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June Landreth poses with her dog, Gretchen, on Thursday. Landreth serves as a volunteer at the Adult Day Care Center at Hutchins Street Square. (Pam Bauserman/News-Sentinel)

A watchful eye

Volunteer enjoys listening to, interacting with seniors at adult day care

By Pam Bauserman
News-Sentinel Staff Writer
Friday, November 7, 2008 6:35 AM PST

When June Landreth's youngest daughter was still in elementary school in 1974, she went to work volunteering for the former Community Hospital in Lodi. After the hospital was sold, she and the other volunteers were approached by Terri Whitmire, who is now the director of the Adult Day Services Center at Hutchins Street Square. Landreth joined the center as a volunteer for the daycare and thinks it was the best decision she has ever made.

"I really enjoy the daycare. It's just the other end of life," she said. "You never know what they are going to say. They all have interesting lives."

Q: What is your role as a volunteer there?

A: We help feed them, but it's mostly to listen. You are kind of the patient contact, the buffer between the hospital, doctor and the patient.

Q: What is the most interesting story you have heard?

A: We do crafts. At one time, there was a well-known man, who had a stroke and couldn't talk well. We were making dolls and I was putting the hair on this doll and laid it down on the floor. It was naked. He wanted me to put the pantaloons on the doll. He didn't want it laying around with no clothes on. I felt that was pretty good that he had a stroke and still realized that.

Q: What goals do you hope to help them accomplish at the Senior Center?

June Landreth at a glance

Age: 77.
Family: Three children and six grandchildren.
Occupation: Worked at the library as an aid for about 10 years.
Hobbies: Sewing, dogs, working in the yard, scrapbooking and collecting.

A: One thing is to keep them open. If I hear of any donations being made or anything, I speak up. That's the main thing. It's the best thing for this town. We have so many senior citizens.

Q: What are your future personal goals?

A: To get all these projects that I have started finished.

Q: What is rewarding about volunteering at the Senior Center?

A: The interaction between our clients is the most rewarding. The caregivers have to get away from the constant care and so we tell them to just leave (the clients). To see the interaction between our clients and to watch the ones who were scared to stay and then end up reaching out and fitting in is rewarding. That's our job, to keep an eye on them.

Q: Do you volunteer for any other groups?

A: Not anymore. Years ago, I worked at the Hut at St. John's. It was a thrift shop.

Q: What is the best decision you have ever made?

A: Staying in Lodi because when my husband died I had family here. The biggest help was from the volunteers who said, "Don't sell your house." It was good for the children and good for me.

Q: What has been the most memorable moment while volunteering there?

A: They would have these Christmas parties and one of the girls would dress up as Santa. I would make stockings and fill them. To see (the clients') expressions at Christmas when they got them. Also, once when we were coloring eggs, we had a client who was always drinking the colored water. I said, "I'm not going to go home and tell their kids why her lips are purple."

Q: If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?

A: I'd like to have another dinner with my husband, if possible.

Q: What is your biggest indulgence?

A: Fabric, quilt shows and craft shows. I'm not really a fur or jewelry person. And my car, I just want it to go where I want it to go.

Q: What is the last book you read?

A: The best book I just read is "Can't Wait to Get to Heaven." It's a really cute book. There is one I'm reading now, "Stone Cold." I always have to have a book going.

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