Posted April 17, 2025
When people think about the word “volunteering”, many would think of helping those in need and making a positive impact in the community, but what most don't think about is how it impacts the life of the volunteer.
Meet Wilma Miles, a participant at St. Martine de Porres Family Center (SMDP) and volunteer for the senior program.
After a career in social work, Wilma and her friends decided to try out the activities the senior program at St. Philip Neri Family Center had.
“I met some friends, and they said that they were going to a senior center.” Wilma said.
Even though at first Wilma didn’t think that she would be attending regularly, she surprised herself.
“I thought, this is not me coming to something like this,” Wilma said, “but after I got involved, I met friends. I met people in my age group. We understood each other...”
Unfortunately, St. Philip Neri Family Center closed, but the senior program was brought over to combine with the SMDP senior program.
Once Wilma got comfortable at SMDP, she started getting more involved with the programming.
One of the things that she helps with is getting everyone’s lunch orders.
“I go around to each person, and I find out... do they want the hot meal we’re serving, or would they like the alternative,” Wilma said.
She also mentions that the alternative lunch is usually a boxed lunch with a sandwich or a salad.
In addition, Wilma can connect back to her roots in social work by helping her peers in any way she can.
“We have some people that are very independent, and we have come people that are not so much,” Wilma said, “sometimes I look out for them and try to help them out or make a recommendation,”
Wilma remembers the story of a woman who asked her to pray with her after sharing that her son, who is developmentally disabled, was getting into some trouble, and she did.
“I have a reputation of ‘Wilma Miles will pray with you,’ and I will.” Wilma said.
While doing the work she does, she thinks about a scripture that talks about helping those in need.
“So, if you can help somebody, if you can volunteer, to help out, to do something... it’s in the scripture to do that,” Wilma said.
Volunteering with the senior program has not only helped the staff at SMDP, but Wilma has learned about how senior programs work.
“I’ve learned so much being here at Catholic Charities how senior programs work. I didn’t know how that worked,” Wilma said. “It’s been wonderful for me being here,”
Volunteering has a lifetime impact on everyone involved and can create a chain reaction to make the world a better place.
Catholic Charities offers various volunteer opportunities. To learn more, click the button below.
Part of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland
