AmeriCorps Seniors go hands-on in first ever basic skills class at SCC
Southeastern Community College hosted a RSVP Basic Skills: Disaster Preparedness and Financial Planning class on May 18. It highlighted disaster relief volunteer opportunities and estate planning advice alongside practical, hands-on learning in automotive systems and hand-stitching. This free class came at the request of the AmeriCorps Seniors/RSVP Advisory Council, and it had 20 senior volunteers participate.
Senior volunteers started the morning with sessions led by David Higgins of SCC on automotive care, Vicky Sasser of Catholic Charities on disaster preparedness and Sanatayana Seabrook on hand stitching and sewing.
“We started off with some myths about oil, and that got the class really engaged,” Higgins said. “And they asked me a ton of questions about a ton of different things involving oil weight and synthetic versus conventional. Then we headed over to the shop to get hands-on experience with checking tire pressure.”
Higgins demonstrated how to check tire dates, oil level and transmission fluid level. He held discussions on hybrid and electric vehicles, how to service them and the pros and cons of keeping them powered. Higgins was most impressed with the level of engagement and number of questions asked during his class time with the senior citizens.
“I was amazed at the fact that they were really interested in how to take care of a vehicle,” said Val Ellis, AmeriCorps Seniors/RSVP Director. “Every session we had was great, and the speakers thought they were only going to speak for five or 10 minutes. They ended up speaking at least 30 minutes with most going to 45 minutes.”
Ellis echoed Higgins on the high level of engagement and questions asked throughout the day. She said that Sasser’s presentation explored the services that Catholic Charities provides to disaster-stricken people. Sasser explained how the senior volunteers could apply their service hours to volunteering with Catholic Charities, especially when mobile units were brought in to wash clothes for the unsheltered population of this area.
Seabrook brought samples of materials already started for the senior volunteers to get hands-on experience in sewing buttons back onto a piece of fabric. With needle and thread, Seabrook demonstrated how to hem without the thread showing through the other side.
Additional presentations included hospital needs and benefits from Shauna Treadaway of Columbus Regional Healthcare System (CRHS) and trust and estate planning from Shannon Ward of State Employees’ Credit Union.
The program also featured remarks from college leadership including SCC President Dr. Chris English, Executive Vice President Dr. Brandon Jenkins, Vice President Ibreta Jackson and Associate Vice President Angie Ransom. English thanked the volunteers for their hours of service, and he enjoyed seeing them on campus and out in the community.
“Shauna talked about volunteer opportunities at the hospital that did not involve patient interaction,” Ellis said. “Volunteers can help in the Sunshine Shop and at the front desk reception area. If they volunteer for four hours at the hospital, they get a free meal valued at $12.50. There are also two appreciation events each year.”
Rounding out the day, Ward’s presentation focused on trusts and estates. Ward emphasized the importance of getting an estate attorney rather than relying on free material found online when planning end-of-life arrangements.
“One of the key takeaways from this experience was that I should have planned two hours for the automotive session because they were not wanting to leave the shop,” Ellis said. “I even had one volunteer ask if there was a class she could take, not for a degree, but just a general auto repair class.”
Ellis’ favorite part of the class was the “excitement of the volunteers.” She said that everyone was “hungry for more information.” She hopes this basic skills class becomes a routine event at SCC, and she would like to see something similar taught at the senior centers around Columbus County.
Attendees enjoyed door prize giveaways supported by community sponsors including Food Lion, Lowes, Black’s Tire, Walmart, Columbus Regional Healthcare System (CRHS), Anna’s Tex-Mex, Dale’s Seafood, Sub-Sational, Jersey Mike’s, Joe’s Old Fashioned Barbeque and the State Employees’ Credit Union. Each participant received a goodie bag that included pouched meat, cereal, fruit, a canned vegetable, flashlight, Band-Aids, sewing kit and measuring tape.
Are you a senior citizen looking for volunteer opportunities? Contact the AmeriCorps Seniors/RSVP office at 910-788-6324 to find out more information.
