Providing a Service

While many elders are capable of staying in their homes and, for the most part, remaining self-sufficient, minor home repairs & maintenance are often beyond their means either physically or financially. Family members are often too far away or, for other reasons, are not able – and in some cases – not willing, to help.

H.O.N.O.R. mobilizes individuals & teams who have skills and talents to share, a few hours to spare and a heart to serve our elder population.  It is a joy to see dignity and self-respect restored as the elder’s physical surroundings are properly maintained or improved.

Examples of Past Jobs Completed

 

 

  Our Clients & Volunteers

Elders needing assistance can contact H.O.N.O.R. directly by phone or via our website.  Clients also come to us as referrals from neighbors, friends and family.  Our volunteers come from all walks of life.  Some are retired and want to stay active, and others have families and work full time.  They come from churches, government agencies, non-profit organizations, & corporations. They work as individuals, pairs or in teams. They have one thing in common: a desire to…“honor our elder ones respectfully”!

 

Funding

Our services are free to the elders we serve.  Our support thus far has come from several grants from the Community Foundation of Greater Lakeland and the George Jenkins Foundation, a contract from the State of Florida - Department of Elder Affairs, individuals, churchs and corporate contributions as well as various fundraising efforts. We also accept donations of materials used for maintenance and repairs. 

H.O.N.O.R. is committed to the highest standards of integrity and good stewardship of all our resources.  As such, our Team Leaders volunteers have a background check done before working with an elder.

H.O.N.O.R. is a IRC 501(c)(3) non-profit organization incorporated in the State of Florida and all contributions are tax deductible. 

 

History

            H.O.N.O.R. was founded by Sherry Reeder in the Spring of 2005.  As a teenager, Sherry went to a nursing home with her church youth group to do yard work, and then shared a meal and visit with the seniors.  The obvious pleasure this simple service brought to these seniors made a vivid impression on Sherry – one she wouldn’t be able to forget.

Years later Sherry watched her grandfather virtually give up on life after her grandmother died. Managing even routine chores around his home was simply too much for him.

After earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Social Science (Community Health and Sociology), Sherry pursued various positions in the health care industry.  Seeing elders as a neglected group of valuable citizens, Sherry became passionate about serving their needs. 

As Sherry prayed about how to meet these needs, God placed the vision for H.O.N.O.R. in her heart – and it’s a God-size vision! Sherry recognized immediately that H.O.N.O.R. is a wonderful vehicle for churches, corporations, nonprofit organizations and individuals to get involved in the lives of these needy elders to improve their living conditions and restore their dignity and self respect. She also knows firsthand that as we reach into the lives of these seniors – the life we change may be our own!

There is no doubt that God has been preparing Sherry for this mission field. Her passion to reach out to the many lonely and discouraged elders with this tangible expression of God’s love is wholehearted and contagious!

 

Our Accomplishments

 

	6/1/05- 12/31/05	1/1/06 - 12/31/06	1/1/07 - 12/31/07	1/1/08 - 12/31/08	1/1/09 - 12/31/09	1/1/10- 12/31/10	Totals
Total Volunteer Hours	597.75	2168.00	3250.25	1756	1698	1687	9470.00
Volunteer Hrs  - Elder Needs	295.75	965.50	1034.75	759	695	857	3750.00
Volunteer Hrs - Administrative	*	985.00	1315.50	997	1003	898	4300.50
# of requests for assistance	82	190	135	114	186	108	707.00
Elder requests completed by volunteer teams	64	99	88	65	60	66	376.00
# of Volunteers	42	80	85	56	47	38	310.00
Volunteers matched and assisted in fulfilling an elder request	27	52	76	52	44	114	251.00
Notes:
*Volunteer Admin Hrs not tracked for the first 6 months