VOLUNTEERING FOR THE BRITISH HOME

Try volunteering: the person who benefits most may be you!

July 13, 2018 2:13 pm by admin

Greetings Peeps!

Are you feeling lost, stuck in a rut, the phone has stopped ringing? Burned out of the LA lifestyle? Feeling bored?

I know sounds a little impossible because there always something to do, right?

Doing good: Craig and the cast of Old Frenemies with residents at the British Home in Sierra Madre

But what about volunteering? There’s no better feeling than giving back, and especially to your community.

Last month the cast and director of “Old Frenemies” the play I was luckily to be involved with donated a performance to the British Home in Sierra Madre, located in the foothills above Pasadena.

It was a boiling hot day and logistics where a little problematic but all turned out alright in the end….when we were told what joy we had brought to the residents.

We spent some time with a few of them afterwards and sat and listened to their unique stories and how they had happened upon the West Coast. One woman Shanne, 84 had changed the spelling of her name upon arriving in 1948 because people couldn’t pronounce her rather welsh name of Sián. Doris, in her late 70s and originally from Lancashire was glad she was seated on the front row because she is hard of hearing and asked if we could do sign language. To which I replied “Unfortunately not.” “Oh good”, she said “I can’t understand that either.” A good British sense of humour. After some cheese and crackers and a glass of the fine table wine it was time for us to leave. “Come back soon, please”, asked Doris. “Life gets a bit monotonous here.” She said as she waved good bye.

Although the home is very well run and has lots of outdoor space and the rooms in which they live are kept clean and tidy, and they are kept busy with plenty of activities, like keep fit and card games, I couldn’t help thinking how great it would be if we had more talent to donate their time entertaining the elderly.

A few days later I got a follow up email from Kelly and Marlene who run the home, letting us know what a hit we were and how they are still talking about the play and to please come back soon.

So if you are a singer, a magician, a piano player, have a two header and/or have some time on your hands, please get in touch with me at craig@britsin.la and I will make an introduction to the home and see if we can get you in, and bring some joy to those who came before us and helped pave the way. I promise you it will make you feel better about yourself and perhaps help you reserve a spot at the home when you need it. Lol.

See you in a few weeks! 

Craig Young