Ways To Help

Volunteer

Become a Volunteer

A Work Of Heart

Thank you for considering volunteer opportunities with FSS. Without the helping hands and caring hearts of our volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to provide many of the programs that enrich the lives of older adults. Our volunteers really do make a meaningful difference. Are you interested in joining the FSS volunteer family and giving back to your community? We’d love to have you on our team. Please contact us at 770-461-0813 or info@fayss.org to connect with us.

Become A Volunteer Today!

“I was looking for more ways to get involved and give back to my community when I stumbled upon Fayette Senior Services! I decided to reach out and was amazed at the opportunities available. Deciding on which area to volunteer was a challenge, but knowing I’m a part of this family has not only made a difference in my life, but I know I’m also making a difference in the lives of those I’m serving!”

– FSS Volunteer

Getting Started

We Want You To Enjoy A Positive Experience, So We Will Make Every Effort To Match You With An Activity That Will Be Rewarding For You And Beneficial To The Seniors We Serve

The first step toward volunteering is to complete the application form. Access the link to submit your application online, print and bring the application to the center, drop it in the mail, or stop by and fill one out at either of our locations. Once received, your application will be reviewed, a background check/driver’s license check will be completed, and we will contact you to schedule an orientation.

Before beginning your volunteer service, you will be asked to:

- Complete the volunteer application
- Complete a background check and driver’s record check
- Provide two personal references
- Complete a training program for your choice of service

Volunteer brochure

Available Volunteer Opportunities

- Front Desk Receptionist for Fayetteville or Peachtree City – Our reception area is one busy place! You will play an important role by providing administrative support to our member services team. Customer service is our top priority as we welcome new and current members and assist them with class and event registration.
- Fitness Center Assistant – Help us maintain a friendly, clean and safe environment and provide instruction for our fitness equipment. Fitness center volunteers will receive CPR Certification.
- Computer Instructors – Instruct classes on Word, Windows, exploring the Internet, and more.
- Café Assistant – Welcome our guests and members for lunch and offer hospitality to all. Assist our wonderful kitchen staff with food service duties which include serving from the food line, refreshing beverage stations, assisting guests and members with their trays, and cleaning up.
- Meals On Wheels Driver – Deliver nutritious meals to homebound seniors throughout Fayette County. Drivers can choose a regular weekly route or choose to be a substitute driver to be called on as needed.
- STARs Program Assistant – STARs (Seniors Together After Retirement) spend the majority of their days together at the Life Enrichment Center, making crafts, playing games, eating together, and having a great time. You’ll have a helping hand in the activities and assisting with their day.
- Therapeutic Garden – If you have a green thumb, this is the place for you!Help tend the beautiful garden on the grounds of FSS.
- Special Events Assistant – Help with special events. Provide assistance with event coordination, set-up, decorating, and clean-up.
- Tool Team Member – Help perform minor, routine home maintenance tasks and repairs to help ensure the safety of individuals in their homes.

Benefits of Volunteering

Give back to your community and enjoy making new friendships!

Center volunteers have many perks while volunteering:

- Free center membership ($30 value for in-county residents and $90 value for out-of-county residents) with 75 hours of annual service
- Fitness Center volunteers receive a free fitness center membership
- Café and STARs Assistants receive a free meal in the café on the days they volunteer
- Free CPR and AED training for Fitness Center and STARs volunteers
- Monthly Volunteer Spotlights in the Enrichment Newsletter
- Quarterly Volunteer Appreciation socials

Volunteering is a work of ‘heart’ and the volunteers at FSS are full of just that!

Volunteer Spotlight

Serving with Grace

This month, we are proud to spotlight one of our wonderful café volunteers. Our Ultimate Café is a busy and welcoming place that is so much more than somewhere to just enjoy a meal. It’s a place where friendships are formed, stories are shared, and meaningful connections are made. Serving up to 4,205 meals each month takes a true team effort, and we are incredibly grateful for the volunteers who help make it all possible! Volunteers like Katherine Irby, whose warm spirit and love for people shine through in everything she does, help make this place something truly special. At 94 years young, Ms. Katherine is the perfect example that you are never too old to make a difference!

Originally from Meridian, MS, Katherine grew up in a large family with six brothers and three sisters. Her parents worked as sharecroppers, and life was centered around family, hard work, and simple joys. As a child, she spent her days riding bikes, playing baseball, fishing, and sometimes getting into a little “mischievous fun”! She attended Meridian Baptist Seminary High School and her first job was as an elevator operator at the historic Threefoot Building in downtown Meridian. Imagine starting your very first job in a building listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a landmark built in 1929 that still stands as the tallest building in the city. Katherine was greeting people with a smile, riding up and down all day, and getting a front-row seat to the hustle and bustle of downtown. Talk about a job that had its ups and downs! In many ways, it’s similar to what she does in our café today – welcoming people, sharing conversations, and brightening someone’s day…but minus the 16 flights and the hand crank.

Katherine married the love of her life, John L. Irby, Jr., on July 31, 1952. The two shared 40 years of marriage before his passing. Together, they raised four children, two sons and two daughters. Katherine fondly remembers meeting her husband through his sister Dorothy, who was one of her friends. Katherine retired in August of 1997 from Lithonia Lighting in Ohio. In retirement, she has continued to focus on what matters most to her: family, faith, and caring for others. She enjoys shopping, visiting loved ones in nursing homes and hospitals, and spending meaningful time talking with friends and family.

Although Katherine is new to Fayette County, she has already made a lasting impact. She jumped right into volunteering at FSS, and for that we are grateful. What she enjoys most about volunteering with FSS is “talking, sharing stories, and assisting others”, something everyone around her can appreciate.

When asked a few fun questions to get to know her better here is what she said:

If stranded on a desert island the 3 things she would not want to be without is her family, food, and her faith in God and church.
One of the highlights of her week was being able to travel to visit family in Connecticut and Ohio, while also reconnecting with many friends and loved ones along the way.
If she had to sing karaoke, “Yesterday” by Mary Mary would be her jam.
If she could host her own late-night talk show, her dream first guest would be David Muir, anchor from ABC World News Tonight.
The one song she says she could listen to for the rest of her life is the timeless hymn, Nearer My God to Thee, a reflection of the deep faith and grace she carries with her every day.

Thank you, Katherine, for the kindness, wisdom, and joy you bring to our café and community!