For the Rapids City Times

It’s been said that when you volunteer, you receive much more than you give.  That certainly is the case for David Arendt when he began volunteering for Park Place Adult Day Services.

Park Place Adult Day Services, located inside the Centralia Center, is a “supervised day program for dependent adults providing daily activities and socialization.”  The staff can serve any vulnerable or dependent adult, and they specialize in dementia care.

In Feb.2017, Park Place contracted with Edgewater Haven to provide hot meals to its clients.  That’s when Janet Arendt, Edgewater Haven’s dietician, asked her husband David to please deliver the meals.

“She said she couldn’t pay me,” said David, “that it would be on a volunteer basis.”

Now, Monday through Friday, David travels to Edgewater Haven to pick up the insulated delivery bags filled with hot meals and drops them off at Park Place.

Each client at Park Place has a disability that prevents him/her from staying home alone, which puts a strain on caregivers.  Park Place provides a place for dependent adults to go during the day so caregivers can run errands, go to work, or other essential life activities.

“I give the staff a lot of credit,” said David.  “It’s a tough job to take care of the clients.  But Park Place offers an alternative to caregivers who are looking for help for their loved ones.  They get good care here.”

For more information on volunteer opportunies, visit www.volunteerinnerwisc.org or call United Way’s Volunteer Center at 715-421-0390.