Volunteer of the Week: George Bond, of Niles
Published 9:52 am Wednesday, March 23, 2016
George Bond, of Niles, provides transportation for seniors through the Greater Niles Senior Center. He also provides transportation for veterans through the local Disabled American Veterans Charity.
Q: What volunteer work do you provide for the Greater Niles Senior Center?
George Bond
I work with the senior center taking the locals around to different doctors appointments and things like that.
I also drive in Niles for the DAV (Disabled American Veterans). I take veterans up to Battle Creek (to the Battle Creek VA Medical Center).
Q: How long have you been volunteering at the senior center?
I’ve been doing that for the senior center for six or seven years.
Q: How did you get involved there?
They needed a driver for the DAV and so I started out with that first. Then I got involved driving around for the senior center. Then I work with another group out of Niles too. They go to Battle Creek four times a year and we throw parties for the veterans there in Battle Creek. It was called the Rolling Thunder, now I think it is called Support The Troops.
Q: How often do you transport people for the senior center?
That can vary. I’ve driven two or three times a week taking seniors out. It ranges from places in this area to South Bend or all the way up in St. Joseph. Some of them have doctors they go to up in that area. It is a service offered at the senior center. I am just part of the team from the senior center that volunteers to do this.
Q: Why do you choose to drive for the senior center?
I guess I started out in the military serving and I just continued to serve the local people, plus my veterans.
Q: What do you enjoy most about it?
I enjoy the fellowship with the people, talking with them and learning things that you didn’t know before. You can share that with each other. I enjoy that because I like serving people.
Q: How do others get involved volunteering at the senior center?
You would have to go through the senior center. It is located at 1109 Bell Rd. in Niles. Its phone number is (269) 683-9380.
Do you know a volunteer worthy of recognition? Nominate him or her as the Volunteer of the Week by calling Craig Haupert, community editor, at (269) 687-7720, or emailing him at craig.haupert@leaderpub.com.
