First Posted: 3/7/2012
Asera Care Hospice senior provider relations manager Timmie Ott and Tami Graham annually seek volunteers to assist with Daffodil Days, the American Cancer Society’s largest fundraiser traditionally held the first week of spring. This year, fate intervened in the form of 16-year-old Clarks Summit resident, Brooke Storms, a junior at Abington Heights High School, who had been eager to volunteer for Hospice since 8th grade.
Storms explained, “It sounded interesting to be able to help, keep them (Hospice patients) company, and be present. So I asked my mom if I could be a volunteer, but I was too young (at the time).”
In October 2011, Storms became a volunteer at Asera Care Hospice, located at 749 Northern Blvd., Clarks Summit, as part of a school project but also to fulfill her desire to help. “We have our graduation project in our junior year (at Abington Heights High School) and one of the options for the project is volunteering, and my mind went to Hospice because that’s something I really want to volunteer for…It’s rewarding in and of itself to be with her (referring to her visit with a Hospice patient). As a Hospice volunteer, Storms has visited patients and will also assist with the upcoming Daffodil Days.
Daffodil Days will be held March 19-25 from Our Lady of the Snows Church, 301 South State Street, Clarks Summit. For more than 20 years, Ott and Graham have served as co-chairpeople for Daffodil Days.
Storms’ role in the upcoming Daffodil Days fundraiser will include posting fliers, selling daffodils at school and wrapping the daffodils with assistance from her friends. Volunteers will prepare approximately 1,000 daffodils for distribution to businesses and individuals who have placed orders. Daffodils will also be available for sale at other locations in the Abingtons, including the Waverly Community House, Pennstar Banks in Dalton and Clarks Green, Sanderson State Street, State Street Grill and Caravia Fresh Foods.
Ott said, “Because Brooke is in school we thought it would be a good idea for her to help us with the Daffodils. The students like to get involved because they know it’s making a difference.”
Storms has plans to continue as a Hospice volunteer after completion of her project.
The daffodils will be wrapped March 20 and delivered on March 21 and 22. Drivers are needed to help to deliver daffodils March 21 in the morning. Anyone interested in volunteering with Daffodil Days is asked to call Graham at 570.586.4060.
Daffodils are $10 per bunch and proceeds from the sale are donated to the American Cancer Society.