"Angels" have invaded Muncie.
They don't fly. Instead, they write letters, visit the elderlyand more through AngelWorx.
"My girlfriends gave me the idea of using the penpal system tokeep in touch with the people we help," Vicki Maynard, founder ofthe program, said.
Since it began in 2000, AngelWorx has reached out to more than1,000 people. Its volunteers have ranged in ages from five to 90.Maynard said that in many cases, the people that have been helpedhave turned around and become volunteers themselves.
"The bottom line is that everybody needs to be needed," Maynardsaid.
"Regardless of the age of the person, watching them build arelationship with someone that they might not have otherwise hadthe opportunity to is the most rewarding part of my job," shesaid.
Karen Blank was one of the first volunteers to join theAngelWorx community. She and Maynard are close friends, and whenMaynard expressed an interest in starting the program, Blank saidshe would assist in any way she could.
Blank has adopted an 89-year-old woman who she calls often andvisits whenever she gets a chance.
"It's a way to give back to someone who enjoys having companywho can't get out themselves," Blank said.
AngelWorx is based in Yorktown and allows people, called"Angels," to serve their communities. They might be penpals,perform home visits, conduct telephone visits, go shopping or runerrands for the elderly and isolated people, who are referred to as"VIPs."
While teaming up with AngelWorx on Saturday, Student VoluntaryServices raked leaves for local residents.
"We focus on the elderly who can't do it for themselves or can'tafford it," Helen Stephenson, support staff member at theLeadership and Service Learning office, said.
Graduate assistant Kevin Zalanowski coordinated the leaf-rakingevent.
"(I) inherited an annual event," Zalanowski said. "I knew aboutit in late August. We are raking the the yards of 65 homes and twochurches, all in the Muncie area."
According to Zalanowski, 120 student organizations participatedin the annual event -- including social clubs, fraternities,sororities and student athletes.
Elderly homeowner Edna Newell said she was overjoyed to have herleaves raked.
"They've done it two or three years now," she said. "I sureappreciate it. They do three of my neighbors' yards right afteranother.
"I hope I'm still around for them to do it next year," she said,chuckling.
One branch of the AngelWorx program is called AngelCorps. Thisis designed for groups such as businesses, church congregations,social clubs and students to help those in need. Projects couldinclude light housekeeping, light yard work, minor home repairs,food drives, special projects and fund-raising activities.
TeenAngels is a branch of AngelWorx designed for teenagers andyoung adults ages 12 to 18 to help out with the same types of workas AngelCorps, along with teaching basic computer skills.
LittlestAngels is a program for children in elementary schoolsand allows them to write letters and draw pictures for theVIPs.
Another part of the AngelWorx program is called the RapidResponse Team.
These volunteers are on call at all times to help with weatherand emergencies that might arise.
The newest AngelWorx program is called ReliefAngels. Its purposeis to provide care for those who care for a loved one with along-term illness or disability. Volunteers try to relievecaregivers at least two hours a month.
Judy Rust is the manager of the LifeStream CareGiver program,which is the foundation of AngelWorx, and works closely withMaynard.
According to an article in the organization's newsletter, Rustsaid one-in-four people are caregivers, and that statistics showthat they usually spend an average of four-and-a-half years in caregiving, often 24 hours a day.
"ReliefAngels can go a long way toward making a real differencein the lives of those caregivers and their families," Rust wasquoted.
Anyone interested in ReliefAngels must complete a trainingprogram, fill out an application, sign a confidentiality agreement,submit to a background check and attend an orientation.Applications for the AngelWorx program are available online atwww.angelworx.org.
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