Saturday Servants assist seniors, disabled people

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Saturday Servants assist seniors, disabled people

Saturday Servants Becky Capps and Jan MacDonald rake leaves.

COURTESY KATIE WEINTRAUB

One Saturday a month members of Union United Methodist Church in southwest St. Louis become Saturday Servants, doing odd jobs for elderly and disabled people in their neighborhood.

Brian Forinash started the group several years ago, explained the Rev. Dianne Cochran. He "felt that doing small jobs, maintenance, that kind of thing, were his gifts, and that it would be a really neat ministry for him."

Projects vary from changing a porch lightbulb to cleaning out gutters, raking leaves or painting a room or garage.

"It runs the gamut," said Cochran, "doing things that seniors or the disabled don't really have the resources to hire out." Those assisted pay for the materials, such as paint, lift-assist bars for showers, handrails or smoke-detector batteries. Saturday Servants volunteer their time and talent.

"Though the tasks we do seem small and insignificant to us, they're very significant to homeowners who receive the benefit," Forinash said. They "help them maintain their independence."

Since 2008, Saturday Servants has been administered by Lindenwood Area Senior Ministry, an ecumenical effort of Union and four other congregations. The ministry also provides needs assessment, transportation to medical appointments, educational workshops, health fairs, social events and home visits.

Diane G. H. Kilmer