Singers, ukulele strummers, disc jockeys, dog handlers and a host of other volunteers with the Day-Break Club were honored Friday at a luncheon at Colony Cottage Recreation Center.
While the volunteers appreciated the food, entertainment and applause, they say the smiles they receive when volunteering are all the thanks they need.
“When I walk out of there, I feel 10 feet tall,” said Betsy Starr of the Village of Country Club Hills, who volunteers with the program.
The club is offered on Tuesday afternoons at Odell Recreation Center. The idea was to create a place where caregivers could leave their special needs charges while they enjoyed a little respite time.
The wildly popular program has a waiting list.
The program was born in a Villager’s living room, created by Villagers who wanted to make a difference in people’s lives. The Villages Recreation Department gave Day-Break a trial period in a recreation center which the volunteers and their program passed with flying colors.
Villager Sandra Ricciardi is a leader in the program which offers a wide variety of entertainment to Day Breakers. The goal is to make the programs so much fun that Day Breakers can’t wait to come back.
“When we come in they just go wild,” said Villager Marleen Wiggins of the Dynamic Dog Club. “They know all of the dogs by name.”
The dogs entertain Day Breakers with their tricks.
The musical performers who entertain Day Breakers say they love to dance.
“They will dance to anything,” said DJ Gerry Powers. “And let me tell you, they love to dance. It doesn’t matter if they are in wheelchairs or whatever.”
All of the volunteers said the joy of helping out at Day-Break is something they treasure.
“Some of them when they first come in can be a little shy,” said Villager Elaine Midgley. “I like to get close to them when they come in and help them get over it.”
Day-Break Club exists thanks to its volunteer force, Ricciardi said.
“We couldn’t do it without you,” she told the volunteers.
To learn more about the program, follow the link below:
http://www.day-break-club.com/
