Advertisement Beebe, a West Salem resident, said her mother provides her the motivation to help others through the Causeway Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers.
“My mother (now deceased) was terribly lonely and this (program) would have been a big help to her. I enjoy doing something for the community and others.” Besides, she was a nurse and she just likes helping people.
Causeway is a neighbors helping neighbors program supported by Bethany Lutheran Homes and 30 participating church congregations. Based in La Crosse but offering services throughout the county, Causeway provides volunteer and community services that enable elderly adults and adults with disabilities to maintain their independence, dignity and self worth.
Volunteers are matched with an adult to give assistance such as shopping or running errands for them, light housework, minor home repairs, respite care, transportation and many other services. Some volunteers just chat with the clients once a week or so or go to visit them to read a book or write letters for them while they dictate.
Services are provided without charge to recipients within La Crosse County. Currently, the organization has 400 volunteers that provide services to 1,100 clients. That’s all with a staff of only one full-time and one part-time employee and a budget of less than $100,000.
Most of the funding is provided by donations and grants. Bethany Lutheran Homes provides office space and equipment. The organization also hosts fundraisers throughout the year.
The organization started in 1986, when six North Side La Crosse churches realized they were seeing elderly falling through a widening gap between county and state services for mundane, everyday needs. Originally, the organization served only the city of La Crosse, but the program expanded to include the entire county in 1997.
According to Kim Kania, Causeway’s program director, the biggest challenges to the organization are finding volunteers for various needs. “Our volunteers get burned out,” Kania said. “Or they’ll take some time out to do something different or travel.”
Kania said transportation is also becoming a big issue because of fuel costs. “I really feel like people are dropping out of volunteering because of the gas prices,” she said.
Beebe has been with Causeway since it branched out. “I signed up originally to be a church coordinator,” Beebe said. “I’d call the volunteers once a month to find out how many hours they worked and I would fill out a report and send it (to La Crosse.)”
While Beebe is still the coordinator for the Presbyterian Church in West Salem, she also provides direct services to clients. She would be at the coordinator meetings and see the lists of needs and after matches of volunteers had been made by the staff, Beebe would see there were still people on the list needing something.
“I would say to myself ‘You know, it’s not that hard to pick up a phone once a week and call someone or drive someone somewhere. I’ll do it.’ I just like being with people and helping them with whatever they need, whether it’s going to the grocery store or just out for a ride or just to be a friend.”
Beebe likes the changes she sees in the people she helps. “It helps their mental outlook and functioning to have people who care enough to come see them,” she said. “When we’re in the home and see other things that could be improved, we might engage the family more or we might notify the county or the social worker about the needs.”
Bev Stuhr volunteers in the Onalaska area. She also has been a Causeway volunteer for more than 10 years. She has some clients for whom she provides transportation, either for groceries or doctor appointments. She also drives for the American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery program.
At 82, Stuhr feels lucky, and that’s why she volunteers. “I feel like I’m paying back for my good health and long life. That’s what I get out of it: satisfaction,” she said. “It’s a blessing, being able to get around at my age. I’ve already outlived my mother.”
Elda Stange volunteers in the Holmen area and doesn’t have as many years with Causeway, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t get the same satisfaction. “I just want to do this. I was a registered nurse and got very sick myself and was put on retirement disabilities,” Stange said.
“Originally,” she continued, “I wanted to go with clients to their doctor’s appointments so someone was there to hear what the doctor said and maybe ask questions. But the doctors won’t allow that if you’re not family.” So mostly she drives people around.
Stange said the cost of gas hasn’t affected her too much. But she doesn’t know what the clients would do if they had to pay.
Program director Kania said Causeway saves clients thousands of dollars, whether it is by providing wheelchair ramps, transportation, minor house repairs or whatever is needed. Mostly what is needed, Kania said is compassionate volunteers.
“We hear stories every day of people in need of all kinds of help. We try to help, but there are a lot of things we can’t do,” Kania said. “A lot of our funding comes from donations and fundraisers. We don’t ask our clients to pay for anything, but we will always accept donations.”
Volunteer opportunities with Causeway are posted on a Web site. The organization recently listed volunteer opportunities with the Great Rivers Volunteer Center. The Web site allows volunteers to quickly find the perfect volunteer opportunity through a unique search engine. For volunteer opportunities or service needs, call 775-9998.
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