Honey Brook Twp, PA—The Zuponcic family of Downingtown have been active volunteers on Tel Hai’s campus since July 2006. Cindy Zuponcic remembers responding to an ad in the Chester County Homeschool newsletter when her four children were between the ages of 7 and 13. At that time they served as Friendly Visitors in the health care center on Friday afternoons. Now ranging in age from 14 to 20 the Zuponcic youngsters have moved on to busy and rewarding lives. Sons Bradley and Steven are in high school with “crazy busy schedules,” but still find time to volunteer an average of three hours a week in the Garden Café in Tel Hai’s community center.

In the fall of 2006 the Zuponcics started assisting health care center residents on community trips and as the youngsters grew older they pursued more varied volunteer opportunities on the Tel Hai campus. The oldest, Elizabeth, participated in the Summer Youth program for two years, continued with Friendly Visiting and was a writer of resident histories as part of the Slice of History program offered by the Volunteer Services Department. Currently she is living and working in Virginia.

Emmy followed in her sister’s footsteps initially and then chose to volunteer in the campus library—handling computer data entry and shelving. She was also a Garden Boutique volunteer and still works in Dining Services while attending a local college. Bradley, now 16 served in the Children’s Learning Garden day care center, hair care and Chapel. For the past three years he has been working in the Garden Café with his younger brother, Steven, now 14. Steven had also helped out in Heather Gardens, a specialized program in a secure setting for individuals with cognitive impairments.