WACO, Texas — For more than 30 years, the non-profit Friends for Life has been impacting lives in Central Texas.
Executive Director Inez Russell says the organization helps the elderly and people with disabilities live the fullest life possible.
“Anything that we can do to help them live the best life that they can live, that’s what we are here to do,” Executive Director Inez Russell said.
Friends for Life provides six services: quality of life, independent living, money management, life skills, guardianship, and adult day care. It’s helped thousands of Texans through the years through a number of its programs.
“Basically, criteria for helping people is do they have a need and can we meet that need?" Russell said. "And if we can’t. we try really hard to find someone that can.”
It all started back in 1989 when Russell went to visit her father in the hospital.
“I heard a woman screaming and I went to see what was wrong," Russell recalled. "And I found a lady who was crying and said, 'I was dying and I don’t wanna die alone, please don’t leave me.'
"So I stayed and listened and she told me her whole life story."
Amazingly, the woman got better and went home.
“If you have somebody and you have a friend and you have somebody that cares about you, it can be the difference between life and death,” Russell said.
Russell was then asked to see other patients and things grew from there. Now Friends for Life has 5 other offices across the state in Abilene, Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Tyler, and Texas City.
Russell added that volunteers were critical to the non-profits' success.
Baylor volleyball player Cassie Davis stopped by the Adults Day Center, along with her teammates, and said they got so much from the visit and are looking forward to coming back.
"My favorite part about coming here is getting to know the people and getting to hear their stories and getting to see the smile on their faces," Davis said. "I think it's so important to just engage with your community and reach out of your comfort zone a little bit to gain a new perspective."
There are many volunteer opportunities available and for any age.
The two big volunteer events happen later this year around Thanksgiving and Christmas, but there is never a bad time to get involved.
Those interested in becoming a volunteer you can head to Friend For Life's website.