Flat Rock is home to many talented and successful individuals who’ve arrived in our Village with an impressive variety of skills, experiences, and perspectives. A defining characteristic of Flat Rock residents is a commitment to sharing time, talents, and resources with the greater community.

In recognition of National Volunteer Week, this week we recognize Flat Rock volunteers for the Council On Aging and celebrate their unselfish concern and tireless efforts on behalf of our neighbors who need a helping hand.

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The Vision Statement for Council on Aging for Henderson County is as simple as it is profound:

No one ages alone.

These four simple words are the driving vision of an organization that has focused on making Henderson County a better place for older adults since its inception in 1969.

Many people are familiar with the Council on Aging’s flagship program, Meals on Wheels, which serves older residents who are home-bound and have difficulty making nutritious meals on a regular basis. In addition, COA has programs providing support for caregivers and companionship for isolated seniors. It also operates the Sammy Williams Center which in non-pandemic times serves as a social hub for seniors and administers programs that provide supplemental nutrition and assistance with utility bills.

Dedicated volunteers make it possible for the Council on Aging to provide this level of support to hundreds of local seniors. Here are a few stories of Flat Rock volunteers that make the Council’s mission possible.

John and Margaret Langston

John and Margaret Langston moved to Flat Rock from Davidson, NC in 2015. John’s wife, Margaret grew up in Flat Rock and still has family in the area. John spent 27 years working with Duke Energy and in the latter part of his career, he worked closely with special assistance agencies that were provided funds by Duke to help low-income customers pay utility bills.

When John and Margaret first purchased their home in Flat Rock, the house needed a lot of work, and one day one of their contractors pulled John aside and told him about Meals on Wheels. He also suggested that if he and Margaret ever had any extra food, they may want to share with their neighbor who was not always able to get enough food.

Touched by the contractor’s story, Margaret baked some cookies, and John walked them over to the neighbor’s house. “His eyes lit up,” recalls John. “After that, Margaret would periodically bake something and I would take the food next door That really helped us understand the impact of a program like Meals on Wheels.”

Armed with a first-hand experience of the benefit of a plate of food and a friendly smile, John contacted COA and was soon delivering meals provided by the food services at Pardee Hospital and Advent Health to about 12 Henderson County residents twice a month. And, as it turned out, the neighbor he and Margaret had been sharing food with was on John’s MOW delivery route. Frequently John’s deliveries are supplemented with some special treats baked by Margaret - a favorite with John’s contacts.

John particularly enjoys the connection he feels with the people he sees during the delivery process and considers them to be friends. “Oh gosh, yes. They become part of your heart. I really look forward to seeing them and checking to see how they are doing. It is really an amazingly diverse group of people.”

John was so pleased with his experience as a COA volunteer that he also volunteers once a week at the Council on Aging Thrift Store on Spartanburg Highway. “It’s a great organization and I’m glad I can help them help others.”

Chuck Kelsey

Chuck Kelsey has 30 years of experience as a healthcare consultant and executive. When his mother was encountering confusing questions about her Medicare coverage, Chuck took it upon himself to learn more and eventually became a certified Medicare Counselor for the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP).

Armed with the knowledge, the certification, and most importantly a heart for helping others, Chuck connected with COA and has been helping seniors navigate the maze of Medicare options facing new enrollees and long-time Medicare recipients considering new coverage options. Chuck has been a COA volunteer since 2013 and sees clients each week.

“The need is out there,” Chuck explains. “A lot of the people I see could not afford to pay someone to help them figure out all the options involved with Medicare. Many people only have social security as a source of income. I can also provide unbiased information - I’m not an insurance agent selling anything.”

Chuck enjoys being able to help people make informed decisions about Medicare and appreciates the relationship he develops with clients. “It’s rewarding to help people and then have them return year after year.”

David Lyles and Anne Calby

David and Anne moved to Flat Rock after many years of living in northern Virginia. Anne worked as a librarian for the public school system and David spent many years as a staff member in the US Senate. His last 12 years were spent as Chief of Staff for United States Senator Carl Levin of Michigan.

When it came time to leave DC, David was intimately familiar with Henderson County as an option. His grandparents lived on Evans Road and every summer for the first 12 years of his life was spent here. Ironically, it was Anne who had to convince David that they should move to Flat Rock. “I had to drag him down here,” she says with a laugh. “But now that I’m here, I’m not leaving,” David is quick to add.

The couple had volunteered with Meals on Wheels in Arlington VA for nearly seven years and after the move to NC in 2019 they were quick to reach out to COA to continue their volunteer activities. Currently, they deliver meals once a week to approximately 12 homes in and around the Mountain Home community. And it is work they both enjoy and find rewarding. “It’s direct contact with people who need the help,” says David. “We both enjoy helping and a lot of the people we see wouldn’t be able to stay in their homes if it weren’t for Meals on Wheels.”

Anne really enjoys the people - and their pets. “They are really interesting and funny people. And they have some great dogs,” says Anne. Working as a team, David drives and Anne delivers food to the door. “The people are glad to see us,” explains David. “They are friendly. and generally don’t have much communication with other people. It feels good to check to see how people are doing from week to week.”

Both David and Anne have been very impressed with the Council on Aging and appreciate the opportunity to learn more about their new home. “They are extremely well organized and we’ve gotten to see a lot of the county that we would never have seen otherwise,” says Anne.

Keith Logan, Executive Director of the Council on Aging, knows firsthand how instrumental COA volunteers are to the success of the organization. “We simply could not serve 400 clients each week without a dedicated core of volunteers,” he explains.  “They are integral to our success.” Ultimately, because of volunteers like John, Margaret, Chuck, Anne, and David, hundreds of Henderson County seniors enjoy a better quality of life and, as the Council’s Vision Statement imagines, do not have to age alone.

Thank you to them … and thank you to everyone who volunteers to help in Henderson County.

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If you are interested in learning more about the Council on Aging you can visit their website at coahc.org. There you will also find a place to make online donations and/or submit a volunteer application if you’d like to help out. They currently have roughly 150 volunteers but will need many more as they slowly return to their complete range of programs and services offered prior to the limitations necessitated by the pandemic.

Thanks to everyone who gives of their time and talents to make our community a better place for everyone. Your generosity enriches us all.