Little shop of pleasures. (Not-for-Profit Report).

For 25 years, Partners in Caring--Salem (PICS) has been brightening the lives of residents at Salem Lutheran Home in Oakland, California. Part of the Elder Care Alliance, this CCRC is a strong, supportive, and close-knit community of nearly 200 residents of diverse faiths and ethnic backgrounds. Formed in 1978 as a branch of the Salem Lutheran Home Auxiliary Group, PICS' mission is to raise funds earmarked for resident activities and outings.

"To meet the needs of our staff, residents, and the community [a modest, urban-residential, ethnically diverse neighborhood], PICS volunteer 'partners' decided to open a thrift shop that would provide a circle of benefits for all involved--from affordable clothing, gifts, and household items to the emotional reward of people coming together to help each other," says Anita Ramlo, administrator of Salem Lutheran Home. Since the facility has occupied the same campus since 1924, coming up with naming the new venture wasn't a problem because the building actually was a working pump house. "At the Pump House," says Ramlo, "staff--from maintenance through management--can treasure hunt one day and donate the next."

Open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and one Saturday each month, the Pump House is managed by the core group of PICS, which numbers about 25 partners, and is staffed by other volunteers who sort, stock, and operate the shop. "Without their dedication, this project would not be as successful as it is," says Ramlo.

Although supplemental volunteers come from many sources, local church members comprise the backbone of the volunteers helping the PICS core group run the shop, from intake to sale. "Like any organization," says Ramlo, "the core stays together year after year." The challenge is that the core group members, too, are aging, although they have incredible determination and dedication. For example, PICS' treasurer and one of its most active workers is a 94-year-old woman who still lives at home and drives to Salem several times a week, whether to work in the Pump House or to call the weekly bingo game.

Concerned with the changing needs of PICS' partners, Salem is adapting the Pump House to make the partners' work easier and safer. For instance, new, sturdier shelving has been installed, and the intake-processing area has been cleaned up so that sorting, stocking, and maintaining inventory are less physically demanding and more organized. These improvements also enable the "casual" volunteer to pick up where the work left off with less confusion.

Casual volunteers tend to be younger; they want to help out, but can't commit to daily or weekly schedules because of work and/or school constraints. "But," says Ramlo, "anything that lets people know how wonderful it is to work with the elderly is welcome." The downside is these volunteers aren't necessarily becoming "partners" with Salem and getting to know the residents, nor are they becoming part of the residents' lives.

The Pump House is allocated a generous space within the facility and maintains a healthy inventory of donated items. Many donations come from people who are downsizing their belongings to move into Salem. When a resident has passed away, families often donate belongings to the shop. If staff members or residents express interest in particular items, they are notified if and when they becomes available for purchase.

In addition to its regular store schedule, the Pump House occasionally advertises special events in church bulletins and on campus. "Every November," says Ramlo, "PICS sponsors a boutique stocked with high-quality, gift-type items." Prior to the boutique's public opening, residents are invited to a private preview. This special showing makes it easier to maneuver wheelchairs and there is less jostling of the residents. What might have been an intimidating experience for the more frail resident has become a return to the shopping activities of yesteryear. In addition, there is also an annual PICS style show featuring clothing and accessories available at the Pump House, which are modeled by residents, staff, and volunteers.

"Not only is the Pump House fun, it is profitable," says Ramlo. Each month PICS gives Salem Lutheran Home a check for $1,000 from the Pump House's profits. Part of the monthly donation is earmarked for charitable care for those residents who have outlived their assets, while the balance goes into a resident activity fund. "From the sale of items that can run $1 apiece, PICS raises between $15,000 and $20,000 a year," marvels Ramlo.

Salem also receives additional checks when the Pump House has had a very good month, and uses the extra money to fund a special activity or purchase something for the facility. "One time," recalls Ramlo, "we received a couple of motorized wheelchairs. The problem was that they didn't work. PIGS had each chair restored to working condition so that they would be available for residents who could not afford one."

When PIGS hears of a need, it responds. To improve residents' quality of life, PIGS volunteers host ice cream socials and coffee hours, attend birthday parties, or visit residents in skilled nursing. "All these touches truly enhance quality of life," says Ramlo.

Among the activities that PIGS supports are elegant dinner dances for residents. PIGS volunteers will bring extra men and/or come themselves, just to dance with the residents and show them a good time. Other events include off-campus excursions. PIGS will charter a bus and, if necessary, Salem will supplement transportation with its wheelchair bus. Residents are treated to an outing, such as the Jelly Belly(r) factory tour and lunch, or they will take the Petaluma River Cruise for an afternoon. Because PIGS makes the arrangements, pays for the outing, and provides volunteers (Salem provides staff), residents throughout the campus have an opportunity to enjoy a change of scenery and bond with each other. "Our objective is to integrate the various types of residents as often as possible so that people at different levels of care do not become isolated from each other or from life in the larger community," says Ramlo. Although mixing populations in this way takes quite a bit of coordination at times, Salem want s to eliminate any hint of prejudice against people with frailties.

At times, PIGS has considered moving the Pump House off campus to a storefront in the community, but time and again the idea has been vetoed. Not only would moving change the character of the enterprise but, first and foremost, its current setting preserves the partnership between PIGS, staff, and residents. Summing up, Ramlo remarks, "The Pump House draws people from the community--our neighbors--to Salem, and it is this connection that reminds people that the elderly are worthy of our attention."

Anita Ramlo is administrator of Salem Lutheran Home. For further information, phone [phone], fax [phone], or visit www.salemlutherhome.com To comment on this article, please send e-mail to [e-mail].