“The Power of Giving: Stories of Volunteerism” – Story #7

Jeff Rich is a 16 year-old sophomore at Stamford High School. While a seemingly typical teenage boy, one year ago he began a teen volunteer program at the Richard L. Rosenthal Hospice Residence (run by Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care of Southwestern CT, Inc.). Jeff’s grandmother had been a resident there when he was 8 years old and the experience of visiting her there had a big impact. For Jeff, the hospice isn’t a place for people to go to die, but for people to live out their final days in dignity. Jeff volunteers there every Sunday and has organized a team of ten other teen volunteers, who undergo training and commit to four hours of service a month. Jeff also volunteers as a weekly playmate for a teen-age autistic boy. Jeff Rich was recently named a 2009 Hero by the American Red Cross of Lower Fairfield County.

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