This article by Chris Wilson was reprinted with permission from the November 2003 edition of The Amory (Miss.) Advertiser.
Sarah McCain is making a difference.
The 13-year-old Becker girl volunteers each Friday at the Beverly [Healthcare] Nursing Home, interacting with the residents and helping the staff. According to Dian Lindsey, Beverly Recreational Services Director, there is nothing that Sarah won’t do at the nursing home to help.
McCain’s spirit of volunteerism has not gone unnoticed. She recently received the President’s Student Service Award. The national gold award is given to outstanding youth volunteers who have performed at least 100 hours of service in a 12-month period and meet other criteria of the program that was originated by former President George Bush in 1992.
McCain, who is homeschooled, arrives at the nursing home like clockwork each week, putting in about three hours a week. During a four-month period, McCain had volunteered 174 hours, Lindsey said. “But it was probably a lot more than that because she sometimes helps with things and doesn’t even put her time down on her card.” She has been volunteering at the facility for two years.
“She’s a very special child,” Lindsey says about McCain.
When volunteering, McCain visits many of the residents who are confined to their rooms, bringing them a cheerful smile and companionship. Sometimes she carries her keyboard and plays music for them. Other times she listens to their interesting tales of the good old days, and other times she helps with organized games and socials that are being held. Her favorite thing is hearing them tell her stories about when they were growing up.
Other things she helps with include putting up calendars, making holiday decorations, blowing up birthday balloons and just generally doing whatever needs to be done.
McCain said she had learned about volunteering there from another homeschooled friend. “I enjoy it,” she said. “I had never worked with the elderly before.”
McCain, one of seven children, is the daughter of Lisa and Bobby McCain. When she isn’t volunteering at the nursing home, she is working with the homeschool group, doing church activities at Meadowood Baptist, or helping out around the house.
She said she knows she receives as much as she gives by working with the elderly residents. She likes having one of the residents teach her how to crochet, and enjoys playing checkers with one of the men.
Lindsey describes McCain as a nurturer. “And she’s just a quiet, natural leader. She has a lot of wisdom about her for such a young person.” At a special reception held in McCain’s honor recently, Lindsey said she cried when she tried to tell about how special Sarah really is.
McCain said she has made good friends with many of the residents, and admits that it is sad to come in to volunteer and learn that they’ve died. But she continues on in spite of it, offering her smile and assistance to others.
“I hope through what I do they will see Christ’s love,” she said.
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