Nonprofit makes life a bit easier for seniors

They spend their days giving folks a ride to the doctor, a trip to the grocery store, a little entertainment or just a few hours of companionship.

For five years, the volunteers at Love Inc. have helped Lowcountry senior citizens get through their days.

These volunteers — more than four dozen of them — do this out of kindness, without charging a cent.

These days, because of the economy, the requests for help are coming in much faster than the donations that keep the charity running. For the year, donations are down by more than half; business is up more than 25 percent. The money pays for the services and supplies that volunteers need — no one is paid a salary. Without donations, the nonprofit could face the prospect of cutting back or worse.

Laureen Deibert, co-founder of Love Inc., has worried about the charity's ability to continue but is optimistic now that Horizon Senior Services, a Mount Pleasant-based company that provides similar services, has offered to help schedule volunteers and give Love Inc. office space. Owner Stephen Lewis said he has wanted to offer a similar service for some time, but it makes more sense to simply help Love Inc.

It is good news for the hundreds who depend on the charity and companionship Deibert and her crew provide every week.

"I don't know what I'd do without them," said Chuck Wells, a retired James Island resident. "Laureen has gotten a lot of people attention. She's an angel. I don't know how she does it."

Wells, who is an artist, first heard of Love Inc. four years ago, and called to offer some of his paintings to help the group raise money. Before long, he was a client. Deibert would take him to the doctor or just come and sit with him when there was no one else around.

And that's the entire idea behind Love Inc.

Deibert spent years caring for her mother-in-law, and during that time she noticed some people at local retirement homes were restless, often needed someone to talk to. Many did not have family to visit.

Deibert and her friend, Gena Januseski, began visiting retirement villages and nursing homes to entertain folks with music or to get them involved in arts and crafts.

Sometimes they found it was enough just to come in and sit and listen to people talk.

They started the nonprofit Love Inc. and recruited dozens of volunteers. These volunteers do everything from play checkers with clients to offering full-time caregivers a little break. Sometimes they go into retirement communities and hold exercise classes. The ones who have the most time to give go so far as to adopt a grandparent.

Deibert has helped some seniors write their own biographies, preserving a little bit of history.

"Anything that gives a smile," Deibert said. "You have to keep people active to keep them happy."

Ashley Suggs, management assistant and life enrichment coordinator at The Savannah House, an assisted-living facility on James Island, said many residents consider Deibert and her volunteers their family.

"One guy just calls her when he's down," Suggs said. "They are always there."

And Deibert hopes that they always will be.

Reach Brian Hicks at 937-5561 or bhicks@postandcourier.com.