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BY BETTE PORE OF THE PLAINSMAN or almost seven years the Huron Advocacy aoe has provided friends to people with disabilities in the Huron area. Volunteer advocates “adopt” a disabled person who is at risk of social isolation. They then get involved in their partner’s life, encouraging him to develop his inter ests and providing opportunities for greater independence. “Many of the people served haven’t any way to take advantage of communi events,” coordinator Dana Meyers said. “Many have no family and need a friend to give them an opportunity for socializa tion. They’re aware that they’re left out.” The program which has 25 volunteers from Huron, Cavour and Wolsey, will hold an open house from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the YWCA to introduce the program to others. “I’m wen people will be interes enough to come down and talk to us,” Meyers said. “If they’re interested in be ing a volunteer, I would be glad to contact them lalone The program began in 1986, when a board was formed to over see it. Board members for the past year were Vern Kahre, president; bebe Pugsley, vice president; Lou Hamilton, treasurer; Lenora Olsen, proc BX. Mahowald, Georgia Langbehn, Phillip Tiernan, Ruth Rynearson and Joyce Han non. Kahreley and Tiernan have been involved with the advocacy program from its beginning. Meyers works with the Huron Area Ad justment Training Center and Social Ser vices to find people who need friends. There are always more people who need help, so the program is always seeking new volunteers. “The small word ‘friendship’ holds a world of meaning when it’s shared with someone special,” he said. “Helping bring this heartfelt of friendship into the lives of the developmentally dis abled is the main goal of the Huron Advo cacy Program.” She noted that the program is different from other volunteer programs in that the volunteer is encouraged to develop a primary loyalty to the person he or she is ae for, rather than to the organi zation itself. Advocate Connie Ross of Huron said her partner has made her feel good about ae aele, such as the de velopmentally disabled. “I've made lots of class just by being his friend,” she said. She takes her partner to elementary and high school concerts, community plays and out for dinner, providing social eee he otherwise wouldn’t ave. Cathy Bambenek, who has been an ad vocate for more than two years, takes her partner out for ice cream and shopping, as well as invites her to her home for hol idays, meals or just a change of scenery from the group home where she lives. “She’s special to me,” Bambenek said. “She doesn’t take to change very well, but I’m ho knowing now that she feels comfortable in my home. She needed an advocate desperately.” Ross said the best thing about being an advocate has been the response of her partner. “He nates everythi ‘ou do,” she said, makes us laugh . DONA MEYERS
Newspaper Details
Huron Plainsman
Huron, South Dakota, US
Thu, Jan 21, 1993
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Jamie P.
USA 27 Jul 2026
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