Bingo Caller With A Lot Of Heart
19th November, 2007
When most see a 67-year old enter a bingo hall every Tuesday, they expect him to be a local player looking for some afternoon entertainment. In a way, Jerry Green is, but he doesn’t do any playing—he’s the caller.
Green spends about 4 hours every week working as a volunteer for the Alabama Head Injury Foundation support group, as the primary bingo caller as well as a set of helping hands. Every week Green volunteers with the AHIF Recreational Support Group for Survivors of Traumatic Brain Injury, doing anything he can. According to Teresa Roberts, resource coordinator for AHIF, Jerry help goes way beyond bingo calling:
“Jerry has helped any way he can. He has carried clients home after meetings and takes them to the grocery store. One time I needed to get a mattress delivered to a client and Jerry helped me deliver it.”
Others that work for the AHIF don’t know what they’d do without him. Green began volunteering three years ago when he saw a story in his local paper about the AHIF. As a retired insurance adjuster, Green wanted to offer his time.
“Having a head injury of sorts myself, it struck my interest,” explained Green, who started having seizures 17 years ago.
Green helps AHIF raise money for the socialization group, always diving headfirst into fundraising efforts. He’s a very compassionate, non-judgemental individual who simply wants to donate his time and help out. Green loves donating his time because of the personal satisfaction it provides, and Green explains what a pleasure the whole experience is: “If it wasn’t [a pleasure], I wouldn’t be here.”
