For Wendy Scheinfeld volunteering is a lifelong pursuit
Wendy Scheinfeld is the personification of the adage “If you want something done, ask a busy person.” A passionate volunteer throughout her life, Wendy has donated her time and energy to a wide range of charitable, religious, and community organizations throughout the Boston area. That tradition continued when she moved to Golda Meir House in Newton.
Wendy was the prime mover behind the popular music programs, movie night, and game night that have become fixtures at Golda Meir House. Need flyers distributed to all the residents? Count on Wendy to raise her hand.
“Being a volunteer is so natural for me,” Wendy says. “It’s not like work at all; it’s a joy. Every one of these activities has a benefit for me, too. It’s not a one-way street.”
This past summer, almost 100 2Life residents benefited from Wendy’s 11 years of experience as a volunteer docent at the Harbor Islands when she led two group trips to Spectacle Island, sharing her knowledge of this scenic park in Boston Harbor. “As a retired high school teacher, I’m used to class trips,” she says.
Volunteers like Wendy play an important role throughout 2Life Communities according to Diane Metzger, program manager at Golda Meir House. “Volunteering builds community in a way that a staff person cannot,” she explains. “It gives residents a sense of agency. We want them to be empowered and to know that this is their community.” Diane notes that recent volunteer initiatives have included a “Creative Connections” group that conducted an art exhibit, a low-vision support group, and a Russian- language movie series. She also points to the example of a 2Life knitting group that made lap blankets and donated them to a local charity for homeless children. “They made a real impact,” she says.
While Wendy Scheinfeld stays busy juggling her many activities outside 2Life, she says volunteering at Golda Meir House has helped her forge rewarding connections here as well: “The community at 2Life has become very important to me.”
