Emily Sturn emptied the contents of her small cosmetics bag,filled with new emery boards, nail polish and polish remover, andasked Shirley Purney to pick a color. Any color.
Purney chose Hushed Blush. 'It's a nice springy color,' Purneysaid Saturday as she watched Sturn brush strokes of polish on hernails.
Purney wasn't in a salon, and Sturn isn't a manicurist.
Purney is a resident at the Washington Home in NorthwestWashington, a nonprofit health-care facility for seniors and peoplewho need physical rehabilitation. And Sturn, of Arlington County,was one of 7,000 volunteers who participated in a two-day Servathon,an annual volunteer program coordinated by Greater DC Cares tocelebrate National Volunteer Week.
'They were looking kind of bad,' Purney said of her nails. 'Butshe came just in time. . . . She's just doing a beautiful job.'
More than 100 volunteers gathered at the home Saturday to cleanwindows, play checkers, wash baseboards, build planters, painttrellises, polish brass plaques and serve meals. But mainly, they talked and listened.
The residents were 'asking questions about our lives, and Ithink that makes them think about their lives,' said Tercy Hawes,who lives in the District and participated as part of her job'svolunteerism program. 'It's just been so pleasant -- just seeingthe smiles on their faces.'
Richard Harris and Lewis Robinson played checkers with thevolunteers.
'I beat 'em,' Harris, sitting in his wheelchair, said with a grinon his face.
'I think she let him win,' Robinson said. 'Who's going to let asenior lose?
Robinson said he was pleased to see so many participating in theprogram.
'People are so selfish, but it's so nice to see people helpingpeople nowadays,' he said.
Madye Henson, president and chief executive of Greater DC Cares,said the volunteers, who worked at homeless shelters, school gardensand parks throughout the region, demonstrated a growing commitmentto serve.
The number of people who have volunteered through Greater DCCares doubled from 12,000 to more than 24,000 between 2008 and 2009,she said, adding that the recession and President Obama's call forvolunteerism seem to have sparked a 'spirit of service.'
'People are sensitive to the fact that people are in need and arehurting,' she said. 'And for those who can't give dollars, they givetheir time.'
Suzana Chowdhury started volunteering at the Washington Home inJanuary and spends more that two hours there every week. OnSaturday, she encouraged volunteers to agree to come back.
'It's all about these people,' she said. 'It's not about us.'
District resident Monica Rivera said volunteering for the firsttime on Saturday was an eye-opening experience.
'Just giving a little bit of time, you can make a whole lot ofdifference in one person's life,' Rivera said.
Often the simplest tasks were the most appreciated -- likespreading grape jelly on a piece of toast or placing a plastic bibover a woman's head whose arthritic limbs wouldn't allow her toraise her arms.
'Generally, [the residents] don't have enough family and friendsto visit them,' said Nik Ooi, the volunteer advisory chairman.
'But if they are mentally engaged, they have a better quality oflife.'
wigginsovetta@washpost.com
