Volunteer makes mark
Sister Alice O’Connell has only been in Fayette County since July of 2003 but she’s done a lot in the short time she’s been here. A month after arriving she became a full-time student at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus. Because of her background in nursing she first volunteered with Rendu Services, a group that is located in Dunbar. It provides outreach services to the medically underserved. She assisted with blood pressure screenings at designated sites throughout Fayette County.
With an interest in working with the elderly population, she began to focus on the needs of local senior citizens. As a result she became involved with Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers the Fayette County Housing Authority’s Adult Day Care Center and the St. Vincent de Paul Store in Uniontown.
As an Ombudsman Program volunteer, she visits nursing and personal care homes to ensure compliance with state standards of care policies. She also accompanied social workers during home visits and cleaned homes, did grocery shopping and paid bills to help maintain them in their homes.
In addition to her volunteer work, Sister Alice has coordinated and organized activities with the PSU Nursing Department, Student Government Association and the American Heart Association. She also volunteers with the Columbia Gas CAP Program (Energy Assistance Program), where she interviews and enrolls clients in the program and makes referrals.
For her efforts, Sister Alice has been selected to receive a Fayette County Community Service All-Star Award. She is among eight local students being honored by putting forth an extra effort to make a difference in their communities. The students come from Uniontown, Laurel Highlands, Brownsville, Connellsville, Albert Gallatin and Geibel high schools along with Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus and Laurel Business Institute.
The students were nominated by the schools on the basis of their grade-point average and community services. Frazier High School and the West Virginia Career Institute didn’t nominate a student for the award.
The students will receive a $500 check to help them with their college costs. A captain will be selected from among the eight students to receive an extra $100. The captain will be selected by the organizing committee event, which includes Alyssa Trynock, Jes Hutson, Leda Gismondi, John Evans and Harry Brownfield.
The students will be honored at a breakfast at the Sun Porch restaurant on Wednesday, May 10. Trynock will be the master of ceremonies.
Her volunteer services have drawn much praise from agency officials.
“Sister Alice is a sensitive and caring individual who readily reaches out to those in need,’ said Sister Margaret Tuley, executive director of Rendu Services. “It has been a pleasure to know and work with Sister Alice, and I look forward to a continued relationship.’
“One of our exceptionally dedicated volunteers is Sister Alice O’Connell,’ said Roy Sarver, executive director of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
“On a daily basis, I see the suffering and loneliness of those in need in the county. It is tremendous. I see millions of dollars being spent to fight this poverty one of the worst in Pennsylvania,’ added Sarver. “Yet, the only change in statistics will be when one individual at a time comes forward to make a difference like Sister Alice.’
Sister Alice downplays her role, noting that she gets as much as she gives.
“I have met many compassionate people who minister through social service agencies. As a volunteer, I am blessed to participate in their activities, offering them support and encouragement as together we serve those most in need of respect and dignity,’ said Sister Alice.
“Ultimately I have learned that it is not necessary to go outside your community to make a difference, if you pay attention to the needs of the people around you,’ she concluded.
(Editor’s note: This is the fifth in a series of eight stories)