RiverLedge Volunteer Forms Special Bond With Resident

OGDENSBURG – Tristan Vine had been considering a career in health care for quite some time, but after becoming a volunteer at United Helpers RiverLedge Campus, Mr. Vine said he has little doubt that’s the career path he wants to take.

Mr. Vine, a senior at Lisbon Central School, became a volunteer at RiverLedge two years ago.

“The initial reason I came to United Helpers was I needed volunteer hours,” he said. “I was really skeptical at first, because I had this perception about nursing homes.”

However, it wasn't long after he began volunteering that his perception was shattered and he began making friends with the residents, even forming a special bond with the late James “Con” Elliott.

“I met Con and started coming up twice a week,” Mr. Vine said. “We would just hang out and talk.”

Both Mr. Vine and Mr. Elliott shared a love of sports, particularly local high school sports, and when Mr. Vine was honored with a sportsmanship award, he learned 25 years prior his father had received that same award.

RiverLedge Activities Director Larry Worden said a photo was discovered that showed Mr. Vine’s father, Bill with Mr. Elliott, a long-time broadcaster of local sports, who presented Mr. Vine’s dad with the award.

“After Tristan saw that photo, he decided to recreate it,” Mr. Worden said, adding Mr. Vine and Mr. Elliott “just clicked.”

“They really connected,” Mr. Worden said, adding the friendship even extended to Mr. Elliott’s family. “It didn't take long for him to go from being ‘that young man’ to being Tristan.”

Mr. Elliott passed away this past winter, and Mr. Vine has long since completed his required hours of community service, but he keeps on returning to RiverLedge to spend time with the facility’s residents.

“I get to help them out, but there is a benefit to both sides, the residents and me,” he said. “I’ve learned how to have better communication skills and relate to people of all ages. It’s an honor to learn from the residents and take time out of my day to spend with the people here.”

Mr. Vine has been accepted to Clarkson and will be taking classes in the school’s pre-physician’s assistant program, but that doesn't mean he’s going to stop volunteering at RiverLedge.

“I really do want to stay connected here,” he said.

Mr. Worden said that the relationships formed by Mr. Vine at RiverLedge, show that anyone can be a volunteer and make a difference in the lives of the building’s residents.

“You don’t have to be retired to be a volunteer,” he said. You could be as young as 8, 9 or 10 years and still make a difference.”

If you would like to volunteer at RiverLedge, contact Mr. Worden at 393-0730 ext. 2473 or lfworden@unitedhelpers.org.