take care of, but it seems like a lot. We need a place to locate that’s a little bigger. We make do.