Submitted by: Miranda van Rooyen, RSVP Program Director
John and Lynda Hesler are lifelong residents of Lima who have recently joined the volunteer program through the Area 3 Agency on Aging. John retired from Ford Motor Company and then enjoyed 10 years in sales with the Tom Ahl Family of Dealerships. Lynda had received a degree in Social Work from Ohio Northern University. She then worked for juvenile court and in long term care, including a brief time with the Agency of Aging prior to their marriage. When their daughters were older, she went back to work in long term care and then positions in accounting and law firms.
Since both of their retirements during the past 7 years, they have enjoyed being more involved in activities and volunteering with Shawnee Alliance Church, where they have been members for over 15 years. Last summer at a church luncheon, a representative from the Allen County Council on Aging spoke about volunteer opportunities with seniors in the community. Over the next few days, John and Lynda both felt that they wanted to do more to serve the seniors in our community and then contacted the Area Agency on Aging 3 office.
The were connected with the Retired Senior Volunteer Program at Area Agency on Aging 3. They were soon working with the West Ohio Food Bank and have been delivering monthly food boxes to seniors who are unable to pick them up at the WOFB office.
They both agree that they receive much more then they give through this opportunity. Every time they have spent the morning doing deliveries, they have enjoyed meeting, getting to know, and usually sharing a lot of laughter with recipients of the boxes in just those short visits. John and Lynda look forward to assisting in meeting other needs through the volunteer program and strongly encourage others to become involved in these local volunteer opportunities.
For information about the programs at Area Agency on Aging 3 please call the agency at 419-222-7723.