MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis.— On World Kindness Day you may be thinking of a simple way to give back. Eras Senior Network is looking for volunteers to help out the senior community with drivers to help run errands.
Mike McBride has been a volunteer with Eras Senior Network for the past 20 years. For the past few months, he has been holding a steady routine each Friday going to Costco and loading up his gold SUV with groceries. But the groceries aren’t for him, they are for Daniel.
Daniel is a senior living with mental health issues and needs assistance getting groceries each week. This is why each Friday, Mike goes to pick up groceries for Daniel as a volunteer with Eras Senior Network. Helping those in need do something as simple as stock up on groceries for the week.
“It gives you a great feeling knowing you are helping someone in need and Daniel is every very grateful for me doing his shopping every Friday afternoon,” Eras Senior Network Volunteer, Mike McBride says.
This week it’s only a few groceries from Costco, Daniel says he didn’t mean much. But that doesn't take away how important these groceries are for Daniel.
“Having a volunteer get my groceries for me each week is crucial. I mean how else would I do it? I don’t have a car, I don’t have a license,” Eras Senior Network Customer, Daniel Belan says.
However, over the past three months, it’s been more than just a grocery delivery; it’s been the building of a friendship as well. Volunteers like Mike are in high demand, Eras serves around 1,500 seniors in Milwaukee and Waukesha County, and need 100 more volunteers.
“We have so many folks calling us on a weekly basis requesting rides so to know we could have enough volunteers to meet their needs on a weekly basis that would be wonderful,” Eras Senior Network Development Director, Heather Uzowulu says.
For more information on how to become a volunteer with Eras Senior Network, click here.