Rakhma is grateful for the Macalester College students who have been regular volunteers at Rakhma Joy Home.  The following article highlights the contribution of two past volunteers:

We have many, many special volunteers that share their time, talents and more importantly, themselves. Two volunteers from Macalester College, Rena L. and Rebecca E., have been a special presence with the ladies at Rakhma Joy Home. Their focus is the one on one time with the residents. Holding hands, talking quietly and sharing the day were Rena and Rebecca's gift.  They also were regular attenders at the family potlucks and special events, paying special attention to those residents who do not have family present.

Both women are graduates of Macalester and have made mention of Rakhma Joy in Macalester's Issues into Action, a Community Service Newsletter.  Rebecca wrote a brief, but particularly poignant article describing her experience with the residents: 

"During my, four years at Macalester, I have been an active partipant in 'Maction' and have volunteered weekly at the Rakhma Joy Home, a home for AIzheimer's patients. I started volunteering at Rakhma as an assignment for an introductory psychology class.  I felt it would be a good way to see, firsthand, the problems surrounding the care of the elderly.  Working at Rakhma could be both exhilarating and frustrating. It was a wonderful experience because I learned to accept the limitations of the residents, but I also learned the value of their friendship, love and old stories. My experience at Rakhma Joy has helped me to be more knowledgeable of senior citizen issues. It has also given me a lot of fond memories. I feel my volunteer experience has been very valuable and will inspire me to continue my community service work after college."

Every volunteer that comes into our homes adds a new dimension to the house. Volunteers bring companionship, walks, prayer services, exercises, baking, mealtime help, music, singing, reading, as well as other valuable activities into each home. And all volunteers tell of the benefits that the residents give back. I would like to thank all of our volunteers for their unique gifts they choose to share.  As Karin Trail-Johnson, Director of Macalester Community Service, writes in her newsletter, "Thanks to each of you for your commitment to positive social change and to assisting others. Thank you for making the effort to seek out opportunities to give of yourself for stretching your mind to think about complex issues behind the need, and for ,taking the commitment to act."