The Sapulpa Herald interviewed Penny Woolery, Creek County Coordinator for Life Senior Services to find out more about this valuable non-profit organization that benefits seniors, and the community as a whole, in many ways. Ms. Woolery, who began with RSVP over eleven years ago, explained that LSS was originally RSVP.
“We merged in July of 2021, since then we have been Life Senior Services.” She went on to say that LSS is under the umbrella of the United Way. “We are funded by the United Way somewhat.”
When asked what the mission statement is for LSS, Woolery responded: “It is short and simple; to promote and preserve independence for seniors today, tomorrow, and always.”
LIFE PACE provides individualized health and wellness programs for seniors. The vintage housing program for low-income seniors, such as Hickory Crossing in Sapulpa, fosters independence and socialization. LSS also offers educational opportunities and adult day care at their Tulsa facilities.
The Retired Senior Volunteer Program was an organization that matched seniors with other organizations that needed volunteers. Ms. Woolery says that recruiting seniors to be volunteers is one of the primary tasks of the Creek County LSS office. “We are one arm of Life Senior Services, the volunteer arm. I check with other organizations. If there is anything I can do to help them, I do. It’s me working to help find volunteers, but I also have my volunteers. I have a list of my volunteers around the county, which is around 150-200 people.”
She stated that she must have a Memorandum of Understanding with any organization or agency that requests volunteers.
Woolery travels throughout the county to provide volunteers and assistance for various programs.
“I will go out to Oilton, Mannford, Kiefer, or Kellyville, where I have nutrition programs, and visit with them. I will help them do whatever they need to do.” Ms. Woolery described the process of recruiting volunteers: “If someone comes to me, or I send out something and people want to volunteer, they will come in and visit with me. They will fill out a form if they are interested. I try to give them suggestions where they might have a good volunteer job. What we try to do is match them up, give them selections and advice on what is available, and places for them to volunteer.”
Ms. Woolery takes a very personal approach to assisting the volunteers. “Say they might be interested in volunteering for Meals on Wheels, I will tell them what I know about the Meals on Wheels Program, and I usually try to go over with them at some point to introduce them to the people.”
Woolery said that volunteers who want to work in Sapulpa are sent to that organization, such as The Sapulpa Historical Museum, or the Creek County Literacy program, to obtain the details of what is required for the position that is open.
Besides recruiting volunteers, LSS sponsors a plethora of programs in the community that benefit children, as well as seniors.
“We have a backpack program for Allen Bowden, we had just had a big auction fundraiser to fund that program for next year. I gave 75 hats and scarf sets to Allen Bowden School at Christmastime.”
Creek County LSS also has a cadre of women who knit and crochet items for school children and seniors, and even have items made for cancer patients, and patriotic-colored items for veterans.
She pointed out that although she can help anyone who wants to volunteer, LSS primarily works with people 55 and older. Woolery stated there is always a need for volunteers.
“What I would like to emphasize is that anyone who is 55 and over who is interested in volunteering in the Sapulpa/Creek County area, contact me. If they want to learn about volunteer opportunities in our area, contact me.”
Woolery concluded by saying people feel they are obligated to certain hours, but that is not true in all cases. “They get to choose where they want to volunteer, the times they want to volunteer, and be informed of those places that might fit what they want.”
For more information about volunteering, call 918-227-3844 or email pwoolery@lifeseniorservices.org
For more information about Life Senior Services, go to: lifeseniorserives.org
