Providence Community Caregivers - Faith In Action

Odell resident Tom Cagle and his Faith in Action caregiver Peter Frothingham

Volunteer Peter Frothingham is a caregiver who regularly visits a couple in the Odell area to support Tom, whose wife is sick and can’t be left alone. Frothingham stays at the house while Tom attends appointments and runs errands.

Frothingham is proud of the relationship he’s built with Tom. “It feels good to me – I like him, he’s proud, strong willed and very independent, yet he’s learned to depend on me,” Frothingham said.

He recalled a turning point. “One visit, we sat outside on the swing Tom had made and a breeze blew by and we just talked and talked. He shared everything with me,” Frothingham remembers. “I realized, like my older sister who takes care of her husband with Alzheimer’s, that these folks don’t have someone to talk to any more. Read the entire article

Faith in Action: A Closer Look

Faith in Action Providence Community Caregivers assists community members in Klickitat and Hood River counties who want to remain independent in their homes but need assistance with daily activities. Volunteers help the elderly and those with health care challenges by assisting with shopping, chores, visits and transportation.

“The majority of our Faith in Action care receivers are elderly and our care givers become extended family,” said Faith in Action coordinator Jill Rowland. All volunteers undergo background checks, so family members can rest assured they are safe to serve our vulnerable populations.

Faith In Action began serving Gorge communities as a collaboration between Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital and other Gorge hospitals, congregations, community groups and government agencies.

From January 2008 through July 2008, local Faith in Action volunteers provided 1,180 hours of service. For more information about becoming a caregiver or care receiver, please contact Jill Rowland at 541-387-6404 or 800-955-3911.