Contact: Natalie Usher

Mission Statement: The mission of the St. Frances by the Sea - Friendly Visitors Ministry is to visit the elderly in both facilities and homes in our parish area.  The facilities can include assisted living and full skilled nursing homes in addition to private homes.  These visits bring hope, faith, and love to those in need of companionship .  Our volunteers provide socialization and mental stimulation and prayers to those who are lonely.  This ministry has joined the students of St Frances Catholic School to visit facilities and together the students complete an activity with the residents.  These visits bring so much joy to the elderly in addition to teaching our students the importance of caring for the aged in our community.

Friendly Visitor Volunteers: The time commitment can vary depending on your availability.  You establish your level of commitment.  It can be as little as an hour once a month , or two visits a month, etc.   Volunteers will shadow a team member to a facility to train.  You always work in a group. The committee has worked closely with the Activities Director at each facility and has established an area of need.  Volunteers once trained, are matched with a parish area long term care facility . The activities can include, crafts, music, calling bingo numbers, or simply a social porch chat. We try to tap into your talents and take advantage of those talents shining for our elderly . 

Volunteer Qualifications: Volunteers must by 21 years or older, be dependable, able to listen and communicate with empathy, sensitive to the needs and concerns of the sick and elderly, able to maintain confidentiality, genuinely interested and enthusiastic about working with older adults, and are willing to share/witness faith, honest.  The ideal volunteer is mature, respectful and responsible, sociable, motivated, patient, trustworthy, able to set limits, and comfortable with establishing a relationship with an older person.

Volunteer Requirements: Volunteers visit their assigned resident for a minimum of one hour per week and commit to one year of service.  Visitation time and duration are at the volunteer’s discretion.

Safe Environment Requirements:  All volunteers in the Friendly Visitor Ministry must complete the Safe Haven - It's Up To You online training.  Information about the Safe Haven - It's Up To You online training can be found on the Safe Environment web page along with the Diocesan screening forms.  This ministry also requires the volunteer to fill out Background Screening Forms along with the Driver's Screening Forms - you must also attach a copy of your driver's license and a copy of your Car Insurance Declarations Page.

Upcoming Activities:

Friendly Visiting Referrals

If you know of a resident who would benefit from a friendly visit, you are encouraged to make a referral to Merideth Johnson in the office or you may contact us through the form below.