Community Service Experience by Joan Hulkower, New York

Looking back on the Community Service portion of the CAARI Program, I'm overwhelmed at the appreciation that I received from the staff at Ichilov Hospital's Rehab Department.

Apparently, they are short of volunteers and could not have been more grateful for the service that we did in the mornings.

When we came in at 8 AM we set up the breakfast trays and handed them out to the patients as they came into the dining room. Usually about 35 came in between 8 and 9:30 AM. Following breakfast, I helped make beds, sometime refilled lotions and paper towels in the room or walked with patients that needed extra ambulation.

On the last day the staff gathered us (there were 4 other CAARI participants who worked with me) in their kitchen, gave us gifts, thanked us for our help and hoped we would return next year. Being appreciated made it so worthwhile!

Joan