HAMLET
VOLUNTEERS
FIND REWARDS
SATISFYING

Hamlet Village resident Virginia Fry finds that volunteering her time is good therapy. "It just makes me feel so good!" An ambassador at the retirement complex in Chagrin Falls, Mrs. Frey reads to the sight impaired and hosts biannual tea parties for the ladies of the community. She is one of many individuals at Hamlet who gives of her time freely and expects nothing in return. "I dearly love doing this. I always said that when I retire I was going to do something for the blind. That fills a void in me."

She joined volunteers from throughout the community at Hamlet Village's Atrium on February 20th for a gathering with U.S. Representative Steven LaTourette, who issued a proclamation honoring their service. Those being honored included Hamlet residents, as well as members of churches and schools throughout the Chagrin Valley.

Sue Mansour, a resident of South Russell and mother of two, said that her volunteering at Hamlet began casually when she started hanging out at the Atrium and helping the Activities Director do projects. From there, she began working with a resident in the apartments suffering from macular degeneration, with such activities as reading her checkbook and her mail.

"I spend two hours with her once a week. I love her. She's become a very good friend." At Christmas, they visited Holly Hall together to look at the trees. "I've become someone she could call on if she needs something. We've become such good friends that I don't look at this as an obligation.

Mrs. Mansour has also been involved in Meals on Wheels. "I love spoednoing time with older people. I get along with them so well. I forsee myself getting more and more involved as my children are up and out.... Like anyone, you feel really good when you do something to brighten someone's day. You go home feeling good about yourself and them."

"This is
the kind
of thing
that makes
residents'
lives here
more
enriched
mentally,
physically,
and
culturally."

Jean Hood
Director of Marketing
at Hamlet

Hillside resident, Barbara Taggart, is the former owner of Taggart’s, a high quality toy store on Main Street in Chagrin Falls. Barbara ran the store for 40 years and has made many contributions to the Chagrin Valley community. She is a very hard worker and achiever and she says “I earned every penny that I am now enjoying!”

In her 40’s, her fiancé, Norman, hitchhiked out to California to get a job. He sent Barbara $90 to come out and marry him. He was an aeronautical engineer for Northrop. Barb’s father was an engineer at Glen L. Martin Aircraft in Cleveland and her mother was a librarian in Shaker Heights.

Barbara and Norman had three children and returned to Cleveland and bought a toy store in Solon. The store on Main Street became available and they bought that too, running mom and pop toy and hobby businesses. They later closed the Solon store. Barbara started buying collectibles: Steiff, Corgi, Dinky, and Madam Alexander. Son, Terry, was in Viet Nam, daughter Trudy was in college, daughter Trish was home, and Barbara worked from dawn to dusk. Barbara would come back to the store after dinner and work. The police would come in and check on her!

Barbara has been a member of the Chamber for 40 years, Downtown Chagrin falls, Historical Society, and Holiday Traditions. She was awarded the highest honor in town, the Jaycees Distinguished Service Award. Helen Strang, who owned the Village Exhange, was able to get Barb to come to the dinner by saying that she (Helen) was receiving an award. When they announced Barbara’s name, it took awhile to sink in.  She kept saying, “Are they talking about me?” Barbara and Hillside resident Bebe Ober were appointed Grand Marshalls of the Blossom Time Parade a few years ago.

Barbara is involved in many activities in the community. She plays bridge with the Federated Church’s Elderlife group each week. She is an active member of Chagrin Valley Women’s Club and goes on trips and programs at the Family Life Center. “At 89, you better have a church!” Barbara has a personal trainer that she works with at the Jewish Community Center twice a week and swims there also one day a week. She works out in her apartment daily as well. She walks her rescue poodle there also one day a week. “I do as much as I can to stall off aging!”

Laurie Fox is the life enrichment director at Hamlet. She has been in the position for three years now and the residents adore her. Laurie oversees enrichment programs with Hector and interacts with independent living residents. She plans outings to museums, lunches, Cleveland Playhouse, Cleveland Botanical Gardens, and Western Reserve Historical Society, just to name a few.

She organizes instructors that teach tai chi, exercise, art therapy, and water exercise. She schedules and organizes Case Western University classes, birthday parties and anniversary parties. She schedules musical entertainment and a multitude of programs to educate and entertain Hamlet residents. Laurie coordinates volunteers to work with different residents and help with events. She supervises the transportation department, scheduling transportation to hair and doctor appointments, shopping, recreational trips and Village trips. She works with driving staff members Mark Brumley, who is transportation supervisor, Priscilla Rumplik, and Annetta Cothron.  Laurie has a big job. She is very organized and able to manage everything and make it look easy.

Laurie graduated from Bowling Green with a Masters in Education and a focus on recreation and leisure studies. She lives in Macedonia with her husband, Nate, and cat, Tiki. She likes to crochet, exercise, spend time with her family, garden, and travel.

Laurie likes working at Hamlet because no one day is the same. She finds the Hamlet residents so interesting. She loves to hear about their backgrounds, careers, travel and families. She loves seeing our active residents. “It’s all about the attitude. Our residents push themselves to stay active. That’s why they are so healthy.” She feels she has had some influence on enriching their lives. Her favorite field trip is the Amish trip in the fall.

Laurie is most proud of the Hamlet chair volleyball team. She has watched them make progress and work as a team becoming very serious and dedicated. She has also enjoyed watching the progression of the Women’s Gathering monthly dinners that are organized by the residents.

She estimates that 75% of Hamlet residents participate in osme kind of activity at Hamlet, whether it is social, mental, physical, or educational.