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Spotlight on Volunteers
Hilda and Juan Fermin
Newlyweds (5 years!) Hilda and Juan Fermin moved to PebbleCreek four years ago and immediately got involved in golf and dancing (they met in a salsa class). Hilda then joined the ceramics club becoming their secretary and was recently honored as Artist of the Month. Juan was born in the Dominican Republic and Hilda in Mexico but they have lived much of their lives in the USA. Between the two of them, they have lived in six different states. Tracy, California, was their last residence before moving to AZ but they are still on the move as travel is another passion.
Fortunately for Share Bears, they also became involved in the Friday bingo games. Juan is one of our callers and all around assistant while Hilda organizes the morning from general organization to set-up to refreshments. She also plans special days (hat day, ugly sweater day, Hawaiian day, holidays, birthdays) making it special for all the attendees. Bingo attendance has almost doubled under Hilda and her team’s leadership. Share Bears is grateful for the Fermins!
Fran Feld Wiley
One dependable individual who has volunteered with Kare Bears over the past ten years frequently responds to Pebble Creek residents making a call to Kare Bears House is Fran Feld Wiley, saying, “Hello, this is Kare Bears”!
Fran Feld Wiley, our subject for this profile, began her life in the Bronx of New York City and through the work years Fran achieved a successful position of Executive Director for a National Trade Association domiciled in Washington, DC. She was well regarded by her National Board as a leader and friend.
In the mid-1990s, Fran and husband, Harvey, considered moving to a warmer climate partially for Harvey’s health and since Fran’s Board post could be performed over the Internet anywhere, they started looking for that ideal place. At first, the couple considered Florida but that was short lived.
Fran and Harvey then thought of the Phoenix AZ area and there began discovery on various senior developments by the couple. The Felds decided that Pebble Creek was a community which offered them the best for both weather and resources.
Fran and Harvey began their golden years with Harvey moving into Pebble Creek in 1996 while Fran was still working in Washington DC. Since she could work from home she announced to her Board her decision and to her surprise, the entire Board said, “take us with you, please” and she did in 1997.
Fran’s Harvey passed away in 2004 and Fran Feld met and married Charlie Wiley in 2007. Charlie began volunteering for Kare Bears in 2003 – 2005. Fran joined Kare Bears in 2013 and has been serving since as an office volunteer though Charlie passed in 2022 Fran continues to serve Kare Bears.
During this interview, Kare Bears President Tom Meek, asked Fran about Kare Bears: the services rendered, reactions by residents, and about Kare Bears as an organization. She experienced mostly complementary responses from residents about medical equipment loans and, especially about those medical transportation trips.
Fran told Tom that she loved helping people whether loaning equipment or arranging for non-emergency trips, some going many miles. Fran knows that Kare Bears fulfills a major need within Pebble Creek. She also pointed out that Kare Bears provides monthly presentations which are of great value to the community.
Report
As to the organization, she believes Kare Bears is strong and will be there for the community for some time to come. Fran enjoys being a Kare Bears Volunteer.
Bob Wainman
Bob Wainman is a one-of-a-kind Kare Bears volunteer who is very much appreciated. Bob’s wife, Linda, is an office volunteer and was instrumental in getting him involved as the equipment maintenance manager.
Once a week, Bob goes to the Kare Bears house to clean, sanitize and make minor repairs to the equipment which was returned by the residents. The equipment is stored in the Kare Bears’ house garage and consists of wheel chairs, transport chairs, walkers, canes, knee rollers, crutches, grabbers and ramps. Equipment can be borrowed by residents for six weeks with a
two-week extension.
This photo of Bob shows him etching an inventory number on a donated piece of equipment. Bob then lists it on his inventory. He is able to make minor repairs on equipment with his stock of parts. Periodically, he removes items from inventory which are irreparable and those items are donated for parts to organizations who transport them to countries where the need is great.
Kare Bears is grateful to our residents who donate medical equipment. We continue to provide the loan of equipment to our residents at no charge.
Call us at 623-536-1200 or visit us at the Kare Bears house 15383 W. Cheery Lynn Rd. Our hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.
Jed Weisman
Kare Bears lost a wonderful and loving all-around volunteer on October 25, 2021. Tom Meek, Kare Bears President, and great friend of Jed, was fortunate to be with him the week before his passing.
Harry "JED" Weisman was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in February 1933. Jed’s father was the trainer to the last Cleveland Indians World Championship baseball team. Thus, Jed loved his Indians no matter how they played.
Jed was an Air Force Veteran and served in Morocco. He was a graduate of Wesleyan University where he studied law. He was a celebrated teacher in local schools in the Cleveland area and after years of teaching, he began the practice of probate law in Cleveland.
He and his wife, Harriet, moved to PebbleCreek in 2009. After Harriet passed away, Jed joined the Kare Bears as an Office Volunteer where he added significant value to the organization. He was Mr. Dependable, always giving his time and donations. Nothing was ever too much trouble for Jed at the Kare Bears House. He purchased all the house supplies, inventoried the equipment and would fill in at the last minute for anyone who could not work a shift. Jed was also a driver and was saddened when he could no longer drive due to age restrictions. He received so much gratification from helping others.
Jed was a gentle man with a keen sense of humor who was beloved by his family and Kare Bears friends. He leaves two sons, a daughter and several grandchildren.
We are richer for his contributions to Kare Bears and to this world.
Rest In Peace Jed!
There are no scheduled services here in PebbleCreek.
Rayma Scalzo
Leticia "Trish" Johnson
Kare Bears Drivers say “I love driving for Kare Bears and my riders love it, too”
How do I begin? I am here to present a Kare Bears driver, Leticia Johnson. Her wonderful service to the Kare Bears. Tish, as we call her devotes hours driving and does work in the Kare Bears office. Many people know Tish because of her desire to help and her upbeat attitude and smile.
The Kare Bears staff and especially our drivers have been providing the residents of Pebble Creek continued service even through the Pandemic. Tish and all of Kare Bears volunteers will continue serving Pebble Creek for as long as we can.
Tish came to Pebble Creek, PC, after spending a visiting her longtime friend. Tish and her husband, Ron, arrived back in the early 2000s and did purchase a home in 2012. She and Ron tried the Robson sales promotion and were sold on Pebble Creek.
She told me that they wanted to be an active and help other residents and discovered our Kare Bears. Kare Bears in her eyes was an organization that helped people. Tish wanted to meet people, work in the KB office and provide rides to PC residents. Therefore, she was a natural fit for the Kare Bears.
I asked Tish some questions about her life here. She and Ron especially enjoyed rising in the fall and winter mornings in her Eagles Nest home on those cool or brisk mornings. Unfortunately, Ron, passed away from a long-term illness. Suffering a traumatic episode, caused Tish to think how much others could benefit for her help so she decided to remain a Kare Bear Volunteer knowing that she was giving back to the residents.
Tish is a St. Thomas Aquinas parishioner and enjoys helping her fellow parishioners as she does for the Pebble Creek residents. She tells me, “For me, giving my time driving or volunteering helping others in PC made took little effort and it feels great!” She commented saying that those residents she has driven express their gratitude and keep commenting, “I can’t believe that this service provided, and it is wonderful” Actually, I believe she meant Tish first and Kare Bears second.
I asked Tish how does it make you feel each day with the people you drive and the drives to those appointments? She told me that she enjoys the gratitude that residents display for her help. Riders have tried to tip but Tish simply says, “give to the Kare Bears” and you will be helping provide services for others.
I asked Tish about the never-ending need for volunteer driversto continue the KB driving services. She told me, “Each person finds how they can contribute” and she continued stating, “driving takes an effort but is so worth it!” You see how much it contributes to that resident’s health and well-being and that brought a smile to Tish’s face.
I said to Tish, “Thank you for your service… GREAT JOB!” Kare Bears drivers are in great need so if you can, JOIN US!
Visit karebears.org for volunteer interest sheets, contributions, resources, and our Mission Statement. We are her for as longs as you need us. Please visit the website! Visit the Kare Bears’ office for additional information and please contribute, it helps keeps our services to continue.
By: Tom Meek – President, Kare Bears’
Peter Jones
Peter Jones was born in 1942 in the city of Perth, southwest Australia and was raised with four siblings in a seaside resort town, Busselton, on the southern coast. Peter was educated at Busselton High School.
Upon leaving school Peter moved to Perth and began an apprenticeship in the printing industry as a “hot metal” type setter. He had jobs as a purchasing assistant manager for a plumbing supplies company, then a sales executive for Johnson & Johnson industrial products and was employed as a salesman for architectural supplies.
In 1972 Peter had a successful career in insurance sales but it came to an abrupt end in 1992 due to serious ill health and for sixteen years he endured long periods of recuperating but was able to travel around the world extensively and worked as a professional driver.
In 2008 Peter met and fell in love with Carol Pound, a resident of Pebble Creek, who is involved in the Art Club. In 2009, at the age of 65, he flew to the USA and married Carol.
While in Pebble Creek, Peter met Joe Lupo, a respected Kare Bears volunteer driver who ran a small transit business driving Pebble Creek residents to and from the airport. Peter joined Joe in that business and upon Joe Lupo’s sudden death in 2019, he took over the business.
Joe introduced Peter to what Peter described as, “the amazing Kare Bears organization”, and encouraged by Joe, he became a volunteer driver for the organization. Peter also became an American citizen in 2019.
Peter has said he “has been immensely blessed by the opportunity to serve our wonderful community here in Pebble Creek and has enjoyed interacting with the many clients that I’ve had the opportunity to serve and for the numerous volunteers who are dedicated to keeping the Kare Bears organization operating successfully”.
With his wife, Carol, Peter will return to Perth, Western Australia this year to rejoin his beloved family of three children, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, two sisters and one surviving brother. He has enjoyed twelve years in the United States but believes it is time to reunite with the family again.
Over these past few years Peter was “Mr. Dependable”, willing to drive anywhere and everywhere. He takes the long hauls and everyone who rides with him appreciates his sincere, kind approach and his promptness. We at Kare Bears do wish him the best and with his wife, Carol a safe and gratifying reunion in Australia.
Thank you, Peter Jones, you did make the best impression with the people and staff of the Kare Bears. We shall miss your driving and your comradeship within the Kare Bears organization and within Pebble Creek.
Kare Bears needs more skilled drivers like Peter. We have many great drivers but would like to add to the already great volunteers.
By: Maureen Plate
Arlis Legler
Arlis Legler, the oldest of nine, was born and raised in Southwestern Minnesota. With assistance from her high school math teacher and guidance counselor she attended Winona State College working her way through by working for the College food service. She graduated in June1968 and began her career as a high school business teacher.
In the summer of 1970, she visited a college friend in Honolulu and found a teaching job there for ManPower, a Federal post at University of Hawaii. In 1973, she and her roommate were hired by the Department of Defense to teach military dependents in Okinawa. In 1974 she was hired by Manpower to teach accounting for Army enlisted personnel in South Korea.
In 1976 Arlis enrolled at the University of Hawaii and earned her Master's degree in Guidance and Counseling. She worked at Kamehameha Schools, spending the next 32 years as teacher and department head. She loved the Island life, where she learned to sail and scuba dive and was a distance runner who finished the 1978 Honolulu Marathon.
Arlis moved to Pebble Creek in September 2008 where she met Janis Korba, a Kare Bears volunteer, and Laura Measles who was President of Kare Bears. With persuasion by her friends, Arlis became a Kare Bears Coordinator and Unit Contact and was the Kare Bears Second Vice President in charge of the Kare Bears house and driver volunteers. She served as President of Kare Bears from 2010 until 2012.
Her involvement with Kare Bears allowed her to meet many PC residents which led to other volunteer responsibilities. She served on the Pebble Creek HOA Election Committee for years and on the HOA Rules Committee. In 2015 she was presented with the HOA Volunteer of the Year award.
Arlis took on the responsibility of Chairman of The Source Book delivery to residents. For the past eight years she has perfected a system of distribution to each home which involves providing logistical data, organizing the actual delivery of the books. She enlisted Kare Bears volunteers who manned the distribution tables outside the Kare Bears house in January and those volunteers who delivered to resident homes. She said she owed the successful distribution project to the many volunteers who helped her.
Arlis has decided to leave the post, but thankfully will be a volunteer in many other capacities. Arlis will be turning over a detailed, well-organized process for the next chairman, and she deserves a huge “thank you for a job well done” from the Kare Bears organization.
Summary: "A Super Volunteer for all the right reasons" is the correct description for our Arlis Legler.
By: Thomas Meek, President Kare Bears