RSVP member, Sarah London, volunteers out of the Carson Community Center as a "Friendly Visitor". This nationwide program teams people, one on one, with those who are unable to play an active part in the community because of a disability, and who need assistance in performing some of the things that the rest of us take for granted. It may be that all they need is someone to talk to, but Sarah aids her blind charge by helping him select items at the local supermarket as well as driving him to and from his appointments. Although Sarah is located in Carson, I was able to meet with her at the Torrance RSVP Office after her work-out at the local Bartlett Fitness Center close by.

As part of the "Friendly Visitor" program, Sarah has been visiting Robert P. on at least one day a week for the past seven years. Robert lives by himself in Carson, but does all his own cooking with the aid of special identification codes that he has worked out with Sarah. A typical day will see him taking her elbow as they go to a doctor's appointment. Sarah mentioned that they must certainly look a strange pair when they are out together, as Bob weighs in at 300 pound, is well over six foot tall, and Sarah is under five feet in height and very slight of build!

Sarah says that they usually go for a hamburger once a week before doing Bob's grocery shopping. Although Robert can't see the television, he still takes note of some advertised items and he then asks Sarah to look out for them while they are in the supermarket. As various items are located, Sarah has to identify them for him by tearing the labels of canned goods in a particular fashion or by bending the corners of microwaveable items so that Robert knows how long to cook them. Obviously an independant soul, Robert had to finally give up work and driving about ten years ago and now depends on people like Sarah to maintain some amenable level in his quality of life. Sarah said that one of the hardest things he had to give up was his car.

Regardless of their "odd couple" appearance, Robert is happy to live somewhat vicariously through Sarah's numerous activities as she tells him about all of the things she has been up to since last they met.

Although Robert doesn't read brail, Sarah was instrumental in getting him to contact the Brail Institute. They supplied Robert with a tape machine and he really enjoys listening to the "Books on Tape" that they send through the mail.

Each month, Sarah has the hours she donates to this service logged at the Carson Center and then sent to be recorded at the Torrance RSVP office. Several of our members donate hours through RSVP as a "Friendly Visitor" via their church or similar organization. This is a very rewarding activity that is well worth becoming involved in. So, if you might be interested, please call the office at (310) 320-3322 and give them your name.

If you look carefully at the top of this page you will also see that the visitor always gets as much out of this partnership as the person they are visiting, and Sarah confirmed this with me when I talked to her