We are endlessly grateful to our volunteers for giving their time to better the lives of those impacted by Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Our volunteers are truly the heart of the Alzheimer’s Association here in North Carolina.
In honor of National Volunteer Week 2024, we’ll be spotlighting a different volunteer from our Chapter each day. Today we are featuring…
TAMMY MOSTELLER
RONDA, NC
What brought you to volunteer with the Alzheimer’s Association?
Although having worked in the senior industry as a nurse (many of those years in dementia care) having 3 maternal generations above me with Alzheimer’s/dementia, and now a sister with younger-onset dementia gave me the desire to find out more about the disease. I also wanted to educate myself and others about any possible risk factors and just how to live healthier for our brains.
What volunteer role(s) do you have with the Association?
Community Educator
Alzheimer’s Association Community Educators are volunteer public speakers who provide Alzheimer’s Association education programs to community audiences using prepared training materials on topics related to Alzheimer’s disease, other dementias and memory loss.
What do you enjoy most about your volunteer role?
During the education classes, when I see family members start putting the pieces together and realizing how their actions may be triggering the behaviors of their loved ones. Or when I see someone noticing the same behaviors in themselves and finally gaining the courage to seek medical help because they feel better informed.
What piece of your role do you feel makes the biggest impact?
I feel I make the biggest impact after the classes when someone wants to speak with me one-on-one to get the answers they are so afraid to ask in a different setting. There is a collaboration among the class participants, they build bonds and become a source of support for each other. These folks would most likely never have met each other if it were not for the classes. To some, this may seem like such a small insignificant role, but to me, it is a great honor.
If someone were considering volunteering with the Association, what would you say to them?
Don’t hesitate! Discover your true passion and excel in it with unwavering dedication. Together, let’s confront this disease directly. The Alzheimer’s Association equips us with the necessary tools to thrive in our endeavors. There’s no need to start from scratch; simply embrace the established process and witness the abundant rewards it brings.
THANK YOU, TAMMY
Volunteers truly help move our mission forward. Interested in becoming a volunteer with the Alzheimer’s Association in NC?
Visit alz.org/volunteer or call 800-272-3900.
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