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Faith in Action organization reaches out to Clarke County
Thanks to a local organization called Faith in Action, Jim gets transported safely to and from his dialysis, free of charge.
Winchester-Frederick-Clarke County Faith in Action describes itself as an interfaith volunteer care-giving program, established in 2003, focused on helping with transportation for people who are unable to get to and from needed medical appointments. The Arbogasts are the first Clarke County people to benefit from Faith in Action, which recently began serving Clarke County.
"Our board of directors voted and unanimously decided we wanted to move into Clarke," Morrison said, adding that the need is great.Faith in Action volunteer driver Mike Morrison, of Stephens City, said that Clarke County-based FISH provides similar services and that the Faith in Action board decided with FISH that it would try to do whatever needed to be done that FISH was unable to fulfill.
Last Friday afternoon, Morrison drove Jim home from his four hour dialysis session and helped him get out of the car and maneuver his walker through the snow and into his home, located in western Clarke County.
Geneva Arbogast arrived at the door, smiling and thanking Morrison.
"It has really helped us out," she said of the program.Morrison is one of 96 volunteers actively involved with the program. Twenty-six church congregations support the program by providing financial support or volunteers.
Most of the volunteers are retired people, Morrison explained. He is a retired educator who now describes himself as a "professional career volunteer."
"I do something every day," he said.Morrison and the Arbogasts have become friends through Faith in Action. Morrison and Jim discovered that they grew up in neighboring West Virginia counties, and they enjoy having something in common.
Geneva, who was born in Clarke County, said she heard about the program through her granddaughter, who lives in Winchester and was visiting for Thanksgiving. She contacted Faith in Action and explained her husband’s health needs.
"A week later, we got help," Geneva said.Faith in Action gives highest priority to cancer patients, followed by dialysis clients. People with other medical needs are also assisted.
The volunteers come from different denominations and religions, Morrison said, but they share a common goal of simply wanting to help.
Geneva remembered a time when Jim had to go to the hospital. When Faith in Action volunteers heard that she was unable to drive herself there to visit him, a volunteer named Bill Lawrence arrived to bring her to and from the hospital.
"I was really shocked," Geneva said. "I was worried to death about my husband and so glad I could go see him."
"Bill is from First Presbyterian Church and I’m from First Baptist, but we don’t care," Morrison said. "She needed to get there and that is the important part."Morrison said he began volunteering after nearly having a massive heart attack and undergoing open heart surgery.
"I told God that if I survived that I would help one person at a time," he said.Sixty-two percent of Faith in Action’s budget comes from congregation contributions, and Morrison said he hopes that the people of Clarke County will embrace Faith in Action, as it has with FISH, with volunteer and financial support.
Faith in Action can be reached at 540-536-1006.
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