Volunteering allows me to be of service to my community

“How can I help you?”

When was the last time you heard those five simple words? My next question may be even harder to answer: When was the last time you asked someone how you could help them?

When I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in January 2017, I was gainfully employed. I had retired from my first career in law enforcement almost 20 years earlier and transitioned into federal government contracting, leveraging my experience to succeed in business.

When I was diagnosed that January, I was the senior vice president at a business that provided investigative services to the federal government. By the fall of that year, in consultation with my care team, I went out on disability at age 59.

This is not how I had imagined my life would go. I truly enjoyed my work, and leaving my career was difficult. Hobbies, such as amateur radio, helped me cope and gave me a chance to engage with people, but something was still missing. I missed the opportunity to be of service to others.

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Giving back to my community

It was at the 2019 Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) Summit that Glenda Rouland, a PFF ambassador, encouraged me to apply to the ambassador program. I applied and was selected in 2020. Unfortunately, COVID-19 had just begun to sweep across the U.S., so the program went virtual.

Ambassadors serve three-year terms and may be patients, caregivers, transplant recipients, family members, or those who have lost a loved one. Following training, they have the opportunity to share their story with a variety of audiences, ranging from support groups to medical students.

Although my term has passed, I remain engaged as an ambassador emeritus. If the program interests you, you can apply for the 2026 cycle through May 1.

There are many other ways to volunteer. For example, my wife, Susan, volunteers once a week at the Louisa County Resource Council food pantry, providing staffing support to community members who rely on the program to supplement their food needs.

Several days a week, I volunteer at the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office through the Volunteers in Police Services, or VIPS, program. I provide staffing for the sheriff’s substation, interfacing with the public there and through a variety of programs and community events, such as neighborhood watch and worship watch meetings.

I’m also involved in Virginia’s Triad program, a cooperative effort among law enforcement, senior support organizations, and the senior community, which focuses on informing and educating older adults to help prevent them from becoming victims of crime and fraud. My local Triad group recently hosted a senior expo where vendors offered services important to the senior community.

Volunteer Recognition Day occurs in April each year. If you are interested in volunteering but don’t know where to start, try searching “volunteer opportunities” online. I think you’ll be surprised by some of the results. Youth organizations, senior homes, hospitals, historical sites, and community organizations all rely on volunteers.

In my state, Serve Virginia provides a list of volunteer centers. Take an inventory of your skills and things you enjoy doing to help you find the right opportunity for you.

I enjoy teaching, and I was trained to teach a Narcan (naloxone HCl) course. This program trains people on the use of Narcan, which can rapidly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. I teach other courses, too, all of which are opportunities to serve my community.

Now, what about you? What skills can you share with others? It shouldn’t be a chore, but rather something you enjoy. I will continue to volunteer to make every breath count.

Note: Pulmonary Fibrosis News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Pulmonary Fibrosis News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to pulmonary fibrosis.